Introduction
This is our last day of study in Ephesians. Congratulations. You have made it through seven weeks of deep study on this book. Along the way, we have learned about how our salvation comes by faith through grace, the need to move from the old self to the new self, and the implications of the Gospel on different roles, to name a few. It’s been quite an adventure. Thank you for walking through it with us. Today, Paul closes his letter out.
Today’s Scripture
Ephesians 6:21-24, New Living Translation
To bring you up to date, Tychicus will give you a full report about what I am doing and how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper in the Lord’s work. I have sent him to you for this very purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you. Peace be with you, dear brothers and sisters, and may God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you love with faithfulness. May God’s grace be eternally upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.
Explanation and Reflection
In closing his letter, Paul talks about a good friend named Tychicus. The relationship between Paul and Tychicus teaches us a lot about godly friendships in just a few verses.
- Friends are family
Paul talks about how Tychicus is his “beloved brother.” Over time, when people live and serve alongside one another in the church, they become family. If you don’t invest in regular attendance and serving in the church for an extended time, it’s hard to cultivate these types of relationships. Spontaneous and sporadic involvement doesn’t work. It’s also important to note that regular attendance at events where you can’t talk to others (like church services) doesn’t facilitate family development either. The Sunday-only Christian thing doesn’t work here. The two most relational ways you can engage in the church are serving and small groups. Here, you learn names, work with others to solve problems, share burdens, etc. You have to ask the following question: Do I consider church just a “me and God event” or do I consider church a family where I invest slow time and deep energy into relationships? Only the latter produces family. - Friends are faithful
Biblical friendship happens when people show up. That sounds simple and it is, but simple isn’t always easy. Paul refers to Tychicus as a “faithful helper”. Do you have a faithful helper in your life? Are you a faithful helper to someone else? The reality is that the more you pour into being a faithful helper to others, the more you will have faithful helpers in your life. We all need people in our lives that we can wake up at two in the morning to talk to because we can’t sleep due to worry. Are we offering ourselves to someone to be that? Be a reliable friend by showing up, listening, and loving others well. - Friends are encouraging
Healthy relationships have many dynamics. Among those is encouragement. Paul sends Tychicus to encourage the believers at Ephesus. Encouragement is not just affirmation. It is the delicately held tension between affirmation and challenge. It gently and lovingly says, “You can do it. I believe in you.” But it also says, “You can go farther and harder.” Encouragement doesn’t leave people under-challenged or over-challenged. It sees more potential in people while celebrating progress.
Followers of Jesus should have the highest quality of friendships with believers and nonbelievers out of all the people in the world. This is because we have the best example of what it means to be an excellent friend in the model of Jesus.
Question of the Day
Here’s a question for you to think about and apply.
Do you have a friend or a couple of good friends in the church? Who are they? If not, how can you get involved in church beyond the Sunday service to begin to make some deeper friendships?