June 27 - Colossians 4:7-9

June 27 - Colossians 4:7-9
   
“Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.”

One of the fun things to discover in Paul’s letters is that some of these characters show up in other places.

Tychicus is a dear brother, a faithful minister and a fellow servant.  From Ephesians 6:21, we glean the same information and in Acts 20:4 we discover that he was from Asia.  Paul spoke of him in a letter to Timothy and in his letter to Titus (2 Timothy 4:12 and Titus 3:12). 

The main purpose of his journey to the Colossians is for them to know what is happening with Paul and those traveling with him and so that he may encourage their hearts.  What a wonderful thing. 

I have a friend who hears from another friend we have in common pretty randomly.  Every email or phone call that she receives, though is simply information or asking for a favor.  Not once has this friend in common ever asked how my friend is or what is happening in her life.  There is no encouragement that comes.

Paul had every reason to be thinking of himself as he continually dealt with persecution and imprisonment, but his expressly sent Tychicus to the Colossians to encourage them, even with information about Paul’s state.  This is the type of friend we want to have – this is the type of friend we want to be!

Onesimus was a runaway slave belonging to Philemon.  He was converted and from this we also know that he was from Colosse. 

These two men, along with others we have yet to meet were part of Paul’s immediate support system.  He released them to share his message when he could no longer travel.  They were close to him and he loved them dearly.  But, his love for the churches and the desire to continue spreading the Gospel of Jesus was greater than his own need.