Today in my
Bible reading from the New Testament book Philippians, chapter 2, the Apostle
Paul wrote about two of his close companions in the gospel, Timothy and
Epaphroditus. He had some glowing things
to say about them.
Of Timothy
he said:
“I have no one else like him, who takes
a genuine interest in your welfare. For
everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself,
because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the
gospel.”
Paul refers
to Epaphroditus as his brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who was sent
by the church at Philippi specifically to bring a financial gift to attend to
Paul’s needs while he was imprisoned. Epaphroditus
became so ill while visiting Paul that he nearly died, but the Lord in mercy,
restored his health and now Paul was sending him back to his church with
encouragement to the believers in Philippi to “Welcome him in the Lord with great joy.”
The words
that struck me most were the words of Paul from verse 29: “Hold such men in high esteem.”
I immediately
began to think of the men and women who had served the Lord in the work of the
gospel in my own life and wondered, “Who
are the men and women in my life whom I should hold in high esteem because of
their Christian character, their interest in the things of Jesus Christ, and
their genuine interest in the welfare of others?”
I made a
list. There were the Baptist pastor and
his wife who ministered to my family when I was in elementary school. The pastor counseled my mom who was going
through a rough spell in her marriage.
When we moved, my mom no longer kept in touch and it was many years
after before we began to long to be part of a church. Years later, after I had been a Christian for
about 10 years, I attended a conference for Christian school teachers and was
totally surprised to find that husband and wife leading a seminar. I introduced myself and they actually
remembered us! How good the Lord was to
give those folks some closure on what had happened to us. They were overjoyed to discover that my
brother was a pastor and I was teaching in a Christian school!
Then there
was the Sunday school superintendent from another church who took me under her
wing and mentored me so that I might teach first graders the Bible.
The pastor
who was the administrator of the Christian school where I taught was
unfailingly encouraging and affirming. I
spent a good deal of time observing his wife because I could not believe
someone could be so sweet and kind and full of faith all the time. What I discovered over many years was that
she really was a living example of the grace of Jesus – all the time.
Then there
was the teaching leader in my Bible Study Fellowship class who saw something in
me I didn’t see in myself. Where I saw
complete insecurity, she saw potential.
Where I would beat myself down, she would build me up. Although I’ll never know why, she invited me
to be her substitute teacher and then built into me all she knew about teaching
the Bible. She demonstrated what the
love of Jesus looked like, taught me to pray, and gave me advice on raising my
girls. What an encourager she was – and still
is!
And there
are the many missionaries, foreign and domestic, who sacrifice time with extended
families, live in countries where they don’t, at first, know the language, who
face daily challenges in sharing their faith, sometimes in dangerous
environments. Whenever they come home to
the US and share their experiences, they never fail to give God glory and then
to give us reasons to rejoice with them at what He is doing in the place where
they serve.
Today it’s
Christian sisters in Christ who, by their example show me what it’s like to
faithfully live out our faith, even through the most difficult
circumstances. There are the pastors of
our church who genuinely put the interests of Jesus Christ first, and who care
about our welfare – spiritual and otherwise - who have proved themselves to be
lovers of God’s Word, prayer warriors, and men of integrity.
Of all of
these, and the many others I haven’t yet thought of, Paul’s words might be
applied: “Hold such men (and women) in high esteem”.
So, how do
we hold them in high esteem?
One thing we can do is be an encourager.
Although Paul admonishes us to encourage one another with psalms, hymns
and spiritual songs, I confess, while I may think kind and appreciative things
about the people above, I don’t always TELL them. So one thing I could do is make some calls,
write some notes, speak some words face to face. I know how great it is when someone encourages
me, it’s time for me to give out those words as well.
I need to
also refuse to join in when others are criticizing these men and women who
deserve high esteem for their Christian character and service to Jesus Christ. And I need to bite my tongue when I’m the one
who starts it!
I could
encourage my pastor and his family with a meal and either invite them over, or
deliver it so our pastor’s wives don’t have to cook after a busy day of
ministry.
I can give
them gift cards that allow them to do fun things with their families.
I can pray
for them, and WITH them. When our pastor
first arrived five years ago, I asked his wife if she’d like to pray together
once a week. I was so blessed to get to
know her well and she appreciated having someone to talk and pray with during
that first year of transition.
My reading
today and all the people the Lord has brought to my mind of whom I might apply
Paul’s description of Timothy and Epaphroditus, are speaking to my heart. I just might need to write some note cards
this week!
Who do you
know who takes a genuine interest in the welfare of others, whose first
priority is the interests of Jesus Christ and not his/her own, who labors to encourage
you in the gospel?
How can you show them
that you hold them in high esteem?
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