As a kid I loved to watch professional wrestling especially with my grandfather who thought it incredibly funny. He could see through the muscle bound pageantry of the matches as he spent quite a bit of his youth boxing. None the less, Hulk Hogan, Randy Macho Man Savage, Superfly Jimmy Snuka, and my favorite, George the Animal Steele were fun to watch. (George would eat the trim buckle) But that is hardly what it means to truly wrestle or fight.
In Ancient Greek culture wrestling was a form of unarmed combat and a means of defense and was often quite brutal. It was considered the sport of the gods. It was the activity of heroes like Hercules. And it’s objective was to throw one’s opponent to the ground and pin him. So when Paul uses this to describe prayer it has this context.
“Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.”
Colossians 4:12 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/col.4.12.NIV
Epapharus is always wrestling in prayer for you…
Have you ever known anyone who prays like this? Have you been around a person who goes to battle for others on his or her knees? Have you been a part of prayer that throws evil to the ground and forces it to submit? This type of prayer is powerful and effective! And maybe more than ever we need people who pray like a wrestler!
Be that person. Commit to wrestling for others in prayer. Start today.
