A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Daily
Encouragement on
Tuesday, February
12, 2019
"Come
Before Winter"
Message
summary: The
man who had given so
much ministry and
encouragement to others
was now in a place of
need.
Listen to our message on your audio player.
"Make every effort to come before winter" (2 Timothy 4:21).
For a few days of warm weather last week we had a taste of the imminent spring season. Even Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow! (Interesting fact: Back in the late seventies my brother Pat, who is now a retired pastor, served his first church in Punxsutawney, PA.)
But winter has returned with snow yesterday and freezing rain this morning. However, overall we have had a relatively mild winter, especially compared to Oymyakon Siberia, the coldest inhabited place on earth where the coldest recorded temperature in 1933 was -96°F. So next time we are tempted to complain about the cold we need to remember this place!
The first reference to winter in the Bible is part of a promise to Noah.
Listen to our message on your audio player.
"Make every effort to come before winter" (2 Timothy 4:21).
For a few days of warm weather last week we had a taste of the imminent spring season. Even Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow! (Interesting fact: Back in the late seventies my brother Pat, who is now a retired pastor, served his first church in Punxsutawney, PA.)
But winter has returned with snow yesterday and freezing rain this morning. However, overall we have had a relatively mild winter, especially compared to Oymyakon Siberia, the coldest inhabited place on earth where the coldest recorded temperature in 1933 was -96°F. So next time we are tempted to complain about the cold we need to remember this place!
The first reference to winter in the Bible is part of a promise to Noah.
"As
long as the earth
endures,
seedtime and harvest,
cold and heat,
summer and winter,
day and night
will never cease."
seedtime and harvest,
cold and heat,
summer and winter,
day and night
will never cease."
(Genesis
8:22)
Today's
Scripture portion is
found in the final
chapter of Paul's final
book (chronologically).
This epistle, though
specifically written to
Timothy as the torch of
faith was passed, has in
the providence of God
come down to us and is
in the body of inspired
Scripture, including
this very personal
appeal. This small
portion of a verse is
surely among the most
personal of all Paul's
words. We may wonder
what possible value it
may have to us.
Many spiritual and practical insights have been gleaned from this brief letter for Christ's followers in each generation. It is especially encouraging to those in pastoral ministry, so let's consider this little phrase, "Make every effort to come before winter".
Paul sits in a cold, damp prison. He doesn't get the blues or have a pity party, instead he writes some letters. Do you wonder if he had the slightest idea that these letters would become a part of the Holy Scriptures and be treasured by people from each succeeding generation?
He essentially cries out for Timothy to hurry it up. Just a few verses prior to this he had written, "Make every effort to come to me soon" (4:9).
Several reasons for the urgency of his appeal can be found in the text. He knows "his time of departure" is near (4:6). He needs his cloak as winter's coming and his books since he still wants to study (4:13). Others had deserted him, most notably Demas (4:10,16).
However, we believe he fundamentally wants Timothy's presence. Earlier in the letter he had written, "Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy" (2 Timothy 1:4).
The man who had given so much ministry and encouragement to others was now in a place of need.
Can you identify with Paul? Consider people who are like Timothy to you. Their very presence brings comfort and assurance.
Consider people you can be a "Timothy" to today. People who, like Paul, have discipled and nurtured you in the faith but now are in a place of need. Perhaps it's your parents, a Sunday School teacher, a youth leader or a pastor. They're probably not in prison, but they might be in a nursing home or some other lonely place. Why don't you give them your presence today? Some day you may be where they are!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, each of
us has
opportunity to
touch another's
life as we come
alongside them
in their time of
need. Likewise,
we benefit from
one who gives
freely of their
time and
resources, their
wisdom and love
as they see us
in need. We are
reminded
throughout
Scripture that
we have a duty
to help and
encourage those
around us,
especially our
brothers and
sisters, while
sojourning here
below. Help us
to be mindful of
those in need as
we fulfill the
Christ's
command, "Do
unto others as
you would have
them do to
you." We
want to "bear
one another's
burden and so
fulfill the
law of
Christ".
Amen.
Many spiritual and practical insights have been gleaned from this brief letter for Christ's followers in each generation. It is especially encouraging to those in pastoral ministry, so let's consider this little phrase, "Make every effort to come before winter".
