Christian Devotional – March 15, 2020

Running the Race – #22

Philippians 2:22-24 – But you know of his proven worth, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father. Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me; and I trust in the Lord that I myself also will be coming shortly.
Philippians 2:22‭-‬24 NASB
https://bible.com/bible/100/php.2.22-24.NASB

Paul is sending Timothy, but he would much rather have gone himself. While he recognizes that Timothy represents the same things that he does, Paul deeply desires to be with the people himself. He wants to see their successes and share in the encouragement with them. And he wants to continue to teach them and train them. Yet, he understands his situation and is sending the next best thing. Still, he doesn’t lose hope that God may at some point open the door for him to be able to come to them to.

When our situations and circumstances are not what we would have anticipated, do we focus on what God has allowed us to be able to do or on what we can’t do? Do we rejoice in the positive or mope in the negative? While Paul was not getting exactly what he was wanting, he was still rejoicing. How do we respond?