Ephesians 6:21-24 “But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things: Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts. Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.”
There seems to be a trend in congregations today to worship with one group of people and to socialize with an entirely different group. We don’t want our church family bleeding over into our friends circle and vice versa. This happens because our “Sunday selves” are much different from the way we live the rest of the time. Paul sets a very different precedent here for his relationship with the church.
Paul says in effect “I want you to know how I am doing and what is going on in my life.” The phrase “how I do” is translated by Strong’s to mean “perform repeatedly or habitually.” It is an important part of the life of a church member to want our brothers and sisters to know we are trying to make living a godly life a habit (custom). We should desire this to encourage others to do the same, to encourage our brothers and sisters to pray for us, and to perhaps see some danger in our behavior that we are not aware of.
When we believe that people have our best interest at heart, it is easier to want to be transparent with them. We need each other’s love and counsel; we need reproof, rebuke, and exhortation; what we don’t need from each other is condemnation. We can admonish without condemning. If God is working in our lives, we are already suffering His chastisement and our own condemnation.
The woman caught in the act of adultery certainly needed reproof and rebuke, but those that found her only sought to condemn. Jesus’ teaching is very clear here. Only when we can say with an honest heart that we have done nothing worthy of condemnation can we condemn others. In other words, we have no right or authority to condemn, because we are not without sin ourselves.
I need for my brothers and sisters to know how I do. I need for them to know that I am a sinner saved by God’s sovereign grace. It is important for them to know that I struggle against the things of this world just like they do. I need to habitually look to God for my help and strength, and I need for my brothers and sisters to know that. I need for them to see His mercy in my life so they can go to Him in confidence that He will have mercy in their lives.
When I know how you do in the Lord, then it brings comfort and peace to my heart. Knowing (not just academically but on a personal level) that the Lord is blessing you, chastening you, loving you brings me great joy! Sharing my life with you and sharing in your life is a great blessing from God. This is the closeness that we, as members of the church, ought to desire with each other, having confidence in the love of our brethren by the grace of God.
Finally, may you have peace with God and each other. May you have the love of God and the brethren with faith (confidence in the fidelity of the brethren and the assurance of your salvation in Jesus Christ). Knowing that Jesus loves us comes from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Being able to have confidence in the love of our brethren has the same source. We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren (1Jn 3:14)! The grace of God be with all that love Jesus sincerely. This, brothers and sisters, is how we do. Amen!
May we, with love and sincerity for the cause of Christ, seek such a brotherly love with each other that we desire for those we love and serve to know how we do!