Day 19 – Come Before Winter

(2 Timothy 4:19-22)

As I read the above passage today, my attention was drawn to the closing of this epistle by Paul. I was greeted with the humanity and genuine heart of the apostle. The personal greetings to named individuals – Prisca, Aquila, and Onesiphorus, shows his value of relationships and an acknowledgement of people’s contributions to his life and ministry.

People matter, relationships matter, and we should always acknowledge and appreciate the people God has put in our lives. People are one of God’s greatest gifts to us and it is our responsibility to recognise and celebrate the people and relationships God has given us in every season. Both your seasonal and destiny relationships must be nurtured and celebrated.

Rest in God’s sovereignty

The updates on those who were with him also caught my attention also. Erastus remained in Corinth for ministry and Trophimus was left sick in Miletus. Why would he give this update? The great apostle had someone very close to him and a ministry travelling companion, sick and he could not heal him? There are times when we have to accept the natural course of things and rest in God’s sovereignty. We will not always have all the answers, no matter how gifted or anointed.

Wisdom and maturity is knowing when to stop striving and let God answer our prayers through the natural order, not only by miracles. Paul’s openness and honesty here has something to teach us about the other dimension of faith, our walk with God, and our relationships with others.

The Winter of life

Finally, the plea to Timothy to do everything he can to come to him before winter is very touching. Paul wrote this letter as he waited for his execution or death. Yet after encouraging Timothy in the faith and in ministry, he looked forward to receiving a moment of comfort from Timothy – come before Winter!

In the Winter of life, when you are cold and lonely, when hope is lost or fading away, when silence is all the answers you get to your prayers and when darkness closes in the daytime. Who will you call to come to you before your winter? Who do you need to get to before their winter?

“Some friends play at friendship, but a true friend sticks closer than one’s nearest kin“

Proverbs 18:24