www.bymonline.org | May 2020 | page 06
not want others to cast out demons in his Master's
name; he wanted the prestigious kingdom seats; he
boiled to the extent of bringing down fire from
heaven to consume the Samaritans who refused to
entertain Jesus. Such was his hot temper. So it was
second nature for him to trample on people's
nerves.
When he knew he had hurt someone, he
found it impossible to override his ego and
apologize to the concerned. But the scene of his
Master with the towel around His waist, stooping
down to wash his feet flashed across his mind. His
words, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have
washed your feet, you also should wash one
another's feet” jabbed his conscience (Jn 13:14). He
had to give a death blow to his ego before he learnt
his lessons in love. When he was old then he could
write, “Yet I am writing to you a new command...
Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his
brother, is still in darkness. Whoever loves his
brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him
to make him stumble.” (1 Jn 2:8-11).
If a 'Son of Thunder' could become an Apostle
of love, we all can - if we put our best foot forward. If
we say, “I am in the light, I am saved” yet continue
to harbour hatred in our hearts, we are in danger of
losing God's guidance and straying from His will.
We need an outpouring of divine love, without
which our world will lose colour. A life without love
is a tree without fruit.
What happens when the Father prunes us?
Come to Hebrews 12:11: “Now no chastening seems
to be joyful for the present but painful; nevertheless,
afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of
righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
Our suffering is not punishment but training.
Through chastening we learn to live right. I used to
ask God, “Lord, why do you punish me and then
make me realize my fault? Why don't you tell me
before I err?” That sounds logical indeed, but that's
not God's method. We learn to bear more and more
fruit when we go through God's discipline - fruit of
righteousness.
Remember, we did not choose God but He
chose us and put us in the world to “go” and bear
fruit that won't spoil (Jn 15:16). Epaphras “went”
and bore fruit and his fruit lasted (Col 1:7). He was
commended by Paul for his ministry of intercession
(4:12). Epaphras was the minister to the church at
Colosse, perhaps its founder. Paul says that the
people of Colosse heard the gospel from Epaphras.
“The gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout
the whole world - just as it has been doing among
you since the day you heard it and truly understood
God's grace. You learned it from Epaphras, who is a
faithful minister of Christ on our behalf and who also
told us of your love in the spirit” (Col 1:5-8).
I imagine how Epaphras started sharing the
good news to one, two and three, overcoming his
fear and shyness to talk to pagans, till it became a
church in Colosse. He did not stop there but
worked hard for those at Laodicea and Hieropolis
(4:13). This explains why some Christians seem to
soar while others barely get off the ground.
Archippus exercised a fruitful ministry here (4:17;
Phile 2). Philemon and Onesimus were active
members of this church (Col 4:9). This is how a
small seed becomes a tree in which birds come and
perch (Mt 13:31,32). May be he became a prisoner
with Paul (Phile 23). Each of us should raise up a
congregation in our locality. God smiles on those
who have the courage to go on.
Leela, a retired missionary of Blessing Youth
Mission was a Poojari's daughter. She started
talking to village folk and a few gathered to listen to