There is something about considering unsung heroes that’s kind of refreshing. Time spent noodling on those lesser known, hardly mentioned, every day Christians who are called out by the Spirit of God in the word of God for a bit of recognition. They aren’t the Elishas or the Pauls or the Peters . . . they’re not the preachers or the miracle workers . . . they don’t stand before kings and rulers . . . they are pretty much the nobodies . . . who faithfully and sacrificially serve Christ . . . and Paul says, “Hold such men in esteem” (Philippians 2:29b).

The unsung hero I’m reflecting upon this morning is Epaphroditus. Pretty Greek sounding name . . . a believer from Philippi . . . and, says Paul, “my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier.” To those at Philippi, he was their “messenger” the one they had sent to Rome to deliver a “care package” to Paul and to minister to the imprisoned apostle. (Php. 2:25, 4:18)

That he was loved by Paul and by those in his home church is evident. It seems that at some point after delivering the gift, while he was remaining in Rome to serve Paul, that he became “sick almost unto death” (2:27). The illness being serious enough and lasting long enough that news of it made its way back to the believers at his home church. But by God’s mercy he recovered . . . and longed for his church family, distressed because of the worry he had caused those back home. And so, Paul sent him back to Philippi . . . that they might “see him again and rejoice.” (2:28)

And Paul says of this everyday guy, who determined to serve Christ in a kind of low-key, practical way, “Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking (i.e. doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away) in your service toward me.” (2:29-30)

Such men . . . they are to be esteemed . . . honored . . . held in high regard. Such men . . . are those who see a need and sense a call and step up to meet it. Such men . . . are servants who become brothers . . . fellow workers . . . fellow soldiers. They are loved by their brothers and sisters in Christ, they are valued by those “on the front lines.” Such men . . . seek to do the “work of Christ” . . . sometimes at great personal material and physical expense. Such men . . . are to be received . . . welcomed as models for what nobodies can do, when Somebody calls them to a work — even a low-profile, backstage, out of the limelight, type of work.

Epaphroditus didn’t wake up one morning and determine to be “such men” . . . wasn’t looking for honor or esteem. Instead, each day he woke up, I imagine, determined to faithfully serve God . . . whether that be another day of “normal routine” Christ’s ambassador at large or meeting a particular need to get a gift from the body of believers to one in chains for Christ at Rome.

Praise God for such men . . .