Ephesians 6:21-24

Ephesians 6:21-24

And in order that you all should also know the things according to me – that which I do – Tychikos the beloved brother and the faithful servant in the Lord will make all things known to you all.  I sent him to you all for this same reason, in order that you all should know the things regarding us and he should encourage your hearts.  Peace and love to the brothers with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Grace with all the ones who love our Lord Jesus Christ in an unceasing manner.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Tychikos is a man that we know little about, but he is someone that we know followed Paul and went out to various church leaders at Paul’s request.  We hear in Colossians 4:7 that he is a beloved and faithful man that Paul is sending to the Colossians.  In Titus 3:12 we get the idea that Paul sends Tychikos to Titus so that Titus could come back to him.  In Acts 20:4 we hear that Tychikos went into Greece with Paul.  What does all this tell us about Tychikos?  He is a faithful man who travelled with Paul and learned how to do ministry at his feet.  He is a trusted man of mission that Paul feels comfortable letting mission flow from Paul through Tychikos and into the world.  To put it simple, Tychikos likes Paul, listens to Paul, and is willing to serve Paul.

What about Tychikos makes him beloved and faithful?  Who would call you beloved and faithful?  Who do you like, listen to, and serve?  Who likes you, listens to you, and serves you?

Second Thought:

When we look past Tychikos we can see the mission of Tychikos.  Tychikos is sent to Ephesus and other places to encourage them.  He is sent to bring word from Paul and let them know how things are going with Paul.  He is an exhorter.  He is a truth speaker.  He’s not sent to give a sales-pitch or get money or lay down the law.  He is going to Ephesus to bring Paul’s letter to them and tell them how Paul is doing.  He is going to tell them the good and the bad: Paul’s spiritual victories and his worldly strife.  He is a mouthpiece of truth, but one who understands that the truth does encourage.

How would people be encouraged by the spiritual truth in Paul’s letter?  How would people be encouraged by hearing about Paul’s spiritual victories?  How would the people even be encouraged by hearing about Paul’s worldly strife?

Third Thought:

Paul ends this letter with a small blessing upon the people.  He asks that grace and peace come to those who love Christ in an unceasing manner.  The word “unceasing” is the last word in this letter in the original Greek.  It is a word that describes a process that is uninterrupted even by death.  Thus, Paul isn’t using the word “unceasing” to speak against people who occasionally have questions or even doubts.  Rather, he is reminding us that a genuine love of God passes through death.  A genuine love of God is a process – a way of life – not an emotion.  A love of God transcends our thoughts, or emotions, and our passion.  A genuine love of God is who we should be while knowing that it will pass through us into new life after death.

Do you think of a love of God as an emotion or a thought?  How should love be so much more than this?  What does it mean to you to hear Paul speak about love by using a word that implies a meaning of the eternal?

Passage for Tomorrow: 1 Corinthians 1:1-3