Behind the Scenes Heroes

Have you ever watched a movie's end credits and been astounded by the sheer number of people who contributed behind the scenes? That's exactly the experience that sparked today's devotional reflection on the unsung heroes of the early church.
Drawing from Colossians 4, we explore three faithful servants who were crucial to Paul's ministry yet rarely receive the spotlight in our modern discussions of biblical figures. These men—Tychicus, Onesimus, and Aristarchus—each played distinctive roles that demonstrate how the gospel advances through many hands working together.
Feeling unsure about your place in God's plan? Take heart knowing that He has specifically equipped you for your unique contribution. Join us tomorrow as we continue discovering how to start each day right with purpose and divine perspective!

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:05):
Good morning and welcome to Starting Right with
Danny Mac.
I'm going to be here everyMonday to Friday to help you get
a great five-minute start toyour day.
So grab your cup of coffee, sitback, relax and let me help you
start your day right.
I was watching a movie theother night and I did something

(00:25):
that I rarely do.
At the end of the movie Iactually watched all of the
credits and I was astounded tosee the number of people that
were involved in making thisfilm, that were doing so many
different things behind thescenes that helped to put it
together.
It just sort of blew my mind tothink that it took that many
people to create the film that Ijust watched.

(00:46):
And it wasn't because it was abad movie.
No, it was a good movie butthere were so many people
involved behind the scenes thatit was just absolutely
astounding.
It wasn't long after that, Ipulled out my Bible and was
reading through the book ofColossians and I came to chapter
4.
And in that last part ofchapter 4, paul brings what my
Bible calls the final greeting,and in these greetings he

(01:08):
mentions three characters.
Let me just read it to you.
It's chapter 4, starting inverse 7 of the book of
Colossians he says Tychicus willtell you all the news about me.
He is a dear brother, afaithful minister and a fellow
servant in the Lord.
I'm sending him to you for theexpress about those first three

(01:44):
guys Tychicus, onesimus andAristarchus.
Paul lists these guys becausethey are important to him in his
ministry, yet we know verylittle about them.
They are the guys who arebehind the scenes.
In a lot of cases they didn'tget to stand in the spotlight
like Paul or Peter or James orJohn.
They were not part of thespotlight crowd.
No, these were the guys whowere working behind the scenes

(02:06):
and yet they are important toPaul and they're important to
the ministry of the gospel.
Let's look at how these menimpacted Paul's ministry.
First there was Tychicus.
Tychicus was doing a veryspecific and important job.
He was going to deliverpersonal news about Paul, as
well as Paul's letter to thechurch in Colossae.
The gospel was continuing to bespread because of the

(02:28):
faithfulness of Tychicus.
Then there's Onesimus.
His name actually means useful,but as a slave, his master
Philemon thought he was useless.
And yet Paul commended Onesimusas a faithful and dearly loved
brother, saying to the churchthat he is one of you, and by
doing so, paul was declaring theuniversality of the gospel

(02:50):
message that there is no one whois ineligible to receive the
forgiveness and grace of Christ,and when they receive that,
they automatically become ourbrothers and sisters in Christ,
no matter where they're from orwhat they look like, or the
color of their skin or theirbackground None of that matters.
We are all part of the body ofChrist.

(03:13):
Then there was Aristarchus.
Aristarchus was a prisoneralong with Paul, so he was
Paul's companion in thesuffering in his ministry.
When we're going throughsuffering in our lives, we need
people around us who will bethere for us.
Aristarchus may have had to bethere, but he didn't have to be
an encouragement to Paul.
But in the middle of hissuffering he chose to be an

(03:34):
encourager and gave Paulstrength in what he was doing.
We often talk about fulfillingGod's call in our lives and
sometimes we think that meansthat we're going to be up front,
doing all the up front thingsand making the big decisions and
drawing the big crowds forevangelism or teaching great
congregations.
That's not what it is.
Just as in the movies, thereare far more people behind the

(03:57):
scenes who are necessary inorder to be able to make it come
together.
We know that within the body ofChrist, it works much the same
way.
The number of people behind thescenes supporting, encouraging
and praying for those who are inthe spotlight, who are the
leaders that's what really isimportant and right now it's
really important that we prayfor our Christian leaders.

(04:17):
They's what really is importantand right now it's really
important that we pray for ourChristian leaders.
They need strength to continueto declare God's Word.
They need strength and wisdomto know how to live right and
declare what is only truth.
They need God's hand on them toprotect them and shield them
from attacks, and God has calledeach one of us to be a part of
that.
Maybe we're just one of thosebehind-the-scenes guys.
Maybe we're simply the onesthat are helping to carry the

(04:39):
message.
Maybe we are the ones who arefeeling sort of left out, that
we really don't belong, but wedo belong.
Maybe we are prepared to bewith our Christian brothers and
sisters as they are suffering.
They're going through difficulttimes and we are here to
encourage and hold them up andto bless them and be with them.
You may not know what your roleis, but God does, and he will

(05:04):
help you find your place so thatyou know what part you have to
play in God's great andbeautiful plan for the building
of His kingdom.
God's got exciting stuff foreach one of us, and I'm so
grateful that when we look atwhat he is leading us into, we
never have to doubt that he willproduce something good if we
are faithful to Him.
Have a great day, my friends.
Remember that you are animportant part of God's plan and

(05:24):
we will talk again tomorrow.
Thank you for listening todayand I invite you to join me
Monday to Friday, right here on,starting Right with Danny Mac.