EPHESIANS 6:22

“I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts.”

Some people just have the ability to comfort others. Their very presence in the room makes you feel better. One of my favorite childhood memories was my mom warming our flannel pajamas on top of our big kerosene heater in the hall. We would jump out of the tub, dry off and put on those warm pj’s. Awww, Comfort!

In today’s verse, Paul is still discussing Tychicus (whom we talked about yesterday). Now, we were told in verse 21 and in today’s verse that Tychicus was bringing news about Paul, who was under house arrest in Rome, so the churches would know how he was doing. But then Paul goes further and says Tychicus “may comfort your hearts.” You have to really trust someone to give them that task. Tychicus wasn’t just delivering a message. He was coming to love on the people and reassure them about Paul.

APPLICATION

Are you a comforter?  I don’t mean that thing you put on your bed, lol. I mean are someone people would look to for comfort. The Greek word used in today’s verse is parakaleó, which means to “‘make a call’ from being ‘close-up and personal’ and refers to believers offering up evidence that stands up in God’s court.” Tychicus was bringing words of encouragement to the church at Ephesus. Everything’s going to be okay.

One of my favorite passages on God’s comfort is found in 2 Corinthians 1:3-7. “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. 6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; 7 and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are partners in our sufferings, so also you are in our comfort.”

God’s comfort is our comfort so we can comfort others. In the midst of our trials, God gives us comfort, He “calls us alongside” Himself. Then we can know and experience it for the sake of others. Just as you would not hog the comforter on your bed, you should not hold back the comfort God has given you. Instead, share it with others. Be a Tychicus today.

Thank You, Father, for Your comfort which You bestow on us.