A Brother to Stand With

The Apostle Paul was in prison, likely facing death, when he wrote to the church in Philippi. In his letter, he honors a man named Epaphroditus—someone who risked everything to deliver a gift and serve Paul during his imprisonment. Paul doesn’t just thank Epaphroditus. He holds him up as a model of what godly manhood looks like.

In a single sentence, Paul gives Epaphroditus five titles: brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, messenger, and minister. Each word tells us something about what a man of God is called to be. Over the next seven days, we’re going to unpack each of these descriptors and learn what they teach us about what a godly man looks like today.

Paul didn’t use that word lightly. He calls Epaphroditus his brother, meaning a fellow believer, yes—but also a man deeply trusted, battle-tested, and close. Paul uses the word "brother" over a hundred times in the New Testament to describe the kind of fierce loyalty and spiritual camaraderie we were created for.

We live in a world where many men are isolated. We hide behind busyness, self-reliance, or shame. But God didn’t create us to live life alone. He designed us to live in community with other men who encourage and challenge us.

You need a few men in your life who know you deeply and walk with you honestly. Not just friends for the good days, but the kind of men you can call at 2 a.m. when your world comes crashing down. The ones who won't run when things get hard. The ones who tell you the truth when it's hard to hear.

You weren’t created to carry the weight of life alone. You were built to lock arms with other men and move forward together—shoulder to shoulder in faith, in fatherhood, in temptation, in purpose.

Reflection:
Who are the brothers walking with you right now? If your list is short, what’s one step you can take today to move toward deeper, Christ-centered friendship?