Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. (Colossians 4:12, ESV)
This is a challenge to church leaders. Epaphras was the one through whom the Colossian church heard the gospel (Col 1:7). He is a leader, described there as a “faithful minister.” He had a role in Colosse, Laodicea and Hieropolis. At the time that Paul wrote this epistle, he was in prison with Paul (compare Philemon 1:23 and Col 4:9).
As a prisoner, he is not moping but he continues to serve the local church through his prayers. If he can be faithful in prayer while in this situation, how much more should leaders who are not in prison devote themselves to prayer.
How is he praying? He is “struggling” (ESV) or “wrestling” (NIV). This is not merely dutiful prayer, but praying which agonises, praying which sees that the maturing of the church is a spiritual battle, and praying that takes effort. As a local church leader, I need to evaluate my praying against this.
What does he pray for? He prays for maturity and a standing firm, fully assured in the will of God. This is not prayer for healing and comfort, but for growth in grace and an obedience to God’s will that flows from a fullness of assurance of his salvation and his truth.
So, just as leaders need to evaluate their commitment to praying for the local church, and the manner of their praying, so also the content of their praying.
May the Lord raise up more leaders like Epaphras today.