Joyful Living Devotional - Day 25
Day 25 – Here’s to the “Nobodies”
Philippians 2:25-30 (NLT) 25 Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need. 26 I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. 27 And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another. 28 So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you. 29 Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. 30 For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.
One of the main reasons for the letter to the Philippians was that Epaphroditus, a man from the church in Philippi, was sent to deliver a gift to Paul while he was in prison in Rome. As you will see, part of this care package was that Epaphroditus would help meet Paul's needs in prison.
There is something very significant about this part of Paul’s letter to the Philippians, something we must not overlook. At the beginning of Chapter 2, Paul presents Christ as the greatest example of humility, sacrifice, and selflessness. He then speaks of his own life, running the race not in vain and being poured out like a ‘libation,’ meaning a “drink offering”, in his service to the Lord. Then he writes about Timothy’s faithful, trustworthy character and service, holding up Jesus as the example everyone who confesses Christ needs to emulate. Paul did, Timothy did, and now we see that Epaphroditus did as well.
Paul the apostle follows in Jesus’ footsteps of sacrifice. Timothy follows in Jesus’ footsteps of unselfish love and care, and Epaphroditus follows in Jesus’ footsteps of faithfulness, even at the risk of his own life. All three of these men exemplify humility, service, and working together to proclaim the good news of Jesus. Paul was a Jew in the truest sense, a Pharisee of Pharisees, who submitted his life to Christ. Timothy, half Jew/half Greek, was willing to do whatever was necessary to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, even to the point of being circumcised. Epaphroditus, whose name means "belonging to Aphrodite" (the Greek goddess of love), was willing to risk his own life by taking the gift to Paul in Rome, a trip that would take about seven weeks in good weather and up to three months in bad weather. He stayed in Rome to serve Paul, a hazardous decision given that Paul was a prisoner of great notoriety awaiting a trial that could carry the death penalty, and associating with Paul could mean the same for Epaphroditus.
All three of these men follow Christ’s example of humility, unity, and working together for the sake of the Good News of Jesus. Their backgrounds, education, upbringing, and culture did not matter; what mattered was Christ Jesus. Paul wants the Philippian church to see what it looks like when people set aside their own agendas and work together in humility, love, and selflessness. However, while Epaphroditus was serving Paul in Rome, he fell deathly ill. Word obviously got back to Philippi, because Epaphroditus was distressed that they had heard he was ill. Paul wanted to send Epaphroditus back to Philippi with the letter he had written for them, but he didn’t want the Philippians to think Epaphroditus had quit on him, since they had sent him there to serve Paul.
Paul writes an amazing character reference for Epaphroditus, this seemingly “nobody” who was willing to risk it all for the sake of another. “I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need” (Philippians 2:25 ESV). Paul calls him a true brother, placing Epaphroditus on the same level as Paul. A fellow worker, he worked to the point of exhaustion and even death. A fellow soldier, he fought side by side with me for the Gospel and faced the same kind of peril. Paul acknowledges that the Philippians sent Epaphroditus and uses the word apostolos to mean “messenger”. Apostolos means sent one, or anyone sent out on an errand. Just as Paul was sent out, this reflects Paul's high regard for him.
Paul says, Epaphroditus is your messenger and servant to my need. The word for servant is leitourgos. It refers to individuals in ancient Greece who loved their cities so much that they would, at their own expense, perform public duties or services. These leitourgoi were the great benefactors of the state, those who ministered relief. Paul, in these few verses, gives an incredibly strong witness to Epaphroditus's character and integrity. He wants to make sure that the church in Philippi knows that Epaphroditus was not a quitter and that Paul held him in extremely high regard.
Philippians 2:29-30 (NLT) 29 Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. 30 For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.”
Paul says to give him honor and to welcome him with great joy and the Lord’s love because he risked his life for the sake of the work of Christ. The word “risked” refers to gambling or risking it all on the throw of a dice. Epaphroditus risked his own life for the work of Christ.
Here’s to the nobodies. Everybody wants to be somebody, but in God’s kingdom, more nobodies are somebodies. Epaphroditus was the nobody who truly was somebody. We know about him because Paul tells us. We know of no books he wrote, and there are no statues built in his honor. Yet he was one of those who did what needed to be done, even at his own expense.
Unlike Timothy, he is not well known, and Paul tells the Philippians to give him the honor he deserves. There are many “Epaphroditusses” among us. Those who faithfully serve without fanfare or recognition. Those who tirelessly work in God’s vineyard and kingdom. Those who give when others hold back, and serve when others make excuses. Those who do it without expecting a pat on the back or a plaque on the wall. They do it because they simply love God and love people. They are the ones who understand what truly matters and are willing to risk it all because they know the joy of loving, the joy of giving, and the joy of self-sacrificial service for the benefit of Jesus Christ, their King!
“I believe that many professing Christians are cold and uncomfortable because they are doing nothing for their Lord; but if they actively served him, their blood would begin to circulate spiritually, and it would be well with them.”
– Charles Spurgeon
The Rock Church is full of these kinds of nobodies who truly are somebodies! Thank you for being the nobodies in this house, because one day everybody will know what you nobodies have done behind the scenes and see you for the somebodies you are!
Prayer:
Philippians 2:25-30 (NLT) 25 Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need. 26 I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. 27 And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another. 28 So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you. 29 Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. 30 For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.
