“My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings.” (Colossians 4:10)
What kind of Christ-follower will you be? We’re mining Paul’s ministry buddies mentioned in Colossians 4 for ideas.
Of all those buddies, Aristrarchus is the only one Paul calls a “fellow prisoner.” Since Paul likely wrote these words as a prisoner in Rome for preaching about Jesus, it makes sense that Aristarchus might have been under arrest for the same thing.
That would mean that even though he wasn’t the apostle, the head guy, he was still willing to lose his freedom to tell others about Christ. It sounds like he took Jesus’ words seriously: “Anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Mark 10:38-39)
Jesus is looking for followers willing to lose it all for his sake, willing to sacrifice everything to walk the path he’s called them to. Are you an Aristarchus?
Think: Have you ever considered what you might be willing to give up to live for Jesus? Do you think you would be more or less likely to tell others about his plan for salvation if it meant risking your life?
Pray: Ask God to help you to be willing to risk everything to follow the path he’s called you to walk.
Do: Want to know more about persecution in the early church? Read this interesting article from Probe Ministries.