The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"Faithful and Fateful"
The Apostle Paul mentions a man named Tychicus four times in his epistles, affirming him as "a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord" (Colossians 4:7). Paul twice references sending him to churches "that that he might comfort your hearts" (Ephesians 6:22; Colossians 4:8).
His name means "fateful," and most certainly he played a vital role as one who brought the Lord's balm to wounded hearts. We all rejoice in such brothers and sisters in Christ, faithful ones who become fateful because they know the Lord and His truth well enough to lift up the hurting and the fallen. "The God of all comfort" calls them to draw near us in the willingness to add their shoulders to the bearing of our burdens (II Corinthians 1:3).
While some may be especially gifted in such ministry, we all have a a role in serving as our Heavenly Father's messengers of mercy to the tired and hurting. "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2). Like Tychicus, we become fateful indeed when thus serving our Lord and His people. Throughout the history of the church, how many believers have been kept from discouragement, or delivered from it, when God sends a Tychicus to remind, encourage, and challenge weary hearts to "consider Him… lest ye be wearied and faint in your hearts?" (Hebrews 12:3). Moreover, how many acts of obedience and ministry to others resulted from a brother refreshed by another brother faithful and fateful? "Ye had compassion of me in my bonds" wrote the author of Hebrews to fellow believers, whose help may have played a role in his opportunity and ability to pen the epistle (Hebrews 10:34).
We do well to daily offer ourselves to the Lord for service as "the one who will lift up his fellow" (Ecclesiastes 4:10). Such fateful service to God and others will surely prove far more consequential than we will ever know. Our brother Tychicus shines through the ages on Scriptural pages for the glory of the God of all comfort, who will send us likewise as the faithfulness of consecration leads to the fatefulness of comfort.
"Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do."
(I Thessalonians 5:11)
Weekly Memory Verses
His greatness is unsearchable.
(Psalm 145:3).
His understanding is infinite.
(Psalm 147:5)
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