Another Selfless Servant

One of my favorite New Testament names is “Epaphroditus”.  I just like the way it rolls off the tongue.  Perhaps our younger readers could consider it for their next born son?  Probably not!  Anyway, here is what Paul has to say about this man in Philippians 2:25-30: “²⁵ Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; ²⁶ since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. ²⁷ For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸ Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. ²⁹ Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; ³⁰ because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.”  This portion of Paul’s letter has been about selfless service and Epaphroditus is another example.  It is likely that he was the one who delivered the news to Paul about the situation in the city of Philippi but while with Paul he became ill, almost to death. Paul writes that God had mercy on Epaphroditus and he recovered.  The phrase that I want to focus on is in verse 30:  “³⁰ because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.”  I don’t know if I’ll ever “come close to death” because of my service for Christ but I think this is the attitude that Christ followers are called to have. When we receive Christ as Savior, we are redeemed…our life is no longer our own…we are bought with the price of the blood of Christ.  I hope that our desire is then to allow the Holy Spirit to live through us as He sees fit, even if means significant sacrifice.  We have already read about the sacrifice of Jesus in this chapter. We have read about Paul, Timothy and Epaphroditus.  When and if someone writes your story, will sacrifice for Christ be a significant part of the book?