Be sure you give Archippus this message: “Be faithful to complete the ministry you received from our Lord Jesus!

Colossians 4:17 (TPT)

 

While in jail, the Apostle Paul wrote numerous letters to encourage believers in the churches he built and fostered. While some of these believers have gone on to accomplish many wonderful things for the sake of the gospel, others have stopped pursuing their calling and living out their God-given destiny. Archippus was one such person. Paul specifically mentioned him, urging the entire church community to continue encouraging and attempting to persuade this young man to complete what Jesus has called him to be.

Every believer, I believe, is given a ministry from our Lord. And it is not yours to do with as you like since God in Christ provides it to you. Rather, you must carry out your commitments because you have been given a tremendous opportunity to do something that others cannot.

It is easy to blame circumstances and others around us for frustrating God's call on your life, but you are ultimately responsible for your own actions and how they affect your ministry. The good news is that once Christ begins His work in us, He sees it through to its glorious conclusion. This is why the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to exhort the Colossians to reach out to Archippus for him to honour God by carrying out his ministry.

The Colossians heeded Paul's advice. Sometimes it takes an entire church community to transform one person. The second time we hear about Archippus, in Philemon 1:2, he is referred to as “a fellow soldier” – a title denoting a co-worker who is carrying out the ministry that Christ has given him.

Are there any "Archippuses" in your life that the Holy Spirit is prompting you to tell them to obey the call God has put on their lives? You may feel it is none of your business, that you do not know what to say, or that you are afraid of making matters worse. If it is the Lord's direction, you can be certain that He will give you the insight and the correct words to say, hopefully turning the individual around for his or her own good and God's glory. turn the person around for his or her good and for God's glory.