保罗的外邦人朋友
歌罗西书四章12至15节
12有你们那里的人，作基督耶稣仆人的以巴弗问你们安。他在祷告之间，常为你们竭力地祈求，愿你们在神一切的旨意上得以完全，信心充足，能站立得稳。
13他为你们和老底嘉并希拉波立的弟兄多多的劳苦，这是我可以给他作见证的。
14所亲爱的医生路加和底马问你们安。
15请问老底嘉的弟兄和宁法，并他家里的教会安。
信息分享
以巴弗是歌罗西的信徒，所以他深知歌罗西教会的情况和需要。他没有祈求神供应他们的物质需要；反之，他祈求神使他们在灵命上成长。以巴弗最渴望的，是歌罗西信徒能在基督里得以长大成熟，能够确知他们在基督里的身份。我们最热切祈求的是甚么？是朋友肉身需要，抑或他们的属灵成长？
接着，我们便看见忠心的朋友路加，和背弃他的底马。
保罗称路加是「亲爱的医生」。保罗拥有治病的恩赐，但他仍然要一位医生与他同行。可想而知，当保罗生病的时候，他是准备接受医生的诊断和一般的药物治疗。
至于底马，保罗在此没有特别谈论他。可是，在提摩太后书四章10节，保罗则指出底马因贪爱世界而离开他。这是甚么意思呢？他是否太顾惜生命，以致不愿意为基督牺牲？或是他被罗马的繁华所吸引，以致离弃信仰？
我们不能对底马过于苛责，因为我们岂不也是一样，经常重视世界甚于基督，重视钱财的保障甚于属灵的能力？但愿我们都以他为鉴。
他们是保罗的其中一些朋友，我们从保罗在信末的几句简单问候，便可见保罗如何珍惜朋友。我们对朋友又怎样呢？我们关心朋友吗？我们会为朋友祷告吗？愿我们都反省自己对待朋友的态度，并且求神帮助我们能爱护和珍惜朋友。
PAUL'S GENTILE FRIENDS
Colossians 4:12-15
12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
13 For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.
14 Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.
15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house.
Message
What a great illustration of the power of Christ which I transformed a narrow-minded Jew into an international evangelist.
Epaphras came from Colosse so he knew the circumstances of the church and its need. He did not pray for material blessings for them but pleaded with God for their spiritual development. Epaphras longed that the Colossian Christians might fully develop in Christ and become mature Christians, absolutely certain of their position in Christ. Which do we pray for the most? The physical health of our friends or their spiritual development?
Then there were Luke and Demas-the faithful friend and the unfaithful one.
Paul called Luke the beloved physician. Paul had the gift of healing yet he had a medical doctor travelling with him. Paul was prepared to use ordinary means and trained personnel when this was needed.
What about Demas? What happened to him? We would love to know more. Paul says nothing about him here. Is that silence significant? In 2 Timothy 4:10 Paul says that Demas J deserted him, having loved this present world. What does he mean? Did he love his own life too much to lay it down for Christ? Did the worldly attractions of Rome prove too much for him?
We must not be too hard on Demas. All too often we ourselves put this world before Christ and put material possessions before spiritual power. Let Demas be a warning to us all.
These were some of Paul's friends. Notice how much they meant to him. What about our friends? How many do we have? How much time do we spend with them? How often do we pray for them? Think over again the whole matter of friendship and ask God to make you the kind of friend he wants you to be.