Who are Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus? They certainly are not the most common names in scripture. I don’t think they are are mentioned anywhere else.
That doesn’t mean though that they were not important. Paul mentioned these folks in the context of a section where he is talking about trials and hard times and discouragement. You can almost sense the struggles they are going through.
I like this section of scripture because we reminds that the ministry is not always about great victories and successes and progress. Sometimes it is about plugging away in hard times. Sometimes it involves discouragement and despair. Sometimes is means be ready to quit.
That’s where Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus come into play. Paul mentions them because they in particular had ‘refreshed his spirit.’ These were th kind of men talked about in Paul’s first letter who ‘did everything in love.’ While others may have attacked Paul these guys took Paul aside and refreshed him. We are going to see later the importance of the comforting ministry of the Holy Spirit and the comforting ministry we should have.
These three men already grasped it. They set an example for us. What a great blessing it would be if people regarded me as someone who refreshed their spirits. Instead of dragging people down we ought always to lift them up.
No matter what we are facing our goal to be to refresh the spirit of others.
It’s not about us.
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