May the mumbling commence!
It is important to know when to call for help. There are and will be times that we cannot handle the call of the Lord in our lives alone. Indeed, to try and handle the call of the Lord on your life alone is laughable. Paul knew this fact well. Read from his closing remarks in Second Timothy chapter four:
Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments. (Verses 9-13)
Paul was stuck in a dank prison cell. Many had deserted him – for different reasons. Paul knew that he was somewhat at the mercy of his jailer. Only Luke was with him. Paul knew that he needed extra help.
Paul pleaded with Timothy to come to him. Paul also asked Timothy to bring Mark with him. It was the same Mark that he rejected as a good traveling companion earlier. If you need any more proof of the healing that happened in that relationship, here it is. Paul recognizes Mark as helpful to him in his ministry.
Yes, Christ Jesus is our lifeline. Yet, sometimes, we need to call a friend to help us to cling to the promise of Jesus. Paul reached out to Timothy and to Mark.
And Paul did not allow his predicament to drive his mission from his mind. He thought of some useful tools that he left behind. One of these tools was for his personal use. Paul asked for his cloak that he left behind. It must have been cool during the evenings and in the wee hours of the night in that cell.
The second thing that Paul requested that Timothy bring was scrolls and parchments. Paul knew their value to his ministry. I would guess some of these contained the messages that he had already sent to churches that he planted. I would also guess some of these would be blank – so that he could continue his ministry to his beloved brothers and sisters while he was confined to prison.
Paul often thought of others – even when he was in the most uncomfortable and precarious positions. He sent Tychicus to Ephesus, and he asked for the scrolls and parchments. Paul knew that God had called him to minister to these people through the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
May you and I be as conscious of our call when we are in the valleys of our lives. May you and I think of others before ourselves. It is the little warn path that Jesus trod and that Paul followed in.
There is no better way!
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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