I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.
I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me. Philippians 2:19-30
Don’t you just love reading the scriptures? Does the Holy Spirit fire your imagination when you read it? Do you see that it was real, and intimate, and involved people just like you and me? I love the letter from Paul to the group of the Way in Philippi. I can tell how much he loved those people and how much they loved him. The characters in the Word have become so much more rich to me now – as I have taken on the task and joy of writing historical fiction about the first century ekklesia (Church) called The Way. The Holy Spirit wants to show you and teach you about Jesus and His family, Body, and friends. Don’t just gloss over the scriptures with mindless reading, but ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten and expand the scripture to your mind and heart. The people mentioned in scripture weren’t just some made up fiction but real people with real struggles, real emotions, real battles, real heartaches, who had real challenges. I really look forward to meeting them in heaven and asking them all sorts of questions.
Does the Holy Spirit put fire in your soul when you begin reading the scriptures? Have you learned how beneficial the Word can be to your daily life? Does the Holy Spirit explain things to you? Does He teach you? You should realize He IS your Teacher. The Holy Spirit will reveal Jesus to you with ever increasing revelation, making Him the most real person in your life, if you let Him. For me reading the written Word has become a ‘home’ to me. I feel a sense of coming back ‘home’ when I open the pages to read it, and I often am overwhelmed with emotions as He comes to be with me while I read. Do you have that kind of relationship with Him too?
If you want to grow nearer to the Father, and Jesus – then right now the Holy Spirit is just waiting for you to ask Him to show you how. He will lead you in The Way.
Begin with asking the Holy Spirit to explain the scriptures to you. Ask Him to help you understand what the writer was dealing with and what they were faced with while writing the book or letter you are now currently reading some thousands of years later. Be very attentive to His suggestions, and have a notepad ready to write down what He says, or ideas that come to you. Then take the time to research, ponder, and explore those things.
This spiritual relationship with the Holy Spirit is the MOST important relationship you have right now. Jesus sent Him to guide you through this path of life on earth till you meet Him back ‘home’ in heaven where you belong.
Author’s NOTE: (By the way …both Timothy and Epaphroditus have become some of my favorite people since I wrote the novel Eutychus / Terminally Committed To Christ, and I definitely will seek them out early to learn about the REAL lives they lived on earth when I get to heaven. And yes, they are REAL people, just like everyone else mentioned in the scriptures.)