Epaphras

The story is told of a great minister of God who enjoyed God's grace and did miracles for God without so much stress. He enjoyed effortless grace. He didn't struggle like some ministers around him. And this went on for a long time. After a while he noticed a decline. Things were not as they used to be. So he went to God in prayers to find out where he had erred. ' No where' he was told. He had not done anything wrong. However, he had lost someone dear to his ministry. Someone he wasn't even aware of; An old woman who had dedicated her life to pray for the success of his ministry day and night.

His intercessor had passed on to glory, and thus, the gaps and lapses were becoming obvious. 

Colossians 4:12 tells us of Epaphras who ' is always wrestling in prayer for you... ... '

Every believer needs an Epaphras. Someone committed to you in the place of prayers. Someone who loves you enough to devote time to pray for you consistently. 

Thank God for the Holy Spirit who always intercedes on our behalf (Romans 8:26). He is the greatest Epaphras we could ever ask for.  

 However,  the bible also encourages us to pray for one another ( James 5:16, Eph 6:18, 1 These 5:25).

This should be done, not out of obligation or compulsion, but as a service of love ( Gal 5:13)

The bible teaches us that two are better than one, because they watch out for each other, help each other and hence get a better reward for their work. ( Eccles 4: 9-12, Matt 18:19). 

We all need someone to watch out for us. It could be our spouse, our parent, our sibling,a friend or a spiritual leader. 

Just as we need an Epaphras, we also need to be someone's Epaphras. 

Be someone's EPA today.