Paul the
apostle cared deeply for the Thessalonian church members, and he
desired to visit with them again. They were his “hope, joy,
crown of rejoicing, glory and joy”, and although he and his
traveling partners wanted to see them, they decided it best for Paul
to stay in Athens alone. In chapter three and verse two of his
letter, Paul shares how he sent “Timotheus” or “Timothy”
to them and why where we read:
And sent
Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellow-laborer
in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you
concerning your faith:
The
verse begins, “And sent Timotheus, our brother, and
minister of God, and our fellow-laborer in the gospel of Christ,..”
Paul began with the phrase, “And
sent Timotheus” or “Timothy”
whose name means “honoring God” and was “a resident of
Lystra, apparently, whose father was a Greek and mother a Jewess. He
was Paul's traveling companion and fellow laborer”. Paul considered
“Timothy” his “son in the faith” and “dearly
beloved son”. Paul went on to add a description of Timothy as
he wrote, “our brother” which means “a fellow believer
which is united to another by the bond of affection” “and
minister of God” or “one who executes the commands of
another, especially of a master, a servant and attendant of the
Godhead or trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the
Son and the Holy Spirit” “and our fellow-laborer” which
means “companion in work and labor” “in the gospel” or
“good tidings or news of the kingdom of God soon to be set up, and
subsequently also of Jesus the Messiah, the founder of this kingdom”
“of Christ” which means “the anointed One and Messiah”.
Paul had great confidence that although he could not visit with the
Thessalonians, sending Timothy who was not only a beloved brother and
fellow-laborer in Christ, would be just as beneficial to them.
The
verse goes on to say, “to establish you, and to comfort
you concerning your faith:” Paul
continued by giving the reasons he sent “Timothy”
to the Thessalonians, “to establish you”
or “to make them stable, set fast, fixed, strengthen, made firm and
rendered constant” “and to comfort you”
which means “called to one's side such as addressing, speaking to
and calling upon them in the way of exhortation, entreaty and
instruction” “concerning your faith”
or “about, on account of, because of, around and near your
conviction of the truth that God exists and is the creator and
ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation
through Christ”. Timothy was not
sent to the Thessalonians just to visit, but to be useful in
encouraging, exhorting and comforting them in areas of their belief
in Jesus Christ.
As
we think through these words of Paul, we cannot help but notice the
confidence he had in Timothy, and his extensive care for the
Thessalonian church members. Not only was he going to send Timothy to
meet with them, but he had a specific mission in mind for Timothy as
he went. It is important that we are “established and
comforted concerning our faith”.
This is one of the primary roles of the pastors and leaders within
churches, and those who hold these positions would benefit from
observing the example of Paul and Timothy. We too may be used to help
others in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and as the Lord Jesus provides
opportunities for us to be His “ministers”,
may He empower us to care for others in the same manner as He did for
the Thessalonians.
Next
time Paul continues to share why he sent Timothy to the
Thessalonians, “so no man should be moved by these
afflictions” , 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
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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