As Paul faced the difficulties of imprisonment, he was more concerned about the people in Ephesus than he was about himself. Rather than keeping Tychicus close at hand for his personal benefit, Paul sent him back to bless the people in Asia Minor. Even in his times of difficulty and danger, Paul was more concerned to bless than he was to be blessed. Isn't that a great example to us today? We often get upset about minor inconveniences, and let our being upset ruin our attitude toward everyone around us. Paul's example should convict us and lead us to be a blessing to others regardless of our circumstances.
Video Commentary...
We've included Phil's ToGather video from four years ago as an added blessing to our verse today:
Father, please forgive me for letting my difficulties ruin my attitude. I want to be a blessing to others regardless of my personal circumstances. Convict me with your Spirit when I begin to focus too much on myself and my personal situations. Expand my heart with your grace so that I can use my inconveniences, problems, struggles, and challenges to be opportunities to share and display your grace. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
"If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part...."
![Illustration of Ephesians 6:22 — I am sending him [Tychicus] to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.](https://img.heartlight.org/overlazy/creations/2691.jpg "Illustration of Ephesians 6:22 — I am sending him [Tychicus] to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.")
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