Keeping Up With the Roberts Family
Each month Cliff and Denise Roberts write home to their high desert family at New Life Fellowship to share all the happenings in their lives and their new church community. We look forward to posting their spiritual insights as they continue walking with the Lord in Lakeland, Tennessee.
November: am I a Tychicus? Are you?
“Who in the world is Tychicus?” I asked myself that question just this morning as I was wrapping up my study in Ephesians. He’s another of many biblical figures that we know very little about. But here’s what Scripture has to say about him:
Acts 20:4 - Tychicus accompanied Paul on his third missionary journey.
Ephesians 6:21-22 - Paul sent him to the Ephesians with news and encouragement.
Colossians 4:7-9 - Paul also sent him to the Colossians with the same purpose.
2 Timothy 4:12 - Paul tells Timothy that he sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
Titus 3:2 - Paul tells Titus of his plans to send Tychicus to him on the island of Crete.
…and that’s it! Scholars have suggested many other possibilities for Tychicus’ role in the early Church, but these few verses are the only biblical record we have of him. And here’s what I absolutely love about God’s Word: even a few verses are so rich. Here’s what I read this morning:
“But that you also may know about my circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts.” (Eph. 6:21-22, NASB)
———————————————
In Colossians, Paul mentions Tychicus with the same description: beloved brother, faithful servant, able to share news about Paul and sent to encourage. Tychicus was no mere ministry partner or fellow evangelist, but a brother-in-arms with Paul, someone who was intimately acquainted with his circumstances. The letters he delivered on Paul’s behalf were full of information to be sure, but people would still have questions and would want to know so much more than what Paul could convey in writing. Tychicus was well-suited to provide that information because he was thoroughly invested in Paul’s life and activities. Tychicus and Paul were more than friendly acquaintances, but were beloved brothers, dear friends and faithful companions to one another. They were close, close enough for Tychicus to fill in all of the many details that Paul left out in his letters. In fact, Paul expected him to do exactly that.
But Tychicus was also capable and trustworthy, a man of proven character whom Paul relied upon without hesitation. Not only had he proven himself with Paul to be fully dedicated to the Lord and to the spreading of the gospel, but he was also able to encourage and strengthen his fellow believers. Confident of Tychicus’ ability, Paul sent him numerous times to various groups to not only inform them of Paul’s circumstances, but to encourage their hearts. Tychicus was obviously able to do just that and Paul endorsed him readily in multiple instances.
Wouldn’t it be great to have a Tychicus who could walk us through Paul’s many letters and his writings? How helpful would it be to have one of Paul’s confidants more fully explain exactly what the apostle meant in his letter? Why did Paul say that and what was his intention? If I could interrupt every few sentences as Tychicus read Paul’s letter to the Ephesians or to the Colossians, it would definitely help me to better know how to respond. Man, talk about getting some real clarity for the “Application” portion of my daily S.O.A.P.! I would love to have Tychicus right there assisting me, encouraging my heart in response to Paul’s words, reminding me of Paul’s example, which in turn reminds me of Christ’s example. That would be awesome!
But Tychicus could not do any of that honestly or accurately unless he understood Paul beyond just his writings. They were trusted friends, and thus he was able to convey more than just the meaning of Paul’s words, but also the heart behind them. Tychicus would not have simply parroted Paul’s points, reading and re-reading the same words he’d written over and over again and a source of encouragement. Rather, his conversations with Paul’s recipients were meant to give greater context, specific application, and the intention behind the words they heard. Paul trusted Tychicus not simply to be a good witness of Christ, but a faithful witness of Paul himself: his circumstances, his activity, his disposition, his character, his convictions, all of it!
———————————————
This is where the Holy Spirit challenged me with my own personal application of Tychicus’ example. First, am I a Tychicus for anyone else in the body of Christ? Do I know them well enough and have a deep enough friendship with them that I could accurately convey the happenings of their life? How involved am I in their day-to-day, or am I connected with them only sporadically? What does the Lord require of me relationally so that our hearts are better united with one another and God’s purposes for our friendship? Could I explain to a stranger not just what my friend feels or thinks, but the WHY behind all of that? Do I know more than just what my friends are doing, but how they’re doing? I want to be a better Tychicus to my friends, and that requires so much more of me than just maintaining casual acquaintances. It takes intention, purpose, determination and a consistent focus to prioritize their lives above my own. That’s not completely natural, but the Lord is working to change that in me.
