You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

Here Paul and Timothy do a couple of very important things: 1) They commend Epaphras to the church as a faithful minister, and 2) They highlight the positive things that Epaphras told them about the church.

The church in Colossae was being attacked by false doctrine. When evil forces or people attack a church, they start with its leaders. So we know that Epaphras was attacked here by inference. And when there is divisiveness in teaching in a church, the overall church leaders should restore confidence in the one who faithfully taught the truth.

Not only do they commend Epaphras, they speak what they can about how he complimented the church. He told Paul and Timothy of their love in the Spirit.

This was such an important starting place with this letter. And I think it models for me how to reconcile people to myself that may be distant, and how to back up leaders. Focus on commending the good work of other leaders and the positive things that these leaders say about those they are leading.

Lord, thank you for the way you support and encourage me in leadership. Teach me to follow this example set by Paul and Timothy and seek your heart in encouraging other leaders.