“and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith” (1Thessalonians 3:2). 

We are encouraged through others who have been well taught and learned the lesson of diligence and persistence in the faith. Timothy had learned much from Paul’s tutorship. His boldness came as result of the encouragement from a seasoned saint who had forsaken all for the cause of Christ. As he imitated his leader he gained a testimony which would do more for a new convert than what might be learned from the Apostle. Much more would be expected from Paul therefore it would more difficult to relate to his experiences. But when young Timothy would stand before a neophyte beginning the long journey from the start, it would be much easier to relate to him. We need the testimony of young men and women if we are to reach this generation with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If they would speak convincingly to their peers, it could turn their generation around. We are praying that God would raise up more youthful and inspiring Timothies. We will send them out if they are willing and ready to go. 

“Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this” (Revelation 1:19). 

The revelation of Jesus Christ gave John the insight to write His testimony describing the past, the present, and the future. Time and space no longer exist as divided in His presence. He takes us beyond the moment and brings all things into an eternal perspective. When we are facing challenges, it is impossible for us to see into the future. It appears as if the bulls of Bashan have surrounded us, awaiting the moment to attack and destroy us. He tells us to write what we have seen. Those moments when viewed from eternity were not there for our defeat but rather for our deliverance and future victory. “God Provides” became our testimony. He showed up in the midst of our deepest woe in order to prove Himself strong on our behalf when were at our weakest point. It was His strength made perfect when all that we attempted had failed. He said to John, “Write it down!” In other words, He asked him to mark the spot where he is standing today and watch Him move all things in the direction He alone has determined. Our faith frees us for the journey from here to there. As we learn to trust in Jesus and remain steadfast, unmovable, always basking in the love of the Lord, we will achieve our goals.

“But He is unique, and who can make Him change? And whatever His soul desires, that He does” (Job 23:13). 

God is complete in and of Himself. He is not like us with needs that may cause our focus to shift from one thing to another. Those are the limits placed upon the human experience. We navigate through time not knowing the things that lie ahead of us. But God knows the end before the beginning. He is light and in Him are no shifting shadows. Why would He change His mind for such things that may be a fleeting thought within our minds? Instead of His mind being changed by us, our minds are to be renewed by Him. True humility is exercised when we are willing to forgo our will to what another wills. When we trust Him in areas we do not understand, He will give us the will and desire to please Him. We will experience His goodness and grow in our understanding of the dimensions of His love. What a blessing it is to find pleasure in what pleases Him! His uniqueness can then be celebrated. Some may wish to wrestle out of His hands what is exclusively His. He is God alone and infinite. We are but finite instruments of clay. It is His life within us that sets us apart from the rest of the world. Nothing can be compared to the joy that is experienced when our ways please the Lord. He gives us His joy, a joy that the external world cannot receive nor comprehend. 

“All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the soul is not satisfied” 

(Ecclesiastes 6:7). 

The work of man’s hands may satisfy his immediate but not his ultimate needs. Hard work is required for one to eat his bread and provide for his family. Yet there are needs beyond the immediate but requiring immediate attention. The deep longing within the soul is the discontent appearing to have no solution. It drives many to activities in search of relieving the tension and the endless desire of the heart. The mind seeks new adventures but after the episode has ended, the soul is left wanting more than what it had just experienced. This is the Jesus-shaped void within every man that only He is able to fill. The fulfilled person can find pleasure in life thus integrating all of his labor into worship. God provides for him the strength to work as well as rest. His rest is sweet because his thoughts are established and not left to wander in the direction of things that may bring pleasure for a moment but misery for a lifetime. 

“If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the Lord, to do good or bad of my own will. What the Lord says, that I must speak” (Numbers 24:13). 

Hearing and obeying the Word of the Lord is more important than the benefits of hard work and labor that would take us beyond it. There are those who ignore the standard established by God and wish to justify their position thinking that they are too busy or have risen above the instructions given. Their price is met through the fame, fortune, and acceptance of others who would reward them with tangible benefits or accolades affirming their significance to a particular cause. Yet if we are not speaking what God has spoken or doing what He has ordained, it is either blessing what God has cursed or cursing what God has blessed. We must not judge the Word of God as being optional but absolutely necessary in every endeavor. A transgression is going beyond the word whether it is for good or for bad. As ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we must speak what God is saying in order for the people to fully participate in what God is doing. We too will be judged if we preach or address topics of interest to us and others at the expense of what sayeth the Lord. The judgment of a godly word is not what we may feel about it, but how can it transform us into the image of the Son of God? I must speak what God is saying and we both must do what God has instructed. Only then will He be pleased with our efforts. 

“And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1Thessalonians 1:10). 

The posture of the follower of Jesus Christ is anticipation for what lies ahead. The word of God received has lifted his sights above the persecution of trials and the tests that come against him. It has the ability to stabilize us even when the circumstances remain the same. It is word upon word that increases faith and raises the level of expectation for the return of our Lord. Nothing could be more valuable than this. Jesus, whom He raised from the dead provides for us a model of what awaits our future. He was delivered from death through death. The wrath of man measured against us in this world is nothing in comparison to the wrath of God. We must endure the intermediate in order to experience the ultimate. He has delivered us from the wrath to come against all unrighteousness and now we are a part of His kingdom where righteousness reigns. Our deliverance is as result of hearing and obeying the message delivered to us from heaven. It was delivered to us to deliver us from the wrath that is sure to come. As we wait for the return of the Son of God who is in heaven, we must patiently wait for Him to turn the tide in His favor. All things are working together towards this end. 

“Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:14). 

The way that leads to life remains as the road less traveled. There are rabbit-trails along the way often taken by wayward travelers who get sidetracked by petty issues. Then there are dazzling streetlights with flashing signposts captivating the attention of those who follow after crowds. Without thought it would be much easier to flow with the traffic. But who are the ones who pause long enough to ask the question, “Where are we headed?” The way which leads to life must be deliberately chosen. It does not just happen by chance. With eyes wide open one is able to see from a distance a sight that heals blindness and is a sight for sore eyes. The life of God through Jesus Christ our Lord awakens one from the deadness of a zombie-like state to a clear discernment of all things. We have entered through the narrow gate, not as a thief but as a welcomed traveler. Then the Holy Spirit can continuously guide us throughout the journey from new life to eternal life.