And the second point is this: who is like a Tychicus in my own life? Who knows me well enough to share not just my circumstances with others, but convey to them my heart too? Who is involved in my day-to-day, hears my heart, knows me well and has his finger on the pulse of what’s going on in my life? Whom would I trust to communicate that accurately to others on my behalf? In order for that to happen, I must have friends around me who know more about me than simply what I’m doing. I must be transparent, even with the unrefined places in my heart. I’ve often heard about the difference between knowing God and only knowing about Him. The same principle is true with my friends—they must know me and not simply facts about my life. That requires my time investment, one that interrupts my personal priorities and routine with a focus on involving others in my life. More than just a casual acquaintance, I must strive to be humble, transparent, honest and open. If my friends can’t share what’s in my heart with others, it’s likely that I’ve not really shared my heart adequately with them. Man, that’s a tough one, but it still rings true.
I often find myself reflecting on Jesus’ words to His disciples in John 15: “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (Jn. 15:15, NIV) The disciples witnessed firsthand Jesus’ relationship with the Father. They heard Him pray, watched Him interact with people, witnessed His miracles and profound demonstrations of love. Jesus showed them very plainly everything He learned from the Father and revealed to them the Father’s heart for His children. That’s not how masters interact with their servants, but rather how friends live in relationship with one another: transparent, life-on-life, together and personal. Like Paul entrusted Tychicus, so too Jesus entrusted His disciples to carry His message, His witness, His very nature to make disciples throughout the world. They weren’t expected to teach principles and precepts, but to draw upon their own intimacy with the Lord, an intimacy He modeled for them and reinforced regularly.
This is how friends minister, not simply on joint mission or with a common goal, but in intimacy with one another. That intimacy builds such an authentic trust that we cannot help but to stand out as His disciples who love one another. Those friendships are meant to distinguish us in ways that nothing else can. The world around us is filled with great causes, impassioned activists and numerous organizations promoting the common good. As Christians, we’re called to separate ourselves from simply being those who serve yet another noble pursuit. We’re called to love one another as friends, to lay our lives down for each other, to know one another and love one another deeply from our hearts. Doing so proves that we are His disciples—friends of Christ and friends with one another.
———————————————
Well, I’m going to wrap it up here and prepare our house for company tonight. And then we’ve got friends coming over tomorrow as well. I’ve also got several roasts of coffee beans to deliver to some folks and a car in the shop to pick up later on. (Yeah, that last one doesn’t really include any friends per say, but who knows?) As you continue to pray for our family, I want to encourage you with Honor’s continued growth and development. He’s shooting up taller and taller, about to pass up Denise and even leave Justice in his wake as well. We’ve been praying faithfully for his pituitary gland to be fully restored and for the Lord to work a miracle in his body, and we’re seeing what we’ve already believed the Lord for—it’s pretty awesome. Thank you for praying with us, and please continue!
Justice had a brief stint in the hospital a few months back, but has since recovered well and we’re trusting those issues are resolved. Allergies have finally settled down around here, and we’re all set to tackle the Fall and Winter seasons in complete health! God remains our Healer, our Provider, our Shelter and our Rock. He really is amazing and awesome.
Tom has recovered well from his back surgery, but our travel plans, prayerwalking route, DC schedule and the like are all still a WIP (that’s the hip new kid-slang for “work in progress”, HA!). I know, I can’t keep up with all the acronyms either. Tom and I are both convinced that as we walk and pray, the Lord will give us the next step, the next opportunity, the next direction and prompting. We just need to trust Him and follow as He leads. Hmm…that almost sounds like a recipe for life, doesn’t it? (Ha! again)
As always, we are so thankful for our extended church family stretched across the country. Once in a while, we even get to send emails to people overseas too! And while we’re grateful for the support we receive both financially and in relationships, we really do consider it an honor to serve the Lord with you. His body is a diverse group of folks, and our pursuit of Him may look different from one another, but our hearts are very much united. Prayer has a unique way of accomplishing that among Christians because of the Holy Spirit. You bless us, Church, and we are humbled to serve the Lord together with you. Feel free to come by any time for coffee, board games, or just to hang out. And if you’re looking to donate finances, please do so through New Life Fellowship in Barstow, CA, a placed FILLED with so many amazing friends. You can designate your giving as “Missions: The Roberts” or something similar at https://newlifebarstow.com/give. Okay, time to wrap this up. We love you tons and as folks around here often say, “Happy Fall, y’all!”
<><
The Roberts Family
(Cliff, Denise, Purity, Wisdom, Truth, Justice, Honor and Life)
Acts 20:4 - Tychicus accompanied Paul on his third missionary journey.
