COLOSSIANS 4:7-9
FAITHFUL FRIENDS
Colossians 4:7-9 (BSB) Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about us, and that he may encourage your hearts. With him I am sending Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.
Paul was blessed with faithful friends
Who served alongside and encouraged him.
He introduced many of his co-ministers to Christ,
Showing them the way from death to life.
In God’s familyship, his friends were brothers.
They were people to be trusted like no others.
Some served as his scribes taking dictation.
Some carried his letters to other nations.
They represented Jesus as well as Paul
And helped him spread the Good News to all.
Like Paul, we, too, have been blessed with faithful friends. We like to call them “bonus family” because we are all part of the “familyship” of God. This past year (2020) was extremely challenging for us. On May 29th, the day after her annual physical, Susie’s leg collapsed, and she screamed out in pain as she caught herself on the kitchen counter. She thought she had a hip fracture, but after x-rays and an MRI, we found out she was in dire need of back surgery. This meant that Susan needed a place to stay and people to care for her while Susie recovered. We found a fantastic personal care home with only three clients at a time, but it was expensive. Our faithful friends contributed to and covered most of the cost of Susan’s care. “Bonus family” also brought meals, took Susie to appointments, cared for our plants, helped Susie ease back into caring for me, and blessed us in myriad other ways.
The question we must all ask ourselves from time to time is, “Am I a faithful friend?” Are we serving others as Jesus instructed His disciples? Do we remember what Jesus told them? “Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he must be the last of all and the servant of all.’” (Mark 9:35 BSB)
Father, help us to serve others, following Your example. Help us to be faithful friends, putting others’ needs above our own. May we be like the faithful, persistent friends who lowered the man through the roof to Jesus, hoping he would be healed. Thank You, Lord, for the faithful friends You have given us who have become our “Bonus Family.”