Saturday, May 4, 2024
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
Introducing … Timothy!
On account of the Jews in that region, Paul had Timothy circumcised, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
And Timothy didn’t bat an eye. You want me to do WHAT, Paul? Who do you think you are? That is going to hurt! I think we should talk about this.
But no, Timothy said something else: “Please, lend me this honor. I will close my eyes. I will be brave, clean and reverent.” Not everyone would have said that, and very few of Timothy’s friends would have done what he did.
But this Timothy boy, he was a Christian, as those like him had begun to call themselves. His mother was a Messianic Jew, also a so-called Christ-ian, and I imagine she was very proud of her boy, if a little worried about what trials and tribulations he was going to encounter, to say nothing of his circumcision.
We want to know more about his father, but we don’t.
They did not stop in the Phrygian and Galatian territory because they had been prevented by the Holy Spirit from preaching their message in the province of Asia. When they came to Mysia, they tried to go on into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them, so they crossed through Myia and came down to Troas.
During the night Paul had a vision.
Paul was beginning to hear directions clearly from the Lord. He didn’t do much guessing anymore.
A Macedonian stood before him and implored him with these words, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!”
How can I help but think of Princess Leia – Carrie Fisher in her white hologram gown – crying out to her father’s mentor and hero, “Help me, Obi Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope!” She hears something coming round the corner and quickly turns off the transmission. But that was enough. Help is on the way.
As it was on the way to Macedonia.
We sought passage to Macedonia at once, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the Good News to them.
Over the next few years Timothy did not just learn the Torah. He did not just help Timothy write his letters to the churches. Timothy learned all about persecution and trouble. Paul helped him all along the way, as he mentored him, loved him and admired him. Paul had spoken with Jesus, and trusted him. Jesus’ words were not so well known when Paul and Timothy were on the road. But later, they read that he said,
If the world hates you, realized that it hated me first.
And they knew he was right. Didn’t matter whether in pain or pleasure, prosperity or persecution. They were learning to have faith in God’s faithfulness.
The Lord is good; his kindness endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
(Acts 16, Psalm 100, Colossians 3, John 15)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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