Read:  But I hope, in the Lord Jesus, to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. Phil 2:19-20

Examine: Paul addresses Timothy as “my true son in the faith” (1 Timothy 1:2). He probably heard and responded to the gospel when Paul came through the area of Derbe and Lystra on his first missionary journey. Timothy accompanied Paul on most of his second journey after leaving Lystra. Scripture then informs us he was with the apostle in Ephesus during his third missionary journey.

Paul says Timothy had a “genuine faith,” the same as that which lived in his mother and grandmother (2 Timothy 1:1–5). And that from a child you have known the Holy Writings, which can make you wise unto salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:14 – 15).

The Bible records, after Timothy was ordained to serve by Paul and church brethren (1Timothy 4:14, 2Timothy 1:6), he ministered in at least five New Testament churches (1Thessalonians 3:1 – 2, 1Corinthians 4:17, Philippians 2:19 – 22, Acts 17:14 and 1Timothy 1:3).

At the end of Paul’s fifth and final missionary journey, while in Rome a second time just before his death, he requests his closest friend visit him and bring his personal copies of his writings (2 Timothy 4:9, 13, 21).

Paul testified to those in Philippi regarding the unique Christian character of Timothy and his dedication to spreading the gospel. He said, “For I have no one who is likeminded, who has a genuine concern for you . . . But you know the proof of him, that as a child with a father, he served with me in the gospel (Philippians 2:20, 22).

Application:

Paul told Timothy to be devoted to reading Scripture, exhorting, and teaching, and not to neglect the gift that he had been given. Paul also counseled Timothy to keep a close watch on himself. These instructions remain pertinent to believers today. We, too, are called to “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:11–12).

Paul also told Timothy, to “do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Decision: Oh Lord! Help me to be like Timothy studying the Word of God, obeying the Word of God, ministering the Word of God, and preaching the Word of God.

Read: But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself. Dan 1:8

Examine: Daniel was a righteous man of princely lineage and lived about 620–538 B.C. Daniel and his God-fearing friends were forced to live in Babylon, far from home and far from the land their Lord had promised them. He was carried off to Babylon in 605 B.C. by Nebuchadnezzar. Despite the “captivity” of the Jews, Daniel enjoyed the highest offices of state at Babylon, but he was very faithful to His God.

In Babylon, when he was asked to eat the King’s food, which was contrary to his faith.  Daniel made up his mind not to let himself become ritually unclean by eating the food and drinking the wine of the royal court, so he asked Ashpenaz to help him, God made Ashpenaz sympathetic to Daniel and later when tested Daniel and his friends were found 10 times more knowledge than other.

Later when the kingdom changed from Babylon to Medo Persia, Daniel’s faith was again tested, but there was no negligence or fault found in Daniel, after a while we see there was a rule made to trap Daniel, but he stood faithful and was thrown into Lion’s den, Lord delivered. On hearing the news, the king was overjoyed and gave orders for Daniel to be pulled up out of the pit. So they pulled him up and saw that he had not been hurt at all, for he trusted God.

In the last section, we see Daniel‘s prophecy regarding the end days and deliverance of Israel from captivity.

Application: Daniel was faithful even in a foreign country when he had every reason to complain about slavery. He was even ready to risk His life for his faithfulness.

 Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel regarding government affairs, but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption since he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him.

His Faith led him to be thrown into the Lion’s den. When he was old. Daniel observed in the books the number of years which was revealed as the word of the Lord, he was a student of the word of God. In the last few chapters of Prophecy, we see that the Lord speaks of Daniel as a highly esteemed man.

Decision: Oh Lord! let me have the testimony, and faithfulness like Daniel and be able to hear well done faithful servant. Lord angel Gabriel said, At the beginning of your supplications the command was issued, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed; so give heed to the message and gain an understanding of the vision.

Read: But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 2 Cor 7:6

Examine: Titus was a trusted companion of the apostle Paul and a faithful servant of the Lord. He was a Gentile (Galatians 2:3) who was led to faith in Christ by Paul (Titus 1:4). He was drawn to the ministry and became a co-worker with Paul, accompanying him and Barnabas from Antioch to Jerusalem (Acts 15:2).

Later, Titus went to Corinth to serve the church there (2 Corinthians 8:6, 16-17). On Paul’s third missionary journey, from A.D. 53 to 57, Paul arrived in Troas and expected to meet Titus there (2 Corinthians 2:12-13). Not finding his friend, Paul left for Macedonia. Titus rejoined Paul in Philippi and gave him a good report of the ministry in Corinth (2 Corinthians 7:6-7, 13-14). When Titus returned to Corinth, he hand-delivered the Epistle of 2 Corinthians and organized a collection for needy saints in Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 8:10, 17, 24).

Several years later, Titus and Paul traveled to the island of Crete, where Titus was left behind to continue and strengthen the work. Titus’s was to maintain sound doctrine and “straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town” (Titus 1:5). When Artemas and Tychicus arrived in Crete to direct the ministry, Paul asked Titus to join him in Nicopolis, a city in the province of Achaia in western Greece (Titus 3:12).

