Colossians 4:7-18 (NLT)
7 Tychicus, a
much loved brother, will tell you how I am getting along. He is a faithful
helper who serves the Lord with me. 8 I have sent him on this special trip
to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you. 9 I am also sending
Onesimus, a faithful and much loved brother, one of your own people. He
and Tychicus will give you all the latest news.
10 Aristarchus, who is in prison with me, sends you his greetings, and so
does Mark, Barnabas’s cousin. And as you were instructed before, make
Mark welcome if he comes your way. 11 Jesus (the one we call Justus) also
sends his greetings. These are the only Jewish Christians among my
co-workers; they are working with me here for the Kingdom of God. And what
a comfort they have been! 12 Epaphras, from your city, a servant of Christ
Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking
God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident of the whole will of
God. 13 I can assure you that he has agonized for you and also for the
Christians in Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 Dear Doctor Luke sends his
greetings, and so does Demas. 15 Please give my greetings to our Christian
brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and those who meet in her
house. 16 After you have read this letter, pass it on to the church at
Laodicea so they can read it, too. And you should read the letter I wrote
to them. 17 And say to Archippus, “Be sure to carry out the work the
Lord gave you.” 18 Here is my greeting in my own handwriting—Paul.
Remember my chains. May the grace of God be with you.
On face value,
Paul is just giving a list of the names of people who are with him, and
people he wants to be remembered to.
BUT—behind
every name is a personality.
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Read each name and make a mental note of what that person must have been
like from Paul’s comments.
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NOW—get a piece of paper or notebook. Imagine that you are Paul and
writing about your friends in the same way that Paul has about his.
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Think—Who would be your ‘Tychicus’ or ‘Onesimus’?
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Who would be your ‘Aristarchus’, ‘Mark’, or ‘Justus’?
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Who fulfils the role of ‘Epaphrus’ for you? - who prays for
you—asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident of the
whole will of God. [v12]
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How can you get friends like this who will stand by you and support you
in your faith?
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Think—Are you being a friend to someone else in this way?
Go to Day One
