Titus and Timothy, the sons of faith
What’s better than to begin with these two? Titus and Timothy; the young and fearful, yet beloved “true sons of faith” as the Apostle called them. Nothing challenges my faith more than the fact that Paul had no doubt, I mean none whatsoever that these young men were true believers. In a world where young people in the church today are consumed with foolishness, Timothy and Titus are but a good rebuke. Their lives still stand head and shoulders above the rest. They are a perfect example of what it means to be young and sold out for Jesus. Paul relied on them so much that he did not hesitate to send any of them to pastor churches – and they were readily available despite their fears for ministry work.
Priscilla and Aquila, the power couple
Priscilla and Aquila were good friends of the Apostle not only because of the common trade they shared but also because of their common service to Master Jesus. They lived in times when Jews like them were persecuted by the Romans until they moved from place to place, yet their faith in Christ did not move because they witnessed for Him wherever they went. What stands out about this couple is their knowledge of the Gospel, and the humility they showed in correcting and teaching others such as Apollos the great preacher (Act 18:21-26). How about the fact that they were equally dedicated to the Lord as a couple? Oh, how are we in desperate need of such couples in our time, don’t you think?
Luke, the humble doctor
In prison, with all of his companions nowhere to be seen, Paul could be heard saying, “only Luke is with me” (2 Tim 4:11). It seems like Luke’s ministry and calling was the well-being of the Apostle Paul, hence he had to be with him through thick and thin. He wasn’t much interested in being in the spotlight, but he was satisfied with being the bag carrier of the great Evangelist. The lesson from D.R Luke is that not all of us are called to be in the frontline ministry. To use the language of the mines: not all of us are called to go down the shaft, but some of us must be content with holding the rope for those who go down, and be equally committed. Either way, they will be scars on all our hands. Therefore, my dear Christian disciples; if you don’t feel like you are called to do anything, you do well to look for those who are called for frontline ministry, they need your unwavering support. Amen.
John Mark, the double-minded
This is the same young man who divided Paul and Barnabas after he had deserted them and gone back – missing his mother, perhaps. There are many of us who feel like Mark, once in a while. When we feel like the Christian life is too demanding and difficult, hence relapsing back to our old comforts is reasonable enough. Yet, like young John M, we must observe that there is neither comfort nor joy in the world, and come back to the good Lord who is always ready to joyfully welcome His prodigals. The happy ending of Mark’s life are these words, “bring Mark with you, for he is useful to me and my ministry” (2 Tim 4:11). Lest we forget that he also left us a lasting legacy called “the Gospel According to Mark.”
Demas, the worldly Christian
It seems like Demas started very well indeed; participating warmly in activities of the Gospel with the good Apostle, or at least he pretended. As the saying goes, “time is a good tester”, Demas’ true colours were revealed. Just as the dog returns to its vomit, so does the pig to its mud hole. "Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world...", there is no more sad story in the life of a professing Christian than that statement (2 Tim 4:10). May this be a lesson to all of us, because there are many Demas characters even in the church today. A people who are good at fitting in the Christian environment, yet deep within their hearts they are still worldly as the world can be. Friends, you can’t love Christ and commit your life to Him with one eye lusting after worldly pleasures. When we serve our Lord, we do it wholeheartedly, unless we take comfort in hypocrisy.
Tychicus, the faithful minister
I have reserved my favorite for the last, his name is Tychicus. It’s not a mistake that whenever Paul mentioned this man, he called him “the beloved brother and faithful minister” (Col 4:7). Not only was he a minister, but a faithful minister! This should be the goal for all of us. That is, to be determined to do the Lord’s work and serve Him, come hell or high water. That is what it means to be faithful. Not only that, but whenever Paul needed someone to embark on an urgent ministry work, the humble hardworking Tychicus was there for the task. He wasn’t just a faithful minister but he was also a trustworthy minister. Is it so hard to pray for such grace in your Christian walk?
Conclusion. It encourages me that there have been many believers throughout history who have lived in the shadows of anonymity. Yet they were and still are equally bright flowers in the Lord’s eyes because of their unwavering dedication to His cause. Such was the case with Paul’s companions regardless of their other weaknesses. May we also allow His strength to work in weaknesses and fight this good fight, and serve Him with joy, boldness and a clear conscience. Salute.
Sinothi Ncube
Comments
Post a Comment