THE REFUGE DEVOTIONAL
For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare.
Philippians 2:20 NASBS
Beloved of God, may the grace of God begin to burn within your soul to love the body of Christ with a sacrificial love, and to give your life to His service.
Timothy was a man who heard the call of God upon His soul the day the Apostle Paul stood boldly proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ in the midst of hostility.
It was here the effectual call of God began to be inflamed within his deepest affections to forsake his life, to pick up his cross, and to follow Christ wholeheartedly.
He was arrested by God’s grace, which was bestowed upon him with the understanding that Jesus bore his sins upon the cursed tree. You see, Timothy was lifeless, bound in chains of struggle, confined within a prison of rituals, and torn between his father and mother living two separate lives concerning their faith.
And yet without delay, when the fullness of the time came, God spoke to his darkened heart and life everlasting entered into his soul. The abounding grace of God conquered his obstinate heart where sin once held him captive. He saw for the first time the crimson blood flowing from the wounds of Jesus. He heard the agonies of intense groans that were coming from the mouth of the Son of God crying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they’re doing.”
Furthermore, he knew that the deep furrows that were carved into the flesh of this loving Deity were due to him, and yet Christ was bearing his judgement. For the first time, young Timothy could see with the eyes of his heart just a glimpse of divine love that surpasses all human wisdom.
Timothy left everything that he ever knew in his pursuit of knowing Christ. He followed under the leadership of the Apostle Paul for many years through tremendous opposition.
Though he had many unanswered questions, and many struggles that he had to face, he never looked back. “For he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”
The young man from Lystra entrusted his life to Jesus Christ, and God used him for mighty exploits. He gave up his life for the cause of Jesus and for thousands of years people have read about him in the archives of God’s eternal Word.
God, speaking through Paul while in prison in Rome, wrote this about the character of Timothy, “But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare.
For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. But you know of his proven worth, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father. Therefore, I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me.” If God were to speak today about our love for His people what would He say? If our entire life were to be passed through the purifying furnace of God’s omniscient mind, would we pass the test? Are we seeking to live a life that is not anchored to this world with our faces set toward our heavenly kingdom? May the grace of God give us intrinsic desires to live for the day when we see and touch the scars of Jesus Christ, Who saved us from the wrath to come.