Wednesday, 18th October, 2017 (St Luke the Evangelist)

Colossians 4:10-18 (NKJV)

Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), 11and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me. 12Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 13For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis. 14Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you. 15Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house. 16Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. 17And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfil it.” 18This salutation by my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.

In this passage, Paul commended the effort of some fellow workers who had earnestly laboured with him in God’s vineyard and who had been steadfast in their faith despite the challenges they had encountered on the way. One of them was St. Luke the Evangelist, whom we remember in the Church today. St Luke was a physician by profession (Col. 4:14), a seasoned companion of Paul during his missionary journey (Acts 16:10, 2 Tim 4:11, Philem. 24), and also the writer of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles

God has given everyone a gift, talent, ministry, and even the ability to work for the kingdom. That God placed you in that working place, that business line, somewhere you go to fetch a living, does not stop you from spreading the Good News of His Kingdom. Wherever we find ourselves we should use it as an avenue to tell people around how God would make their lives better through the goods and services do.  Was it not God who made us and gave us access to what we have to give to people in need of our services? Remember, when we judiciously render good services, by word, by work, then we are surely labouring for God’s Kingdom.

THOUGHT: Help me, O God to always and earnestly spread the Good News of God’s Kingdom wherever I am.