Although Paul the apostle
believed he knew the condition of the church in Philippi, he still
desired to know their state first hand. He sent his young protege'
Timothy to discover how they were, and in Philippians chapter two and
verse twenty Paul tells why Timothy was selected for the task. We
read:
For
I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.
The
verse begins, “For I have no man likeminded,...” Paul
sent Timothy “for” or
“because” he had “no man likeminded”
which means no one was “equal in soul” with Paul. Timothy
stood out as one who cared for others in the manner in which Paul
did, and he was chosen to know how the Philippian church was doing
because of it.
The
verse goes on to say, “...who will naturally care for
your state.” Paul then adds
that Timothy “will naturally”
which means “genuinely, faithfully, sincerely” “care”
or “look out for” their “state”. Timothy cared for
others “naturally” and did not have to “try” to
manufacture concern from within himself. It was in his nature, part
of who he was, and Paul knew when he sent Timothy to the Philippians,
his genuine concern for them would be as though he was going himself.
As we ponder Paul's words,
do we find it natural within ourselves to care for others? It it part
of our nature to be genuine concerned with how they are doing? If we
were with Paul the apostle would he have sent us to know the state of
the church members in Philippi? Perhaps we should inspect ourselves
and pray for the Lord Jesus to help us to be naturally minded to care
for others, and when we have that “likemindedness” may all who
are around us know that we genuinely care for their state.
Next
time Paul tells the Philippians more about what
he thinks about Timothy,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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