peace to live by

Not Just for Ourselves, But Others Part 1 (TMF:2914)

Thursday, July 09, 2026
Peace to Live By: Not Just for Ourselves, But Others Part 1 (TMF:2914) - Daniel Litton
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       Paul continues. Verse 13: “For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis” (ESV). The same language that Paul had used of himself in the beginning of Colossians 2, he now expounds upon in referring to Epaphras. Again, the insinuation is that of prayer—that it is concretely prayer which is the “hard work” being undertaken. Probably pretty foreign to us, in twenty-first century America. It doesn’t appear that many of us spend so much time in prayer that we would call it “hard work.” Perhaps there are a few noble souls out there who really do effort in prayer a great deal. But it must be doing something if Epaphras spends so much time at it. That’s what Paul has witnessed anyway, and has partaken in himself. And we note that Epaphras wasn’t only spending time in prayer for his own church, but also for the churches in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. We haven’t even likely heard of this second church.