Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. 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.  I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you. Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. (NIV)

Imagine writing a letter by hand to your dear friend down in Ketchikan. Whatever you’re writing is urgent, but record snowfall has delayed mail service. All highways and airports are closed.

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If you want your friend to read what you’ve written, it must be hand delivered.

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Because you love your friend, and because you believe in the message you are sending, you will not choose just anybody off the streets of Anchorage to traverse roughly 1,600 miles to Ketchikan. You’ll choose someone who cares just as deeply about your mission as you do.

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This scenario is completely ridiculous, but there was a time when delivering messages was inconvenient. It was a labor of love.

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Imagine Paul, imprisoned in Rome, finishing his short letter to the Ephesians. How will it get from a prison in Rome to a church in Ephesus - a journey of roughly 1,700 miles?

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Enter Tychicus, Paul’s friend and personal attendant, a man who cared as deeply about Paul’s mission as Paul did. Tychicus was Paul’s “dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord” (Eph. 6:21).

From imprisonments to shipwrecks to letters that end up in the Bible, everything about Paul is legendary. He made history by furthering God’s kingdom through words that burn with just as much passion today as they did when they were first written. So, names like “Tychicus” are as easily skimmed over as the genealogy records of the Old Testament.

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But Tychicus was a flesh and blood man who made possible the widespread circulation of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. It would take him weeks to travel by road and sea, just to hand-deliver Paul’s letters. Without Tychicus’ faithfulness, this powerful letter we’ve studied for the past six weeks might have been lost.

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Truly, he embodies Paul’s message to the Ephesians: Each believer not only belongs in God’s family, but each has an important role in the body of Christ, no matter how small, unseen, or forgotten it all seems sometimes.

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As Paul was finishing his letter to the Ephesians, he wisely asked for prayer. In the body of Christ, prayer can heal and bind up wounds, it can strengthen and unify. We need each other. And just as Tychicus supported Paul’s work to “fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel” (Eph. 6:19), so we can, not only serve each other, but also help each other serve.  

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Today, how will you partner with your brothers and sisters in Christ to boldly share God’s truth? Like Tychicus, how far will you go to share God’s peace, love, faith, and grace (Eph. 6:23-24)?

Father God, we praise your holy name. You are worthy. May we be a body of believers worthy of the calling we’ve received (Eph. 4:1). By the power of your Spirit, help us build up one another so that we may “fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel” (Eph. 6:19). In the holy and precious name of Jesus I pray, amen.