Warren Fisher

Ephesians 6:21-24 (NIV)
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.

23 Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

Reflection:
Have you ever reconnected with an old friend or a distant relative you haven’t seen in a while?  If you are true friends and have time for a real visit, one or the other will surely say, “Tell me everything!” Not the casual “How have you been?”…expecting (and maybe hoping for) “Oh, just fine,” so you can both move on. True friends really do want to know everything because they care for one another.

Paul truly cared about the Christians in Ephesus, and he knew that they cared about him. He recognized that the Ephesians would want to know about Paul’s life and ministry, and it was important for them to have that personal connection, so he sent Tychicus to tell them everything. But Tychicus also had another important job: to encourage the Ephesians.

Reading this passage reminds me of the many people who have told me everything about the good news of Christ and who have encouraged me, both in my faith and in life: family members, Sunday School leaders, a choir director, youth workers, school teachers, professional mentors and colleagues, and many more.  

I also think of the old friends I need to reach out to…and new friends I need to make…to tell my story and to hear theirs, so that we may encourage each other in faith, so that we may share in the peace, love, and grace that Paul wishes for us all in the closing lines.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.  Help me to tell my story and yours with truth and grace, encouraging all those who you bring into my path. Amen.