Ephesians 6:21-22 - Paul sent him to the Ephesians with news and encouragement.
Colossians 4:7-9 - Paul also sent him to the Colossians with the same purpose.
2 Timothy 4:12 - Paul tells Timothy that he sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
Titus 3:2 - Paul tells Titus of his plans to send Tychicus to him on the island of Crete.
…and that’s it! Scholars have suggested many other possibilities for Tychicus’ role in the early Church, but these few verses are the only biblical record we have of him. And here’s what I absolutely love about God’s Word: even a few verses are so rich. Here’s what I read this morning:
“But that you also may know about my circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts.” (Eph. 6:21-22, NASB)
———————————————
In Colossians, Paul mentions Tychicus with the same description: beloved brother, faithful servant, able to share news about Paul and sent to encourage. Tychicus was no mere ministry partner or fellow evangelist, but a brother-in-arms with Paul, someone who was intimately acquainted with his circumstances. The letters he delivered on Paul’s behalf were full of information to be sure, but people would still have questions and would want to know so much more than what Paul could convey in writing. Tychicus was well-suited to provide that information because he was thoroughly invested in Paul’s life and activities. Tychicus and Paul were more than friendly acquaintances, but were beloved brothers, dear friends and faithful companions to one another. They were close, close enough for Tychicus to fill in all of the many details that Paul left out in his letters. In fact, Paul expected him to do exactly that.
But Tychicus was also capable and trustworthy, a man of proven character whom Paul relied upon without hesitation. Not only had he proven himself with Paul to be fully dedicated to the Lord and to the spreading of the gospel, but he was also able to encourage and strengthen his fellow believers. Confident of Tychicus’ ability, Paul sent him numerous times to various groups to not only inform them of Paul’s circumstances, but to encourage their hearts. Tychicus was obviously able to do just that and Paul endorsed him readily in multiple instances.
Wouldn’t it be great to have a Tychicus who could walk us through Paul’s many letters and his writings? How helpful would it be to have one of Paul’s confidants more fully explain exactly what the apostle meant in his letter? Why did Paul say that and what was his intention? If I could interrupt every few sentences as Tychicus read Paul’s letter to the Ephesians or to the Colossians, it would definitely help me to better know how to respond. Man, talk about getting some real clarity for the “Application” portion of my daily S.O.A.P.! I would love to have Tychicus right there assisting me, encouraging my heart in response to Paul’s words, reminding me of Paul’s example, which in turn reminds me of Christ’s example. That would be awesome!
But Tychicus could not do any of that honestly or accurately unless he understood Paul beyond just his writings. They were trusted friends, and thus he was able to convey more than just the meaning of Paul’s words, but also the heart behind them. Tychicus would not have simply parroted Paul’s points, reading and re-reading the same words he’d written over and over again and a source of encouragement. Rather, his conversations with Paul’s recipients were meant to give greater context, specific application, and the intention behind the words they heard. Paul trusted Tychicus not simply to be a good witness of Christ, but a faithful witness of Paul himself: his circumstances, his activity, his disposition, his character, his convictions, all of it!
———————————————
This is where the Holy Spirit challenged me with my own personal application of Tychicus’ example. First, am I a Tychicus for anyone else in the body of Christ? Do I know them well enough and have a deep enough friendship with them that I could accurately convey the happenings of their life? How involved am I in their day-to-day, or am I connected with them only sporadically? What does the Lord require of me relationally so that our hearts are better united with one another and God’s purposes for our friendship? Could I explain to a stranger not just what my friend feels or thinks, but the WHY behind all of that? Do I know more than just what my friends are doing, but how they’re doing? I want to be a better Tychicus to my friends, and that requires so much more of me than just maintaining casual acquaintances. It takes intention, purpose, determination and a consistent focus to prioritize their lives above my own. That’s not completely natural, but the Lord is working to change that in me.
And the second point is this: who is like a Tychicus in my own life? Who knows me well enough to share not just my circumstances with others, but convey to them my heart too? Who is involved in my day-to-day, hears my heart, knows me well and has his finger on the pulse of what’s going on in my life? Whom would I trust to communicate that accurately to others on my behalf? In order for that to happen, I must have friends around me who know more about me than simply what I’m doing. I must be transparent, even with the unrefined places in my heart. I’ve often heard about the difference between knowing God and only knowing about Him. The same principle is true with my friends—they must know me and not simply facts about my life. That requires my time investment, one that interrupts my personal priorities and routine with a focus on involving others in my life. More than just a casual acquaintance, I must strive to be humble, transparent, honest and open. If my friends can’t share what’s in my heart with others, it’s likely that I’ve not really shared my heart adequately with them. Man, that’s a tough one, but it still rings true.
