Strengthen and encourage!
James Cathcart
November 14, 2024
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1 Thessalonians 3: 1-5 (NRSVA)
1 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we decided to be left alone in Athens; 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and co-worker for God in proclaiming the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you for the sake of your faith, 3 so that no one would be shaken by these persecutions. Indeed, you yourselves know that this is what we are destined for. 4 In fact, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we were to suffer persecution; so it turned out, as you know. 5 For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith; I was afraid that somehow the tempter had tempted you and that our labour had been in vain.
A key part of discipleship is strengthening and encouraging one another in faith, especially during unsettling times. Discipleship is not a call to an easy life — it’s a call to life itself in all its fullness. That fullness is a vast canvass of emotion and experience. We all need encouragement.
I was having fun with acronyms earlier this week, so here’s another one: B.A.T. for Be A Timothy. There are times when we need to spread our wings, take flight and BAT strengthening and encouraging others.
Bats, actual bats, of course are famous for echolocation, using high-pitched signals to navigate instead of relying on their eyesight. Someone else who knew the value of not relying on sight alone was Timothy’s mentor Paul who knew we walk by faith not sight (see 2 Corinthians 5:1-10).
So, when we BAT we are not just seeing with the eyes of our head but we are looking around with the eyes of our heart (Paul again, in Ephesians 1: 15-23!). While Paul was a great communicator of our faith he himself acknowledged there was something special about Timothy’s ability to encourage and genuinely care for others. Paul was a somewhat spiky character who inspired but also challenged, provoked and annoyed many.
Perhaps sometimes, when we fancy ourselves a bit of a Paul and want to get on a soapbox, we should remember Paul’s own love and advocation for Timothy and BAT instead!
Prayer:
Heavenly Lord,
Help us to Be A Timothy
For those who need a Timothy today.
Amen.
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