Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
Get It Done!
Today’s Verse:
And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it. ~Colossians 4:17
Warren Bennis was considered one of the foremost experts on leadership. He made a powerful statement that differentiates a leader from a manager: “Managers do things right; leaders do the right things.” Doing the right things includes getting things done. It does not matter how grand a plan you have, how great your product or service is, or how many people are in an organization if things don’t get done. The same is vitally true about the work of the Lord. Too many well-meaning people do things, but few get things done. This morning, we see a man who was exhorted to get it done.
We see the man.
Archippus is mentioned in Colossians 4:17 and Philemon 1:2. First, we see the son. He was the son of Philemon and Apphia. From what we can tell, he was a loyal and loving son to his parents. Second, we see that he was saved. Paul was writing to a man that was a saved and baptized member of the church at Colossae. Third, he was a shepherd. Archippus was the pastor of the church at Colossae. This is also inferred from Paul’s description of him as a fellowsoldier. This was a way of saying he was in the trenches, fighting the spiritual battles against the enemy and winning souls to Christ. Fourth, he is noted for his strength. His name means “master of the horses.” He was a godly man and he was God’s man.
We see his mandate.
“Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord.” The church at Colossae was given the task to exhort Archippus about the ministry that he had in the Lord. The word for ministry means the place where you serve or a servant of the Lord. There was the ministry of preaching. He had needed to be read and studied up in order to feed the flock of God. His duty was to feed their souls the Word of God. There was the ministry of prayer. One of the foremost responsibilities of a pastor is the praying that he does for his congregation. There was the ministry to the people. He needed to make disciples, train leaders, comfort hurting members, correct those who were in sin, and be a good example of living for the Lord. He also needed to be prudent. "Take heed" is one word in Greek, which means to perceive well or be discerning.
We see his mission.
“...That thou fulfil it.” Paul told the church to exhort Archippus to get it done. Getting things done means we must finish what we start. Getting things done means we must be productive. Preaching is to derive decisions. Soulwinning is done to see people saved. Comforting people is to help them find hope in the Lord. Correcting people in sin is to restore them to fellowship with the Lord. Execution demands vision, a plan, predetermined check points, and lasting results. We must be good stewards of our time and make every minute count.
Are you someone who gets things done? Take heed to the ministry that God has given you. Paul’s mandate for Archippus applies to everything we do in life. It helps us not to clutter our life with undone projects and to get things done. We must get things done because it glorifies God. We must get things done because it blesses the people following us. We must get things done or God’s work suffers.
Have a diligent God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Isaiah 28-30
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