Colossians 4:7-18 - Justus - Serving in the Background
Another name that appears on the lists of ten names in Colossians 4:7-18 is Justus.
Justus is the only person on this list of names about whom we know absolutely nothing but his name. As such, I believe he is representative of the many unknown, unrecognized saints who made up the early church. Thousands of people came to faith in Christ in the 1st century. Out of those thousands, we know the names of only a small handful of those people. The vast majority of early Christians served God faithfully, even giving their very lives for Him, in total obscurity.
There’s lesson for us to learn from that. It should not be the motive of Christians to call attention to themselves. We are to point beyond ourselves to God. It should not be our desire to elevate ourselves or to build up ourselves. Instead, we are to elevate, to build up, and to glorify the Lord Jesus.
That is a lesson Jesus constantly drove home to His disciples. Remember that incident when Jesus and His disciples were traveling to Jerusalem just prior to His crucifixion. Somewhere near Jericho, just about 20 or so miles to the east of Jerusalem, James and John approached Him and asked for places of special honor, prestige, and position in His coming kingdom. The other disciples heard the request and became angry, probably because James and John had beaten them to the punch. Jesus called them together and made this incredible statement to them: “...whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” [Mark 10:43-44]
For more detailed notes on Colossians go to http://www.larryreynolds.org-a.googlepages.com/home)
Colossians 4:7-18 - Justus - Serving in the Background
Another name that appears on the lists of ten names in Colossians 4:7-18 is Justus.
Justus is the only person on this list of names about whom we know absolutely nothing but his name. As such, I believe he is representative of the many unknown, unrecognized saints who made up the early church. Thousands of people came to faith in Christ in the 1st century. Out of those thousands, we know the names of only a small handful of those people. The vast majority of early Christians served God faithfully, even giving their very lives for Him, in total obscurity.
There’s lesson for us to learn from that. It should not be the motive of Christians to call attention to themselves. We are to point beyond ourselves to God. It should not be our desire to elevate ourselves or to build up ourselves. Instead, we are to elevate, to build up, and to glorify the Lord Jesus.
That is a lesson Jesus constantly drove home to His disciples. Remember that incident when Jesus and His disciples were traveling to Jerusalem just prior to His crucifixion. Somewhere near Jericho, just about 20 or so miles to the east of Jerusalem, James and John approached Him and asked for places of special honor, prestige, and position in His coming kingdom. The other disciples heard the request and became angry, probably because James and John had beaten them to the punch. Jesus called them together and made this incredible statement to them: “...whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” [Mark 10:43-44]
For more detailed notes on Colossians go to http://www.larryreynolds.org-a.googlepages.com/home)
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