No Solo Christians
Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.
Colossians 4:7–9 ESV Read More
These are endnotes to the book of Colossians, but they can show us part of Paul’s lifestyle as he practiced what he preached through this letter. He is living out the Gospel just as he has admonished the Colossians to live.
Paul was not alone
If being a loner is a spiritual strength, then you’d think Paul would be top notch John Wayne Solo. Nope. Paul always had people traveling with him, staying with him, and hosting him. Paul even had people with him when he was thrown in jail! He knew the importance of the Body of Christ being together and doing things together. He showed that he was not such a super-hero that he didn’t need anybody’s help. There are several letters where he expresses this even more clearly, asking for help or thanking churches for coming to his aid when he was desperate.
Paul cared about what others thought
Not in a peer-pressure way, but in a mutual care and love for one another way. Paul wasn’t too proud to recognize that other people genuinely cared about him and were concerned about his well-being. He wanted Tychicus and Onesimus to inform people of how he was doing there in jail. He knew those guys could encourage the church with their stories of what all was going on, and he wanted them to tell those stories.
Paul didn’t hide
Finally, the stuff that happened to Paul was working in his life and making him stronger, just as the things happening to every believer work to grow our faith. Paul wanted the activities of the Gospel work to be shared, no matter how difficult or dangerous, to inspire others. I had a friend once that said, “When we get together, if we don’t have anything about the Bible to talk about, we should read the Bible together until we do!” That lifestyle is amazing and not in vain.
Paul lived it and taught it and then encouraged others to live and tell it too. When he sent his friends out to tell the story, he wasn’t sure they would ever come back. If your friends have left and might not come back, you need to get into some kind of group of other Christians to help you along! It’s not easy at the start, especially if you don’t know anyone yet, but your future self 3 months from now will thank you!
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