One of the main reasons for the letter to the Philippians was that Epaphroditus, a man from the church in Philippi, was sent to deliver a gift to Paul while he was in prison in Rome. As you will see, part of this care package was that Epaphroditus would help meet Paul's needs in prison.
There is something very significant about this part of Paul’s letter to the Philippians, something we must not overlook. At the beginning of Chapter 2, Paul presents Christ as the greatest example of humility, sacrifice, and selflessness. He then speaks of his own life, running the race not in vain and being poured out like a ‘libation,’ meaning a “drink offering”, in his service to the Lord. Then he writes about Timothy’s faithful, trustworthy character and service, holding up Jesus as the example everyone who confesses Christ needs to emulate. Paul did, Timothy did, and now we see that Epaphroditus did as well.
Paul the apostle follows in Jesus’ footsteps of sacrifice. Timothy follows in Jesus’ footsteps of unselfish love and care, and Epaphroditus follows in Jesus’ footsteps of faithfulness, even at the risk of his own life. All three of these men exemplify humility, service, and working together to proclaim the good news of Jesus. Paul was a Jew in the truest sense, a Pharisee of Pharisees, who submitted his life to Christ. Timothy, half Jew/half Greek, was willing to do whatever was necessary to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, even to the point of being circumcised. Epaphroditus, whose name means "belonging to Aphrodite" (the Greek goddess of love), was willing to risk his own life by taking the gift to Paul in Rome, a trip that would take about seven weeks in good weather and up to three months in bad weather. He stayed in Rome to serve Paul, a hazardous decision given that Paul was a prisoner of great notoriety awaiting a trial that could carry the death penalty, and associating with Paul could mean the same for Epaphroditus.
All three of these men follow Christ’s example of humility, unity, and working together for the sake of the Good News of Jesus. Their backgrounds, education, upbringing, and culture did not matter; what mattered was Christ Jesus. Paul wants the Philippian church to see what it looks like when people set aside their own agendas and work together in humility, love, and selflessness. However, while Epaphroditus was serving Paul in Rome, he fell deathly ill. Word obviously got back to Philippi, because Epaphroditus was distressed that they had heard he was ill. Paul wanted to send Epaphroditus back to Philippi with the letter he had written for them, but he didn’t want the Philippians to think Epaphroditus had quit on him, since they had sent him there to serve Paul.
Paul writes an amazing character reference for Epaphroditus, this seemingly “nobody” who was willing to risk it all for the sake of another. “I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need” (Philippians 2:25 ESV). Paul calls him a true brother, placing Epaphroditus on the same level as Paul. A fellow worker, he worked to the point of exhaustion and even death. A fellow soldier, he fought side by side with me for the Gospel and faced the same kind of peril. Paul acknowledges that the Philippians sent Epaphroditus and uses the word apostolos to mean “messenger”. Apostolos means sent one, or anyone sent out on an errand. Just as Paul was sent out, this reflects Paul's high regard for him.
Paul says, Epaphroditus is your messenger and servant to my need. The word for servant is leitourgos. It refers to individuals in ancient Greece who loved their cities so much that they would, at their own expense, perform public duties or services. These leitourgoi were the great benefactors of the state, those who ministered relief. Paul, in these few verses, gives an incredibly strong witness to Epaphroditus's character and integrity. He wants to make sure that the church in Philippi knows that Epaphroditus was not a quitter and that Paul held him in extremely high regard.
Philippians 2:29-30 (NLT) 29 Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. 30 For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.”
Paul says to give him honor and to welcome him with great joy and the Lord’s love because he risked his life for the sake of the work of Christ. The word “risked” refers to gambling or risking it all on the throw of a dice. Epaphroditus risked his own life for the work of Christ.
Here’s to the nobodies. Everybody wants to be somebody, but in God’s kingdom, more nobodies are somebodies. Epaphroditus was the nobody who truly was somebody. We know about him because Paul tells us. We know of no books he wrote, and there are no statues built in his honor. Yet he was one of those who did what needed to be done, even at his own expense.
Unlike Timothy, he is not well known, and Paul tells the Philippians to give him the honor he deserves. There are many “Epaphroditusses” among us. Those who faithfully serve without fanfare or recognition. Those who tirelessly work in God’s vineyard and kingdom. Those who give when others hold back, and serve when others make excuses. Those who do it without expecting a pat on the back or a plaque on the wall. They do it because they simply love God and love people. They are the ones who understand what truly matters and are willing to risk it all because they know the joy of loving, the joy of giving, and the joy of self-sacrificial service for the benefit of Jesus Christ, their King!
“I believe that many professing Christians are cold and uncomfortable because they are doing nothing for their Lord; but if they actively served him, their blood would begin to circulate spiritually, and it would be well with them.”
– Charles Spurgeon
The Rock Church is full of these kinds of nobodies who truly are somebodies! Thank you for being the nobodies in this house, because one day everybody will know what you nobodies have done behind the scenes and see you for the somebodies you are!
Prayer:
- Pray that the Lord will help you see a need you can meet, then meet it.
- Pray for those who serve faithfully without recognition, and be willing to be one.
- Ask the Lord to give you the kind of heart that would make you a true brother or sister, a co-worker, and a fellow soldier.
- Pray for the Lord to send more people into His field to gather the ripe and ready harvest.
- Pray that The Rock Church will be filled with people willing to use their gifts to grow God’s kingdom and serve others.
Posted in Joyful Living Devotional