Letter #6 - Philippians 2:19-30
by Mhando Mbughuni
To most of us, Paul was the “super apostle.” His conversion was nothing short of extraordinary; coming face to face with Jesus himself in physical form, struck blind by the brightness of the Lord’s glory, then the once ardent, learned Pharisee who opposed the gospel vehemently, is now the very person who champions and defends it in chains, and even in death.
The Lord used Paul to perform not just miracles, but unusual miracles. He inspired him (Paul) to write almost half of the New Testament. As he was writing this letter to the Philippians, he was under house arrest awaiting his trial because of his faith in Jesus Christ. As a human being, despite being used mightily by the Lord, Paul was physically worn out by the long perilous travels, and the persecution he experienced in his gospel missions. He was emotionally drained by the hardships and trials that he had encountered, and those awaited him along the way.
The Lord was surely the main source of Paul’s strength to carry on. His word and Holy Spirit gave Paul blessed assurance that no matter what was happening to him, there was something greater prepared for him in eternity. Nevertheless, regardless of how strong we are in the Lord, we will always need to surround ourselves with “Timothys” and “Epaphrodituses”. This does not mean that God is insufficient to keep us and meet our needs, but He works in us and through us to bless others just as Timothy and Epaphroditus were to Paul and to the church of Philippi. They were “tank refillers.”
What Timothy and Epaphroditus teach us is we can be an answered prayer to other believers and the world in need. People who may appear to be the strongest in character, spiritual, or emotional maturity, be it friends or leaders like Apostle Paul, are fighting the battles that we may not be aware of. This is a call for us to become tank refillers. We are God’s mouthpiece, hands, and feet. You will never know how just three words “God bless you” will uplift someone standing in front of you. A prayer for your pastor, coworker, friend, neighbor, or a service member overseas can go a long way.
God works and moves through us. As Paul served his calling towards eternity, God used Timothy and Epaphroditus to refill Paul’s physical, emotional, and spiritual tanks. Today we are reading the New Testament, not just because of Paul’s commitment to the Lord’s calling, but also because Timothy and Epaphroditus stood with Paul to the end. In these difficult times, COVID-19, financial, mental, and emotional distress, family loss, and uncertainty about tomorrow, people’s tanks are depleted. They need the Timothys and Epaphrodituses to step up.
Think of the people around you to whom you can become their tank refiller and ask God to guide you on how you can stand with them. Whatever God puts in your hand is never too small to make a huge difference. Also, God can lift up tank refillers in your life, through whom God will hold you up when your strength is failing.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, Thank you for all the gifts and abilities that you have endowed me. Help me to discern how I can stand with other people that you have put in my life, and faithfully become your eyes, ears, mouthpiece, hands, and feet to them. I pray that you will also put people in my life who will stand with me on my journey.
In Your Holy Name, I pray,
Amen.
