Epaphras is an example of a New Testament person who not only won people to Christ, but
taught them the Word and helped them to grow. He also prayed that they might become mature
in Christ. When danger threatened the members of the church, Epaphras went to Rome to get
counsel from Paul.
He loved his people and wanted to protect them from false doctrines that would destroy the
fellowship and hinder their spiritual development.
We who disciple other believers must be careful not to get in the way. We are not to make
disciples for ourselves, but for Jesus Christ.
We must relate people to Him so that they love and obey Him. Epaphras faithfully taught his
people and related them to Christ, but the false teachers came in and tried to “draw away
disciples.” Human nature has the tendency to want to follow men instead of God—to want
“something new” instead of the basic foundational truths of the Gospel.
Verse for today: “We, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being
transformed into His likeness with ever- increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is
the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18, NIV).
See also: Colossians 1:1-13; 4:12-13; Acts 20:28-30.
Action assignment: List the qualities that you believe made Epaphras the kind of person he was.
Ask God to make you more like him. Begin reading a good book on discipling, such as Walter
A. Henrichsen’s Disciples Are Made—Not Born (Victor).
WARREN W. WIERSBE
www.backtothebible.in