Paul sits in a cold, damp prison. He doesn't get the blues or have a pity party, instead he writes some letters. Do you wonder if he had the slightest idea that these letters would become a part of the Holy Scriptures and be treasured by people from each succeeding generation?
He essentially cries out for Timothy to hurry it up. Just a few verses prior to this he had written, "Make every effort to come to me soon" (4:9).
Several reasons for the urgency of his appeal can be found in the text. He knows "his time of departure" is near (4:6). He needs his cloak as winter's coming and his books since he still wants to study (4:13). Others had deserted him, most notably Demas (4:10,16).
However, we believe he fundamentally wants Timothy's presence. Earlier in the letter he had written, "Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy" (2 Timothy 1:4).
The man who had given so much ministry and encouragement to others was now in a place of need.
Can you identify with Paul? Consider people who are like Timothy to you. Their very presence brings comfort and assurance.
Consider people you can be a "Timothy" to today. People who, like Paul, have discipled and nurtured you in the faith but now are in a place of need. Perhaps it's your parents, a Sunday School teacher, a youth leader or a pastor. They're probably not in prison, but they might be in a nursing home or some other lonely place. Why don't you give them your presence today? Some day you may be where they are!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, each of
us has
opportunity to
touch another's
life as we come
alongside them
in their time of
need. Likewise,
we benefit from
one who gives
freely of their
time and
resources, their
wisdom and love
as they see us
in need. We are
reminded
throughout
Scripture that
we have a duty
to help and
encourage those
around us,
especially our
brothers and
sisters, while
sojourning here
below. Help us
to be mindful of
those in need as
we fulfill the
Christ's
command, "Do
unto others as
you would have
them do to
you." We
want to "bear
one another's
burden and so
fulfill the
law of
Christ".
Amen.Matthew
7:12,
Galatians 6:2
Brooksyne's
Note: As
I reviewed our
message today I
considered
Paul's request
for Timothy to
come to him
before winter.
He was anxious
for his
fellowship
though it might
be brief and
unnatural since
their visit
would likely be
under the
surveillance of
prison guards.
Surely Paul's
heart was
overflowing with
questions about
his brothers and
sisters back
home as well as
Timothy's
ministry. No
doubt he wanted
to tell Timothy
how God was
working in his
own heart there
in the prison
setting and how
he was seeking
to influence
others even
while in chains.
This brought to mind our brothers and sisters in captivity who are being persecuted for their faith, the same circumstances as Paul found himself in. We have been praying for Pastor Raymond Koh of Malaysia for nearly two years now who was kidnapped in broad daylight due to his stand for Christ. There has been no word of his whereabouts since he was taken. He is representative of hundreds of thousands undergoing persecution whose families are grief stricken and fearful that their loved ones are suffering or even worse, that they may not be alive. Though these dear persecuted believers are not allowed to visit with their loved ones, no authority on earth can keep us from praying for their safekeeping, their release and for their witness of Christ to bear fruit in their godless settings. Though we cannot visit in person we can faithfully pray for them as well as their loved ones.
This brought to mind our brothers and sisters in captivity who are being persecuted for their faith, the same circumstances as Paul found himself in. We have been praying for Pastor Raymond Koh of Malaysia for nearly two years now who was kidnapped in broad daylight due to his stand for Christ. There has been no word of his whereabouts since he was taken. He is representative of hundreds of thousands undergoing persecution whose families are grief stricken and fearful that their loved ones are suffering or even worse, that they may not be alive. Though these dear persecuted believers are not allowed to visit with their loved ones, no authority on earth can keep us from praying for their safekeeping, their release and for their witness of Christ to bear fruit in their godless settings. Though we cannot visit in person we can faithfully pray for them as well as their loved ones.
James
from Pulaski,
Virginia
shared these
photos of
Kember prints
he
had brought to
his house for
safekeeping
after his
parents moved.
He had read
our article
about Kember
prints.
"Ten of these
were grouped
over the sofa
at my parents'
previous
house, and I
remember
others
displayed
around the
house and in
my dad's
study. He has
served as a
pastor here in
Pulaski since
1966."
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
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