The last mention of Titus in the Bible indicates that he was with Paul during Paul’s final Roman imprisonment. From Rome, Titus was sent to evangelize Dalmatia (2 Timothy 4:10).

Application: As a Gentile Christian, Titus would have been a great example and to take a decision of not to be circumcised, helped Paul to teach the truth of Salvation through grace alone (see Paul’s refutation of this teaching in Galatians 5:1-6). This was the primary discussion in Jerusalem Council and Titus was part of it.

Titus was a faithful servant of the Lord and a true companion to Paul. He was trustworthy and dependable since Paul appointed him to lead works in Corinth, Crete, and Dalmatia. Indeed, Paul calls him “my partner and fellow worker” (2 Corinthians 8:23). Scripture says that Titus had a God-given love for the Corinthian believers;, in returning to Corinth, Titus went “with much enthusiasm and on his initiative” (2 Corinthians 8:16-17).

Decision: Father Lord, help me to have the same zeal for the Lord that Titus showed. Pray that every believer and friend is taught and they would do well to model Titus’s commitment to truth, zeal in spreading the gospel, and enthusiastic love for the church.

Oh! Lord, that this be my portion, an encourager and one who refreshes and comforts others. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 2 Cor 7:6

Read: And at that very moment she [Anna] came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak about Him to all those who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. Luke 2:38

Examine: In Luke 2, we see Mary and Joseph present the newborn child, Jesus, to the Lord in the temple at Jerusalem. As part of Jewish custom, keeping with decrees handed down by Moses. Along with presenting the child, the parents offered a sacrifice.

When Mary and Joseph presented Jesus in the temple, they also encountered two prophets who praised God in a grateful display of thanksgiving. One of these prophets was a woman named Anna.

Luke 2:36-37 tells us Anna was the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. At 84, she was considered “very old,” and had been a widow for many years. She only had seven years with her husband before his passing, and she had lived in the temple as a widow since. Scripture tells us “She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying” (v. 37).

As we’re told in Luke 2:38, “Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.”, The Bible contains only three sentences about Anna the prophetess, but they are important lines.

Application: Anna was both diligent and fiercely loyal to God, fasting and praying constantly. A widow in the temple, the situation was not favorable. Still so consistent for that long. What an example to follow. It is so striking to read what scripture says ”never left the temple”. Oh! that we were always in His presence.

When Anna saw Jesus, the Spirit surely opened her eyes, and Anna was unable to contain her excitement. She expressed fervent thanks and praise to the Lord and proclaimed the child to all who would hear (v. 38). When we have Jesus in our life and see Him, do we really have this kind of Joy?

Do we share about Jesus and the joy of meeting him, like Anna continued to speak about Him to all those who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem? Luke 2:38.

A woman wholly dedicated to the Lord, she was rewarded for her great faith with a glimpse of the promised one, the Messiah of Jerusalem.

Decision: Father Lord, I want to be like Anna, never leave your presence, be fiercely loyal, and be consistent in studying, obeying the word of God, and praying. Let my joy be complete in meeting you and having regular encounters with you.

Lord, I dedicate my life to sharing the joy of meeting You to others so that they might also meet You Jesus, and accept You as the savior of their lives.

Read: Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. Rom 16:3-4

Examine: The Bible tells us that Priscilla and her husband are Jewish Christians. Aquila is a native of Pontus. Aquila and his wife Priscilla in the Bible are tent makers who pursue this trade in Corinth after being forced to flee Rome. They were ministry partners of Paul.

Paul stayed with Priscilla in the Bible and her husband for 18 months and worked with them, while planting the Corinthian church. From Corinth, we learn that Priscilla and Aquila follow Paul to Ephesus in Acts 18, and 1 Corinthians 16:19.

When Paul left Ephesus, Priscilla, and Aquila stayed on and started a house church in their own home. During that time, we see when Priscilla and Aquila heard Apollos, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. Later on in Romans 16:3-4, we find Priscilla in the Bible and her husband have returned to Rome and are continuing their encouragement of the followers of Jesus. Priscilla in the Bible along with her husband were church planters and played a significant role in Paul’s ministry. In Romans 16:5 Paul says of them: Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. After this, we see their names again in 2 Timothy 4:19. Priscilla in the Bible and her husband have once again returned to Ephesus.

Application: Great example of working hard to live and doing ministry. Then later following Paul’s mission trip, we see their sacrifice and commitment. To have a house church at their homes, taking Apollos are teaching him privately, shows this couple was committed to disciple-making. Also, it teaches us how important to follow and teach the word in truth without compromising. A simple family’s total surrender and sacrificial commitment is seen, they risked their lives for Paul. Not only Paul but all the churches of the Gentiles were grateful to them.

Decision:  Help my family to become like these two remarkable people who set an example for us of hospitality, seen in opening their home to Paul and using their house as a meeting place for the church. Help us to have passion for Christ and their hunger for knowledge of Him.

Like Priscilla and Aquila help us to desire to build others in the faith. To the end, Aquila and Priscilla were offering hospitality to other Christians, spreading the gospel they had learned from Paul, and rendering faithful service to the Master.