Colossians 4:10

Colossians 4:10 says, Aristarchus my fellow prisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)  After telling the church at Colosse who he was sending to them, Paul continued to tell them about others who were with him, starting with Aristarchus and Mark, his  fellow prisoners.  We don't know much about Aristarchus, but Mark, Barnabas's nephew, had once started on a missionary journey with Paul and Barnabas and had turned back.  This led to a split between them, but now Paul was speaking well of Mark, who also would write the book of Mark.  Just because we may at one point disagree with another Christian doesn't mean that we should let that disagreement rule the way the treat them forever.  Verse eleven adds, And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.  Paul then concluded by naming Jesus, who was called Justis, who was a Jew, as a fellow laborer, and said those mentioned were his only fellowworkers for the kingdom of God.  Though they were very different in the eyes of the world, they were all joined together by faith in Jesus Christ.  We may all be different in the view of the world, but as followers of Christ we are all united by our faith in Him.  Verse twelve states, Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.  Paul then mentioned Epaphras, who was from Colosse, as saluting them and said that he was always laboring fervently for them in prayer.  We may not thank of prayer as laboring for others, but if we are fervent in our prayers, it should be.  Verse thirteen adds, For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.  Paul said that he would vouch for the faithfulness of Epaphras in praying not only for the church at Colosse, but for the church at Laodicea and Hierapolis as well.  We should never limit our prayers to our home church, but should be fervently in prayer for others as well.  Verse fourteen says, Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.  Paul said that Luke, who was a physician and who would write both the book of Luke and the book of Acts, greeted them.  He did not hold himself to be above them, but considered himself to be a fellow laborer for Christ.  No matter what we may do in the world, we as Christians should always know that with God we are all equal.  Verse fifteen says, Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.  Paul then asked them to salute the brethren at Laodicea and Nymphas, whose home the church at Colosse met in.  Verse sixteen adds, And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.  Paul asked that they read his epistle, or letter at the church at Laodicea, and that they also read the letter written to Laodicea.  This implies that Paul had also written a letter to the church at Laodicea, but if he did, we do not have it.  Verse seventeen continues, And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.  Paul also asked that they ask Archippus to take heed to the ministry that he had received from the Lord and to be faithful in it.  We need to always encourage and support preachers today to be faithful in their calling from God.  Verse eighteen concludes, The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen. Written from Rome to the Colossians by Tychicus and Onesimus.  Paul concluded the letter by asking them to remember him in his bonds and asked that the grace of God be with them.  We need to ask that other Christians pray that we might continue to be faithful to God today, no matter what our status in the world may be.