Tychicus, our dearly loved brother, faithful minister, and fellow slave in the Lord, will inform you about everything that has happened to me. This is why I sent him to you, so that you’ll know all about us and so he can encourage your hearts. I sent him with Onesimus, our faithful and dearly loved brother, who is one of you. They will let you know about everything here. Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, says hello to you. So does Mark, Barnabas’ cousin (you received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him). Jesus, called Justus, also says hello. These are my only fellow workers for God’s kingdom who are Jewish converts. They have been an encouragement to me. Epaphras, who is one of you, says hello. He’s a slave of Christ Jesus who always wrestles for you in prayers so that you will stand firm and be fully mature and complete in the entire will of God. I can vouch for him that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and Hierapolis. Luke, the dearly loved physician, and Demas say hello. Say hello to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea, along with Nympha and the church that meets in her house. After this letter has been read to you publicly, make sure that the church in Laodicea reads it and that you read the one from Laodicea. And tell Archippus, “See to it that you complete the ministry that you received in the Lord.” (Colossians 4:7-17, CEB)
Here, the author of Colossians unfolds the community of saints that surrounds and lifts the Colossians in prayer and is united in the ministry with them.
We are never alone; God is always with us, and the great cloud of witnesses that surrounds us is possibly beyond our comprehension.
Some we know intimately, some we know as acquaintances, and some we will not know, but they are all there. Praying, helping, doing what we are doing.
The body of Christ is a force to be reckoned with when we realize the community we have in it. Let us be united in the love of God for the world and change the world into the kindom of God!
aSacredRebel 