I often find myself reflecting on Jesus’ words to His disciples in John 15: “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (Jn. 15:15, NIV) The disciples witnessed firsthand Jesus’ relationship with the Father. They heard Him pray, watched Him interact with people, witnessed His miracles and profound demonstrations of love. Jesus showed them very plainly everything He learned from the Father and revealed to them the Father’s heart for His children. That’s not how masters interact with their servants, but rather how friends live in relationship with one another: transparent, life-on-life, together and personal. Like Paul entrusted Tychicus, so too Jesus entrusted His disciples to carry His message, His witness, His very nature to make disciples throughout the world. They weren’t expected to teach principles and precepts, but to draw upon their own intimacy with the Lord, an intimacy He modeled for them and reinforced regularly.
This is how friends minister, not simply on joint mission or with a common goal, but in intimacy with one another. That intimacy builds such an authentic trust that we cannot help but to stand out as His disciples who love one another. Those friendships are meant to distinguish us in ways that nothing else can. The world around us is filled with great causes, impassioned activists and numerous organizations promoting the common good. As Christians, we’re called to separate ourselves from simply being those who serve yet another noble pursuit. We’re called to love one another as friends, to lay our lives down for each other, to know one another and love one another deeply from our hearts. Doing so proves that we are His disciples—friends of Christ and friends with one another.
———————————————
Well, I’m going to wrap it up here and prepare our house for company tonight. And then we’ve got friends coming over tomorrow as well. I’ve also got several roasts of coffee beans to deliver to some folks and a car in the shop to pick up later on. (Yeah, that last one doesn’t really include any friends per say, but who knows?) As you continue to pray for our family, I want to encourage you with Honor’s continued growth and development. He’s shooting up taller and taller, about to pass up Denise and even leave Justice in his wake as well. We’ve been praying faithfully for his pituitary gland to be fully restored and for the Lord to work a miracle in his body, and we’re seeing what we’ve already believed the Lord for—it’s pretty awesome. Thank you for praying with us, and please continue!
Justice had a brief stint in the hospital a few months back, but has since recovered well and we’re trusting those issues are resolved. Allergies have finally settled down around here, and we’re all set to tackle the Fall and Winter seasons in complete health! God remains our Healer, our Provider, our Shelter and our Rock. He really is amazing and awesome.
Tom has recovered well from his back surgery, but our travel plans, prayerwalking route, DC schedule and the like are all still a WIP (that’s the hip new kid-slang for “work in progress”, HA!). I know, I can’t keep up with all the acronyms either. Tom and I are both convinced that as we walk and pray, the Lord will give us the next step, the next opportunity, the next direction and prompting. We just need to trust Him and follow as He leads. Hmm…that almost sounds like a recipe for life, doesn’t it? (Ha! again)
As always, we are so thankful for our extended church family stretched across the country. Once in a while, we even get to send emails to people overseas too! And while we’re grateful for the support we receive both financially and in relationships, we really do consider it an honor to serve the Lord with you. His body is a diverse group of folks, and our pursuit of Him may look different from one another, but our hearts are very much united. Prayer has a unique way of accomplishing that among Christians because of the Holy Spirit. You bless us, Church, and we are humbled to serve the Lord together with you. Feel free to come by any time for coffee, board games, or just to hang out. And if you’re looking to donate finances, please do so through New Life Fellowship in Barstow, CA, a placed FILLED with so many amazing friends. You can designate your giving as “Missions: The Roberts” or something similar at https://newlifebarstow.com/give. Okay, time to wrap this up. We love you tons and as folks around here often say, “Happy Fall, y’all!”
<><
The Roberts Family
(Cliff, Denise, Purity, Wisdom, Truth, Justice, Honor and Life)
We joined with thousands of others on the National Mall in DC for Communion America month. 50 tents filled with people from every state worshiping the Lord and a time of shared Communion as well. Here we are in the grass gathered with family from across the nation to celebrate the death and resurrection of our Savior. Yeah, it was pretty cool.
Future mighty men, looking mighty already. Love these guys!
When Justice finally gets her own phone, I’m gonna swipe it and take all sorts of silly pictures of myself just to get even. HA! (Okay, so yeah I probably won’t ever do that.)
And here they are, racing neck-and-neck to see who’s gonna be taller.
Yeah, I’m going with Honor on this one too. Grow baby, grow!
Yeah, I’m going with Honor on this one too. Grow baby, grow!