Send Timothy
by C. Emerson Strain.
Nothing defines a character of a person more, than when a person describes the charactor of another.
Have you ever been around someone that is always speaking bad about someone else. I always call it the "yeabut" problem. They will be in a conversation about someone and sooner or later the "yeabut" word pops in.
"He is a good man, yea but he . . . . " Everything is good until the yeabut. Then you hear all the bad about the person. I always wonder about the person telling the bad instead of the person being spoken ill of.
As a child, my Mom always told me to not hang around someone that spoke bad about someone else, because when you leave, they will talk bad about you. Thanks Mom, I believe you were right.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Phill 4:8
The apostle Peter had a problem in accepting people. The Lord had to show him in a dream to accept anyone that He had made clean. Finally Peter understood that principal.
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that
God is no respecter of persons:
But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is
accepted with him. Acts 10:34-35
The apostle Paul understood this in his heart and even went a step further.
You see Paul understood what it was like to be chosen by God to further
the Gospel when there was no good in himself.
But
I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also
may be of good comfort, when I know your state.
For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.
For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.
But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath
served with me in the gospel. Phil
2:19-21
Paul had as much confidence in Timothy as he had in himself. This is because Paul had confidence in God. You can see how much confidence a man has in God by watching how much confidence he has in others.
I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. Gal 5:10
Someone around you that you believe in? Let them know it. Show that you have confidence in them in the Lord.
Jesus had confidence in a woman who was caught in the act of adultery. He knew her true character and not her current condition. He showed mercy to her.
Paul went on in Ephesians to describe the triumph of God over the weakness of man.
2
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world,
according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh
in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts
of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and
were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved
us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ,
(by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly
places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace
in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:2-9