“Risking For The Work Of Christ While Waiting For Him!”

“Risking For The Work Of Christ While Waiting For Him!(Phi.2:19-30).
At a time when everyone was looking to his own interests, young Timothy proved himself to the contrary. He served with Paul in the work of the gospel and Paul commended him for that.
Paul advises, “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”(Phi.2:4). Yes, when we are hit with hard times, we need the likes of Timothy whom we can depend on; and the likes of Epaphroditus who almost died for the work of the gospel, risking his live to give Paul the help the Philippians could not give Paul.
While waiting for Christ, we need each other to be able to keep on keeping on. Both Paul, Timothy and Epaphroditus are worth emulating. Paul was imprisoned for the sake of the gospel, but that did not stop him from writing pastoral letters to the churches. He had concern for the Philippians and planned to send Timothy to them so that he Paul may be cheered when he received news about the Philippians.
On his part Timothy was so devoted to the work of the gospel, even though he was very young. Epaphroditus was another faithful servant of the gospel. Paul calls him “a fellow worker, a soldier, who is also a messenger” sent by the Philippians to take care of Paul’s needs. Epaphroditus almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to give Paul the help the Philippians could not give him.
It is an aberration when we carve out our comfort zones and consider some places to be no-go zones because we do not want to risk our lives, yet we preach so much about Christ Jesus who died for us. To us Paul says, “your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: who being in every nature God…made himself nothing…”(Phi.2:5f).
We should wait for Christ not like a milestone which cannot move, but like Ruth of old; even as we sing, “Where you go, I will go. Your people shall be my people, and your God shall be my God.”
Yes, be a Paul or a Timothy or a Epaphroditus!
Weekend prayer: Holy Spirit give me the courage to overcome my fears and to take the risk for the work of Christ. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.