“But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.” ~Philippians 2:19-22 (NKJV)

The funny thing about being on Facebook is the number count next to the friends list. At last count I have 483 people on that list. Not too bad if you wanna think that’s a decent measure but in the reality of it all how many of them make it to the core of relationship. Ya see, in everyone’s life there are three levels of relationship. Ya got the acquaintance (the outer rim), ya got the casual (the inner rim), ya got the intimate (the core) and if I were to run my Facebook friends list through those levels very few get to the core. Truth be told most of them are on the outer rim and not every one of them is Christian either but I can say this…I actually do know everyone on my list.

One friend that wasn’t on that list but is at the core of friendship was Mark Fisher. I watched Mark battle cancer with a smile on his face and when The LORD saw fit to call him home on February 10th of this year I lost a piece of me that hasn’t been replaced yet. Mark was there to watch as I walked away from a world of disobedience into the same marvelous light that was keeping him sober. That light is Jesus Christ. Mark took me on as a Timothy (even though I was older than he) and I learned a lot about the Christian walk through Mark. I praise God for that privilege…but I still miss Mark.

When we read into the life of the Apostle Paul it almost seems like the guy was a loner but he really wasn’t. Yeah he had his traveling buddies like Barnabas and Silas or his fellow tent-makers, Priscilla and Aquila but there was someone that was a close companion and that was Timothy. Paul meets Timothy on his second missionary trip and from there on Timothy is a constant. (there are also two important letters bearing his name in the New Testament). The two of them are almost like David and Jonathan (1Samuel 18:1; 20:17). Paul is a Jew out to teach the Greeks and Timothy is both a Jew and a Greek so it seems feasible the two should go together. Kinda like Frosted Flakes and milk…they’re GRRRREAT!! (I bet you read that in Tony the Tiger’s voice)

Even though there are three reasons why the Apostle Paul sent Timothy to the church in Philippi I believe they are the three main reasons Paul and Timothy cliqued.

1. They both had a “kindred spirit” —they were liked minded and had a deeper level of understanding of each other. They understood the importance of the

Cross of Christ (Phil 2:20a) and that needed to be spread throughout the known world.

2. They both had a “genuine concern” —it was all about having a Christ-like attitude and having a genuine compassion for other people’s concerns. (Phil 2:20b-21) That’s why small time ministry is key in getting to know people.

3. They both had a “servants heart” — As Swindoll puts it “He (Timothy) gave himself away in caring for the needs of others.” It was a “when you get Timothy, you get me” mentality. (Phil 2:22-24) It was always Paul’s hope that as you imitated him you’d be imitating Christ.

Having and maintaining core friendships are key to our everyday walk with Jesus. And yes Jesus is to be LORD of our lives but He also speaks to us as that core friend…caring more about you then you’ll ever know. When Mark and I ran an “Addiction Victorious” meeting some years back it was important to the both of us that the main message stayed the main message. That message is still Jesus Christ and when I look back at what was done at that time it still says, “when you get him, you get me.” But if you got the both of us it was our hope that you got Jesus as you went on your way. Ya see, when Jesus Christ is our common bond in our friendships there ain’t nuttin’ that can, well maybe this is a better way to put it….

“A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”— Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NLT) Amen?

Written by Chris Hughes: Chris, a graduate of The Colony of Mercy (11-2003) is married (Kathy) with two adult children (Kevin and Karen) and serves on the Deacon Board at Trinity Alliance Church in Cologne NJ

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 20; Proverbs 21

Daily Quote: “When this year is over, what gift will your current schedule present you with? The popularity to receive hundreds of Christmas cards from acquaintances only? Or the deeper satisfaction and joy of a few close friendships as well?” —Charles Swindoll

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

“Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.” ~Philippians 2:14-15 (NLT)

Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain) had many quotes about Christianity to include this infamous one. “If Christ were here now there is one thing He would not be—a Christian.” Then in his later years he would make this statement, “if our Maker is all-powerful for good or evil, He is not in His right mind.” I think one of the things that made our beloved writer of Tom Sawyer a bit off-base with YHVH was he was a Freemason. That may have knocked him off balance every once in a while. Maybe so much so that he even said, “Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.” That’s kinda harsh but let’s face it if someone is better at something you need to be it kinda gets under your skin…don’t it?

I think I’ll rest in what my boy Matt Henry said about the matter, “The children of God should differ from the sons of men. The more perverse others are, the more careful we should be to keep ourselves blameless and harmless.” And when we understand that Christ is our example we have to understand that if things aren’t balanced just right we may set up ourselves for failure. We have got three areas in our lives that Charles Swindoll (in his book “Laugh Again”) says are challenging areas that need to be kept in balance through Christ’s strength.

1. Balancing Purpose and Power: This has to do with our obedience to God. In Phil 2:12-13 we are told to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. But that doesn’t mean work hard to earn it, that is not the Apostle Paul is saying. What he is saying is by walking in obedience, as Christ did, you will build on the gift of eternal life that God has already given us. “And as we work out our salvation in this way, God will work in us, giving us the power to accomplish His will.”

2. Balancing Attitude and Action: This will put one thing to one side and the other thing to the other side. There is a sign that hangs in the Colony kitchen that simply reads, “Complaining is a sin.” To say this point blank…Jesus never did it. Keep that “‘tude” Christ-like (with a twist of humor to round it out) We need to be blameless, displaying a character that is free from defect. (Easy to write, I’ll admit, harder to display at times) We need to be inexperienced with evil or at best no longer involved with it. Then we need to be above reproach or at least no longer with fault. And don’t go hiding in a cave to keep this a sanitized

list in your life…you’re to be a light in the world, not a flickering amber in a cave.

3. Balancing Seriousness and Joy: There is nothing more serious to keep in mind than this, “Holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may have cause to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.” (Phil 2:16) No one likes wasted effort and Paul was no different. His hope was that his life’s example contributed to the Philippians service to God, even if it meant his death. But in his seriousness he asks for joy, “And you too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.” (Phil 2:18) To quote Swindoll on the matter, “One of life’s pleasures is meeting godly people like Paul who enjoy living, who can be involved in the most serious of earthly tasks, yet maintain a sense of humor, a ready smile, and a contagious joy.”

I guess the thing that makes following Christs example difficult is “SELF”. My “SELF” likes to take charge and credit for all that good stuff I do (even being a Freedom Fighter writer) but I have to keep this in the fore front of my mind at all times, “For I myself was also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating others.” (Titus 3:3). Yes, I juggled a few words around but I need to take this personally. Jesus saved me from the punishment that comes with all this stuff, He didn’t have to either…He wanted to. It wasn’t that I need to be saved as much as it is about to be able to see Him in all the graces He provides in everyday life. In that there’s balance…Amen?

Written by Chris Hughes: Chris, a graduate of The Colony of Mercy (11-2003) is married with two adult children and serves on the Deacon Board at Trinity Alliance Church in Cologne NJ

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 14; Proverbs 15

Daily Quote: “Some attempt to follow Christ’s lofty example by faking it. They simply lip-sync the great virtues and doctrines of the Christian faith, focusing on image rather than substance. Others, perhaps most, frustrate themselves by intensifying their efforts and try harder to do life exactly as Christ did.”—Charles Swindoll

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: