Friday, September 7, 2018



"I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you." Ephesians 6:22  NIV

It's not hard to tell what encourages me. I have a sneaking suspicion that it may be a favorite of yours as well. Flowers! It is probably posted on this blog often, more than anything else.

This is not to say I don't love my people. My peeps are more important, it's just that I don't want to embarrass them. Paul is concerned for his people too.

I have to remind myself, there weren't any phones in those days. They didn't have land lines, or even morse code. I suppose the mail system was O.K., but how would you know if someone got your letter or not? I'm sure it was slower than snail mail.

Having a visitor from afar was not an everyday occurrence, but it may have happened more often than in our generation. People were very hospitable, and opened their homes to those from other places.

It didn't seem to matter if you knew them or not. "Do not forget to open your home to strangers, for so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it."

Tychicus wasn't a stranger to these people but it was expected of them to care for his needs. It was customary, and others were welcome with open arms. I wish I could be like this!

I want everything to be perfect when someone comes for a meal. At times I have had an extra, because with four children someone usually has a friend or two. This is easy, but why do I care when it's a friend or neighbor?

Am I concerned about appearances? I guess I am. I like the fact of Paul sending this fellow to encourage others. We surely need a lot more of this. Before we go out, let's ask the Lord to go with us, and purposely bless someone else!





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