“The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia.”—Acts 19:29 NASB

It took a high level of courage and commitment as well as a sense of calling to bring the Gospel to the first-century Roman world. Paul was trained and chosen for this task. But he did not travel alone. One of his companions was Aristarchus, a believer from Macedonia. While in Ephesus, a huge disturbance erupted after Paul shared the Gospel. Paul was the center of the confusion, but Aristarchus was there with him, facing the same dangers. Aristarchus was one of Paul’s “traveling companions.” Some might have abandoned the journey because of the hazards. But Aristarchus remained loyal, traveling with Paul after leaving Ephesus (Acts 20:4). For a time, others traveled with Paul, but along the way, some abandoned him. But months later when Paul boarded a ship that was to take him to Rome, Aristarchus was one of the few to accompany him (Acts 27:2). In the introduction to his letter to the Colossians, Paul described Aristarchus as “my fellow prisoner” (Colossians 4:10), which demonstrated their developing partnership. Paul recognized that followers of Christ were like a body with many members, each of whom was important (1 Corinthians 12:14). Aristarchus was a powerful example of this principle in action. He did not get attention himself, but he supported Paul. He was a man of encouragement and partnership, totally committed to the Gospel, a faithful servant, and an example for all of us.

Reflection Question: How are you serving Jesus in this current season of life?

“We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.”—Romans 6:6 ESV

What happens when we are born again? We don’t just become better people. Paul explained the change this way: Our “old self was crucified.” It was put to death. Through Jesus, we have become new creatures. This truth can be hard to understand. We still think in old ways sometimes. These are reasons Paul stressed the analogy of death for the transformation to be complete: “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death.” This is necessary that we “might walk in newness of life” (v. 4). In fact, we are new creatures in Christ. The Bible encourages us to approach life in new ways, to realize why God gave us the Holy Spirit, to help us think in new ways, and to have power we don’t have in ourselves.

The “old self” thinks about the things of this world—our reputations and pleasures, our feelings and interests. But everything changes when we realize that we “died to this life, and [our] real life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3 NLT). Therefore we are to give our hearts “to the things of heaven, not the things of earth” (Colossians 3:2 NLT). We are to set our minds on the things above. Today, ask God to give you a deeper revelation of this new life. Truly walk in the Spirit, and don’t be controlled by your old self.

Reflection Question: What does walking in the newness of life mean for you practically today?