Complete the Work

Complete the Work

Words of Faith 12-16-19

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2019

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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Colossians 4

       [17] Tell Archippus: "See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord." 

      We are to the final verses of Colossians and Paul has a special message for a fellow named Archippus.  He will show up again in the letter to Philemon and appears to have been a member of that household.  Many have come to the conclusion that he was Philemon’s son and that he was serving as the pastor of the church at Colosse in the absence of Epaphras.

        Paul tells the Colossian church to instruct Archippus to "complete" the work assigned him.  Did this mean that he had failed in some way?  Some commentators have assumed a degree of failure on the part of Archippus and interpret Paul's words as a rebuke, but that is not at all clear. This could have been his way of letting the church know that Archippus had his full support as he sent a word of encouragement.

       The one thing that we can be sure of is that if this was a young pastor filling in for Epaphras who had gone to be of support to Paul, he needed encouragement.  From the words we have, we might as easily infer that he was discouraged and tempted to quit the effort he had begun.  He may have found that shepherding the Colossian church was a little over his head. It was important that he complete that work which he had received from the Lord.

        Sometimes we all need a word like that.  We need to hear encouragement to stick with it.  Don’t quit.  Hang in there.  See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord.

        In my work with people, I meet so many who have set aside a call that God once put on their life.  I know several men who were called to preach but set that aside in favor of a higher-paying endeavor.  I know one who was called to be a missionary pilot, but got distracted by the cares of this world and never has completed the mission.  I know of several called to missions who never have answered the call.  I know of another who is clearly called to counsel and heal the hurts of the soul, yet never has pursued the needed education and effort to do that.

         An important question for each of us.  Have I completed the work I have received from the Lord?  Paul might very well say to anyone of us—Don't be discouraged.  Don't get distracted.  Don't settle for something less than God's best.  Don't be afraid.  See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord.

        Father God, keep it ever before me—the call You have upon my life.  Give me the grace and strength to not be distracted or discouraged so that I may complete the work You have for me.  In Jesus’ Name.

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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, and our website, and our church app, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.  

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