| Paul had many enemies but he also had some very wonderful friends. They travelled with him. They cared for him and even went to prison with him. They were part of his evangelistic team. Have you ever tried to count up the total number of friends Paul mentions in his epistles? Who does Paul name here in this passage? Who was Tychicus? He was from Asia (Acts 20:4) and he carried this epistle to the church at Colosse. He seems to have meant a lot to Paul. He calls Tychicus a 'beloved brother' and a 'faithful servant'. Tychicus remained faithful to Paul to the very end. Paul speaks of this in Titus 3:12 and in 2 Timothy 4:12. Remember it was dangerous in those days to be a friend of a prisoner, especially one condemned to death. But love for Christ and the genuineness of Christian friendship kept Tychicus at Paul's side right through. How faithful are you to your friends? Onesimus was going to travel with Tychicus. We call him the 'runaway slave' but Paul never called him that. He said 'our faithful and beloved brother'. Do we too often identify someone like this 'You know-the fellow who was the drunkard, the alcoholic or the woman who used to be on drugs'? Why don't we forget the past? Paul always said the very best he could of any fellow-Christian. Then he mentions three Jewish friends, Aristarchus, Mark and Justus. Aristarchus was a Jew from Macedonia (Acts 20:4) who was faithful under difficult circumstances, as in the riots in Ephesus and when Paul sailed as a prisoner to Rome. Aristarchus shared with Paul in all the experiences on the way to Rome and even in prison. Mark was the young man who finally made good. Here Paul warmly commends him. Justus is unknown to us except for this reference. God's honour roll has many such names, unknown to us but known and loved by God and by a few of the Lord's people. | 
沒有留言:
張貼留言