I AM SECOND: ARE YOU GENUINELY CONCERNED

If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. ²⁰ I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. (Phil. 2:19-20 NLT)

I plan (according to Jesus’ plan) to send Timothy to you very soon so he can bring back all the news of you he can gather. Oh, how that will do my heart good! I have no one quite like Timothy. He is loyal, and genuinely concerned for you.  MSG

¹⁹ I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. ²⁰ For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare.  ESV

As we look at this picture you can't help but deduce that whomever this darling baby is, it's totally unaware of who it is that is kissing upon it.   It's not even aware of the sacrifice that this person is about to make on it's behalf.   And if you are tenderhearted this picture can tug at something in you, that no matter your stance on .......................you realize that this is beautiful that this man is prepared to risk it all, because he's concerned for this child, or his children, or his family, or his nation to the extent that he's pledged his life to go off, and defend the freedoms he desires this child to enjoy.

Paul like this man, was concerned.  He was concerned for the people of Philippi.  He knew that they were in tough times, and that it was going to get tougher, but instead of writing them from prison asking for financial donations, or a pack of cigarettes, or why haven't you all been to visit me....he writes them informing them that he would be sending someone to them.   Because GOD IS FIRST in Paul's life, he's looking to the needs of others before his own.   Now Paul being a connected man, didn't send just anyone....he sent his young protege', his like minded brother, Timothy.  

WHY TIMOTHY of all people, look to the text, he " is genuinely concerned for you, he's concerned about your welfare......"   At some point the soldiers in these pictures were so concerned that it moved them to do something.   Now, I don't know if they every protested, posted on facebook their frustrations, led marches, rallied for signatures.....but what I do know they did....they put their name & life on the line by pledging it away for you and I.   Timothy too, could've ended up in jail, but because of his deep love for GOD, and the mission of spreading the Gospel he partnered with Paul and went, why, because he too was concerned.

So simply put, where have your concerns led you to DO? If it didn't cost you your name, your blood, or your life....did it really cost you?  Christ calls each of His Disciples to DIE TO THEMSELVES, meaning forget your agenda, and pursue His will for your life.   It means forsaking your will/way, and be willing to suffer for righteousness sake.   It means surrendering your style and preferences simply so the SPIRIT, HIS SPIRIT is free to express itself in and through you.   So I ask again......where have you concerns led you?  Or are you not that concerned, which is a clear sign of selfishness? LGLP