Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.
Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
I am constantly amazed at God’s grace … and in this case, Paul’s confidence in God.
Paul was imprisoned several times.
Most of us might consider that imprisonment to be an obstacle to spreading God’s word. Just think of how much more Paul might have done if he had been able to travel freely throughout the world.
Think of what he could have done if there had been churches who raised unlimited funds for him so he could travel to the far reaches of the earth and spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.
What if he could have opened a seminary and trained others to teach and lead, rather than just the few who traveled with him? Or, what if he had been given the liberty to start a mega-church … filling vast expanses of space with the faithful, ready to hear the words he spoke each week … inspiring them to be better people.
Paul was brilliant, he was motivated, he was passionate.
God used Paul while he was in prison, while he traveled to little known regions of a small area of the world, while he stayed with friends and spoke in homes to people who desperately wanted to know God.
There was never an obstacle because the spread of the message wasn't about Paul. He never allowed it to be about him. He was nothing.
Paul’s focus was always on God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. If he asked for anything, it was to be fearless, to be strong enough to deliver the message God had given to him.
It wasn't Paul’s message, it was God’s word and no matter where Paul was, he would deliver it to the people.
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