“Go therefore and make disciples” - Mat 28:19-20 (NIV).
The Bible is full of many strong brotherly working relationships, like of Moses and Aron who partnered to liberate the Jews from Egyptian domination, or of David and Jonathan, who were united in a bond against Saul’s oppressive power. Yet there is also a special relationship that bore much fruit and certainly the basis of our Christian faith. It is that of the Apostle Paul and his disciple Timothy.
Paul first met Timothy during one of his missionary journey in a place called Lystra (Acts 16: 1-3). Unlike him who came from the high circles of his society, Timothy was of mixed parents born of a Jewish mother and a Greek father. In spite of this difference in background Paul was quickly endeared to the young convert whom he now mentored. He spent hours equipping him (Acts 17:4). He was an encourager, counsellor, passing on all his wisdom to the young disciple. He also saw him as a brother and fellow worker in ministry (1 Thes 3:2). The Apostle Paul who did not have a son apparently adopted Timothy as his own (Phil 2:19).
I believe each one of us ought to have a Timothy in our lives. In fact my suspicion is God brings into the lives of every believer a Timothy except that some of us don’t realize it. Look around your there could be a Timothy waiting for you to disciple.
Prayer for today: Lord Father in heaven, today I pray that I am ever alert and eager to mentor the Timothy you bring in my life.
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27/04/2024 - 28/04/2024 All day“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God” (Psalm 42:1).
In the wildlife, a common feature is predatory animals chasing after less ferocious ones, which on a bad day become good dinner. Through the savannah plains of Africa the antelope tends to suffer that fate. After a long chase from a mighty lion, cheetah or leopard; antelopes that survive tend to retreat to a fresh water spot. There they gladly refresh their quench with streams of water.
King David, must have been more familiar with deer, as there are more common in the Northern Hemisphere. For us in the tropics we can substitute the deer with our antelope, commonly chased by predators. After a long chase, of course all pant for pints of water.
The significance of this metaphor is that whenever we encounter any situation that puts us on a chase, where do we run to! Habakuk 3:19 says, “The Lord God give my strength. He helps me run fast like deer. He leads me safely on the mountains” (Habakuk 3:19).
Two things of note here. The Lord can make us run as fast as the fastest antelope being chased by a predator to a well of safety. And of course, as we run, we have that the well of God to end up to and refresh ourselves! This is why David wrote, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:11).
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today like the antelopes of the wildlife I run to you, to that well of life, which refreshes my soul, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
