{"id":13638,"date":"2025-10-08T06:54:42","date_gmt":"2025-10-08T10:54:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/?post_type=oyb&p=13638"},"modified":"2025-10-08T06:54:42","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T10:54:42","slug":"what-ministry-have-you-received","status":"publish","type":"oyb","link":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/oyb\/what-ministry-have-you-received","title":{"rendered":"WHAT MINISTRY HAVE YOU RECEIVED?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\u201cAnd say to Archippus, \u2018See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord'” (Colossians 4:17 ESV).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Paul concluded his letter to the Colossians with a personal exhortation to a man named Archippus. Although his name means \u201cmaster of horses,\u201d suggesting strength and leadership, Archippus still needed encouragement to remain faithful. He is also mentioned in Paul’s letter to Philemon, where Paul calls him \u201cour fellow soldier” (Phil. 2), implying that he served alongside Paul in gospel ministry\u2014perhaps even in leadership at the church that met in Philemon\u2019s home. Yet even a \u201cfellow soldier\u201d needs fellowship and encouragement. Notice that Paul didn\u2019t address Archippus privately but through the church, showing that the entire fellowship bore responsibility to support and admonish him. This reflected Paul\u2019s view of ministry as both personal and communal\u2014each believer receives a ministry \u201cin the Lord,\u201d yet its fulfillment is nurtured within the body of Christ. Written from prison, Paul\u2019s concern was not only for the spread of the gospel but also for the steadfastness of those who served it. His charge to \u201csee that you fulfill\u201d suggests perseverance\u2014to carry the work through to completion, leaving nothing undone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like Archippus, we have each received a ministry from the Lord. It may not be a public platform or pastoral office, but God has entrusted to every believer a work to be faithfully completed. Sometimes we lose zeal or grow weary, needing the encouragement of others to press on. That\u2019s why Paul spoke through the church\u2014to remind us that ministry is not a solo effort. The fellowship of believers both affirms and strengthens God\u2019s call on our lives. When brothers and sisters speak truth in love, they help us stay faithful to our God-given task. Let\u2019s ask ourselves: Are we fulfilling the ministry we\u2019ve received? Are we encouraging others to do the same? God has placed us in the body so that through mutual exhortation we might finish the work the Lord has given us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for calling us to serve You in Christ. Help us to be faithful in the ministry You\u2019ve entrusted to us. Give us hearts that welcome both encouragement and correction from our brothers and sisters, so that together we may fulfill Your purpose. Strengthen us to finish well, for Your glory and for the edification of Your church. In Jesus\u2019 name, amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cAnd say to Archippus, \u2018See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord’” (Colossians 4:17 ESV). Paul concluded his letter to the Colossians with a personal exhortation to a man named Archippus. Although his name means \u201cmaster of horses,\u201d suggesting strength and leadership, Archippus still needed encouragement to remain faithful. He<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[],"scripture-book":[1318],"scripture-chapter":[1337],"oyb_day":[1808],"location":[],"class_list":["post-13638","oyb","type-oyb","status-publish","hentry","scripture-book-colossians","scripture-chapter-1337","oyb_day-october-8"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oyb\/13638","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oyb"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/oyb"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13638"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13638"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13638"},{"taxonomy":"scripture-book","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/scripture-book?post=13638"},{"taxonomy":"scripture-chapter","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/scripture-chapter?post=13638"},{"taxonomy":"oyb_day","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oyb_day?post=13638"},{"taxonomy":"location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/location?post=13638"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}