DEC 20

Colossians 4:8
Memorise Romans 12:5
“…he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts…”

Paul expands about the role he gave Tychicus in Colossians 4:7a, 8 “All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you…Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts.” There were two reasons why Paul sent Tychicus to the Colossae. The first was to let the Colossians know how Paul was faring under house arrest in Rome. Certainly the Colossians would have been concerned and perhaps even discouraged to know that Paul was in bonds, and the news that Tychicus brought about Paul would comfort their hearts. Evidently Tychicus would verbally share more about Paul’s situation than Paul’s letter would share. The second reason was to get first-hand information from them about how the church was coping with the attack of the false teachers that Paul was concerned about in Colossians 2:1. Thus we see that Paul did not simply exhort or give instructions from a distance, but sent a trusted minister Tychicus to help out the church as well. Here we can see the love that Paul had for the flock, for even though he was hundreds of miles away with many other churches to care for, he was still greatly concerned for them. Tychicus would have been very helpful to him in his need, yet Paul cared more for the brethren at Colossae and thought it more beneficial that he be sent to them. Such was the love and care that Paul had for his flock. 

Dear teen, there will inevitably be some brethren of your age who are leaving or have left, perhaps for overseas studies or other reasons. Although you personally have several cares of your own, and there are friends locally who occupy your time, do you still strive to keep in touch with those brethren overseas? Believers should be concerned about the spiritual well-being of those overseas, while those overseas will be seeking for news on what is happening in their church back home. When I was overseas for a year, I received the church bulletin weekly that kept me updated; but that was nothing compared to the short visits brethren paid to me, or the personal letters I received. As there was no B-P church where I was then, such visits and letters encouraged me greatly in the faith and also warned me of the dangers around me that I was unaware of. Speaking from this experience, I pray that you will keep in touch with overseas brethren, not just on trivial matters, but on the spiritual, that they may be encouraged knowing that while they are physically ‘apart’, they are still spiritually ‘a part’ of this body of Christ together with us. 

Thought: Who have I neglected to keep in touch with?
Prayer: That I start keeping in touch again with overseas brethren I have neglected.