Paul the
apostle neared his final written words as he lived on the earth. He
wrote concerning Timothy's personal life and the life of the church
he pastored in Ephesus. As he ended his letter, Paul mentioned
several people who were instrumental at one time in his ministry, and
he greeted others whom Timothy knew. In chapter four and verse
twenty-one, Paul desired Timothy to be determined to come to him
“before winter”, and gave him greetings from a few people
who were with him at that time. We read:
Do your
diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greets you,
and
Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.
The
verse begins, “Do your diligence to come before winter.” Paul
began with, “Do your diligence” or “make haste, exert
yourself and endeavor” “to come before” or “get to
where Paul was “ahead or in front of” “winter” which
was when the “stormy or rainy weather” came. Paul knew his
conditions would be more difficult in the stormy winter months, and
Timothy's visit before hand would be helpful to him.
The
verse goes on to say, “Eubulus greets you, and Pudens,
and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.” Paul
continued, “Eubulus”
which means “prudent” who was “a Christian in Rome” “greets
you” or “salutes, bids
welcome, wishes well to and receives you joyfully” “and
Pudens” which means “modest”
and was “a Christian friend of Timothy at Rome and may have
been one of the seventy disciples” “and Linus” which
means “a net” and was “a Christian at Rome, known to Paul and
to Timothy who was the first bishop of Rome after the apostles (A.D.
64)” “and Claudia” whose name means “lame” and was
“a Christian woman” “and all the brethren” which
refers to “the remaining fellow brethren in Christ” who were with
Paul. It appears the list of people with him is running through
Paul's mind, and he is making reference to each one of them whom
Timothy knew as well as including in a group others whom he didn't
name personally.
When we think
about these final words of Paul the apostle, we can sense the care he
had for each of the people he listed. They were valuable to him, and
he knew they were precious to Timothy as well. As we make our way
through Christianity, we meet people who have great worth to us, and
it is good when people are valued to the point of mention when
referring to those whom others know. Too often the value of
individuals we meet along the way is diminished, and this causes
divide, separation and detachment. Fortunately the Lord is always
with us, and His standpoint of our worth never alters or changes and
is always quantifiable with Him. Perhaps we should take mental
inventory of those who are and have been valuable in our lives and
give thanks to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ His Son that we
have known them. We may also have those with whom we are now detached
and separated and this would be a good time to give thanks for them
as well. May the Lord remind us of those with whom we have to do, and
may our hearts always be reaching for forgiveness and inclusion with
those who have become distant from us.
Next
time Paul finishes his final letter with one final greeting, 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, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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