Informed

DEVOTION
COLOSSIANS
INFORMED
Col 4:7-9
7 Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8 I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. 9 He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here. NIV
At first glance I did not notice but then it dawned on me how these people were concerned about the lives of each other. I have to think if I am so concerned about the lives of the people who I know. I have to ask myself do I want to hear all about everything that is going on in their lives. Do I desire to be aware of all their circumstances? True back then a messenger was the only form of news. Today I have the telephone, text messaging, the newspaper, radio, television and the internet bombarding me with information about circumstances of other people. I am more aware of the world around me then those people could have ever imagined. But this is not what Paul was talking about. I need to ask myself if I really am concerned about real people who I interact with, not pretend people. What? The real people, those who actually want the same thing, to know about what is going on in my life as well are the ones I am thinking about here. Do I belong to a body of believers like what Paul was engaged with? Am I encouraged by hearing about the lives of others? What does that imply? Are others encouraged about hearing about my life? What does that imply? I think maybe if I am living a life filled with the Spirit, reflecting the divine influence on my heart, engaged in living out my faith, showing the fruit in my life and how God is blessing me spiritually, emotionally and physically others around me would be encouraged, unless, of course, they were envious or jealous instead and I have to ask that of myself regarding them as well. I am sure I do not have feelings like that. I wish everyone could enjoy their journey with Christ as much as I do and I do actually enjoy hearing about how things are actually really going with those I know and I do desire to encourage them whenever I can. Thinking about that I simply have to be amazed at what God is doing for me, in me and through me.