"Always laboring fervently for you in his prayers…he hath a great zeal for you."


BIBLE READING: Colossians 4

What a beautiful epitaph of a good man's life.  Epaphras had come from Colosse with tidings for the apostle, but amid all the crowding interests of his visit to Rome his heart was with his friends, and he sought to help them as we may all help dear ones far away.
He strove for them in prayer.  It was no runaway knock that he gave, no light breathing of desire, no formal mention of their names.  Rather, it seems as though he were a wrestler whose muscles stood out as he agonized and labored for the prize.  It is impossible for us to know how much has been wrought in the world by prayer.  Here, at least, there is mention of a man's labors.  Many times, our successes may be due to the fervent prayers of our fellow-laborers.
There is a legend that tells of the dream of a great preacher.  He was marvelously used by God and inclined to magnify himself and his gifts, but he was instructed by an angel of God that his success was entirely attributable to a poor widow who sat regularly at the foot of the pulpit and who never ceased to pray for him.  May we never forget that our successes may be partly on account of one or many who pray for our work in the Lord.
Let us be careful to mingle much intercession with all our prayers, especially on the behalf of missionaries and lonely workers in foreign lands so they will realize we are actually working and laboring beside them, though many miles are between us.


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