We are approaching the halfway point in our challenge to begin this year reading through the entire New Testament. I don’t know about you, but for me this has been a great reminder of the wonder of God’s word and the impact that it can have in our lives. I hope you join me in this appraisal of the project called, the Community Bible Experience.
I have received several encouraging messages relative to the blog’s blessing parallel to the readings. I want to thank those who have encouraged me that way. I am having a good time reflecting on the reading and I hope my little snippets of thought have been encouraging in turn.
Today’s reading covered the books of Philippians and 1 Timothy. I enjoyed reading them, especially, since Paul seems so much softer in these books than some of the others we have read up to this point.
Here is what I got from today’s reading.
Paul makes one little statement in the book of Philippians that really got me today. He says regarding Timothy, whom he was about to send to the Philippian church, “I have no one else like him.” I find that a truly tender, honest and powerful declaration of Timothy’s worth to Paul and his ministry.
What Paul was saying, as he clarifies right after the statement, is that no one was going to have the same fervor, concern or genuine heart for the Philippians like Paul, except Timothy. The young man was going to care with the care of a heartfelt minister, who had no ax to grind, but the love of Jesus poured out on the Philippian church as they grew in the grace of God. Paul’s confidence in Timothy is clear as he delineates the ministry for Timothy at Ephesus, in the very next text of our reading (1 Timothy). I can imagine how comforting Timothy’s sincere cooperation in the ministry was to Paul.
How often have we desired to do something for the Lord, gotten involved, put our all into it, then looked around to see who was with us in the effort to realize we were alone? Sometimes it is because we have our heads down, looking at the task before us and not taking in the bigger picture of those who are beside us until they are gone. We sense their presence with us, but we are not connected, because we are a little self-absorbed in the doing of the task.
Yet, how wonderful is it to know that we are about something good for God and His people and, as we look around, we see the effort in their hearts and hands for Him and His people? It is so encouraging to see the people of God joining together in serving the world around us and serving one another. In fact, I would suggest that this is the miracle of God’s movement in His people to find them giving their all, together, to make a difference in the world for Jesus. The word for the early assembly of the Jews (and Christians at the beginning) was and continues to be called the synagogue; a word that meant “gathering together.” Christian service, sincere, spirit led service, is more powerful and God honoring when it is done together.
To be able to say, concerning a fellow worker, who has the same zeal, heart and willingness to inject themselves into the fray of ministry, “I have no one else like him,” is to say that person is like having two of me. How easy is it to sit back and watch others serving, caring, loving and transforming the church or the situation in which the church finds itself. We might even feel the tug of God to put ourselves out there. But I can assure you, it is a wonder and very much a blessing to know there are those that are unlike any others, who will invest with all their hearts for the cause of Christ.
Oh that the church might see its power in the hearts of growing numbers of followers investing their lives for His kingdom: The wonder of those who are like no others.
Until tomorrow. Blessings!
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