Thank you to Pat for this week’s MWB
Mid Week Bridge 2nd July: Ephesians . 6 v.21-22
21 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. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.
We focus on Tychicus today, who was from Asia Minor and who is actually mentioned five times in the New Testament (Acts 20:4; Eph 6:21; Col 4:7; 2 Tim 4:12; Tit 3:12). So we know a bit more about him in comparison to others Paul mentions and can get a bigger picture of his valued and appreciated work for the kingdom alongside Paul and the team.
Tychicus played a crucial role in delivering messages and collections to the early churches and was chosen to accompany Paul on his third missionary journey. Paul refers to Tychicus as a ‘dear brother’ and ‘faithful servant’, proving his dedication as he again and again was responsible in very practical ways, especially travelling around, carrying letters and greetings, and sharing news. So Tychicus was recognised for his faithfulness and trustworthiness in spreading news of how the gospel was spreading and how the different communities were growing in faith and remaining steadfast through challenges. I suppose we could say he literally carried the Gospel message – having in his hands some of the epistles written by Paul.
It’s obvious from v. 22 that Tychicus was a great encourager with the responsibility to recount to the churches what was happening with Paul and the other communities. I imagine him to be an enthusiastic visitor who told believers about the amazing things God was doing through the preaching of the message of Jesus.
- Are we eager to tell others about what God is doing in our life and the lives of those we know and serve amongst?
- Are we good encouragers and willing communicators of the gospel?
- Would people call us trustworthy? Can we be relied upon to carry out a task, even if it means going the extra mile – as it did literally for Tychicus?
Heavenly Father, help us to be encouraged by what you are doing in our lives and to glorify you as we share our testimonies with each another. Strengthen us by your Holy Spirit to do all you ask of us and be committed to taking your message to those who as yet don’t know you or who are floundering in their faith due to difficult challenges. May we be trustworthy in all situations, obedient in all we do and truthful in all we say. In Jesus’ name. Amen