Timothy and Epaphroditus
Open Your Bible
Philippians 2:19-30, Acts 19:21-22, 1 Corinthians 16:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
BY Bailey Gillespie
It was an early morning in June when I logged into my work computer at our university library. I hadn’t been online for more than a minute before seeing tributes pouring in from church leaders, moms, and others whose lives have been enriched by this one woman and her heart for God. Elisabeth Elliot had died.
Elisabeth’s writing helped guide my spiritual formation after I stumbled across her work somewhere around the age of twenty years old. An American missionary, wife, author, and speaker, she was a modest saint, one who would never call attention to herself. She saw our lives as “chalices” or “empty vessels willing and ready to be filled with the life of God.” But on this June morning, people seemed to think it right to honor her long walk of faithfulness.
During his missionary journeys, the apostle Paul honored his ministry partners in a similar way by speaking well of them. When he wrote to groups like the one in Philippi, he vouched for his friends and elevated their good qualities so there would be no question of their credibility. Timothy was a “like-minded” man doing the Lord’s work with “proven character” (Philippians 2:20, 22; 1 Corinthians 16:10). Epaphroditus was his “brother” who should be welcomed with “great joy” (Philippians 2:25, 29). Paul also asked these churches to recognize and hold in high regard those among them who were risking their lives for the kingdom (1 Thessalonians 5:12–13).
Jesus tells us, “You will have suffering in the world.” (John 16:33). I’ve always found it strange when we describe life as having seasons of trials and tribulations. Instead of life being a static plane of serenity with intermittent times of trial, it sometimes seems that life itself is the trial with intermittent times of serenity. One thing that gives us strength while following Jesus is our friendship with others and their encouragement on the journey.
I hope people pointed out the good they saw in Elisabeth Elliot while she was alive. I imagine that her modest personality was challenged now and then by opportunities to focus on affirmation from others. But even if not, I hope her story inspires us to follow Paul’s model and affirm the God-honoring qualities we see in our brothers and sisters. This isn’t to draw self-serving attention or make them arrogant; it’s an opportunity to build up the Body of Christ in a world so often marked by anything but serenity.
60 thoughts on "Timothy and Epaphroditus"
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Love much, love often and love always because He first loved us.
Happy Valentines Day, sisters!
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The Lord has blessed me with amazing friends. One in particular. Her name is Gretchen. She introduced me to SRT. And I am so glad she did! The SRT ministry has been my lifeline. I love you all so much! I long for the day that we will all meet someday face-to-face. My friend Gretchen has been walking this journey with me from the very, very beginning. She was bold enough to come alongside me to do some hard things and some of it was scary but she came. She truly can be a Paul or Timothy, but her name is Gretchen. She is my sister, she is my friend, and I’m so glad God sent her my way. We’ve been friends for over 20 years. We had our boys within two months of each other. Those two boys have been best buddies since birth and my heart is filled with joy as these two buddies continued their friendship and now share a dorm at a Christian college. Yes I consider myself blessed with his wonderful friend Gretchen. Today on Valentine’s Day the day of friendship I honor my friend Gretchen. She is my sister and I love her very much. I am so glad God sent her my way. I’ll honor and glory to God!
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So beautiful, Mari! Glad God intertwined your lives together ❤️❤️❤️
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Amen Churchmouse
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I’m grateful and thankful for the SRT community. I look forward to this time together with you and reading the Word every morning. Have a blessed Valentine’s Day! ❤️
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My mom always says don’t bring me flowers when I’m dead, give them to me now. Likewise I want to get better at pointing out the good in others and encouraging them now, not when they have passed. ♡
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Good morning and Happy Valentine’s Day! A special prayer of strength and encouragement to all of you elementary school teachers who are walking through the minefield of children and Valentine’s Day parties! (Fortunately, I teach high school and today and Monday is our winter break.)
I wanted to share some incredibly wonderful news with all of you. Back in October, I shared with this community about one of my students, Macy, who was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. We found out just this week that the PET scan she just had shows that she is CANCER-FREE!!! She is through with all her treatments and will only have to go every three months for a scan. The doctors have told her she can come back to school in March. We are so excited and so grateful to God for this healing.
Thank you all for your prayers for this child. I love this community and can’t imagine life without it. On the very few days that I can’t start my day with SRT I feel a little out of whack. This is what helps me walk through my day with peace.
Be Blessed!!!-
That’s great news! Praise God!
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Bailey, your words describe exactly how I feel: “One thing that gives us strength while following Jesus is our friendship with others and their encouragement on the journey.“ All of you are very special as I grow in my walk with the Lord.
Blessings of love & joy on this Valentine’s Day -
I loved this message today of honoring others lives and godly attributes to them and to those they encounter while they are with us on this earth. How perfect on Valentines Day to share love in that way by lifting those up around you. I am loving this study. This is my first SRT study and I am really enjoying this community as well. So uplifting! Happy Valentines to all of you and peace and love on this very chilly Friday from Wisconsin!
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