Following On

Acts 16:1-3

Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:

Notice how he just passed through these recently vacated regions. I love how the text says he went back to visit the Corinthian church by surprise. It is no wonder given the disorder there. Now Derbe and Lystra are regions of Lycaonia as discussed before. The Spirit makes much fuss about the other regions passed through; yet here it emphasizes the people Paul meets along the way. See, beautiful places are all well and good. There is nothing wrong with the occasional vacation to tropical places just to get away. For behold there is a certain disciple here that God would like us to meet. In time he also came to mean much to Paul accompanying him with others to many places. Could it be sometimes we miss the things God has for us because our heart is in the wrong place. Had Paul gotten lost in the places he went escaping from the Corinthians, he might have missed this special person. His name was Timotheus who would later become a son of faith to Paul. First, he had to start somewhere. Before God knew him, he was "the son of a certain woman." Already the text tells me several things. This woman was an outcast from her own people. Here she is lost and away from home. She was not accepted even by her own people of the dispersion living there. Let me tell you, I do not know much about being a believing Jew. But this woman was in a class all by herself. She sounds almost like the Old Testament Esther of the streets before the Lord. How many know that we all start somewhere whether as "son of a certain woman" or as a believing Jewess. But even there, God knows us. So, he redeems us and calls us by other names and identities we knew not before. There is another thing that identifies this young man. His father is Greek. I know not if that means a wandering Greek or a magic loving Greek like the rest of his people. Regardless, this young Timothy has faced some trouble at home.

Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.

This Timothy sounds almost like Nathaniel sitting under the fig tree; John 1:48 says he was known of God before his calling. Is it not wonderful to get a good report from all the brethren. The young man was raised up by someone of faith in the house of God. So, he continued regardless of his cultural heritage, the faith of his fathers, or the lack thereof. It seems God has known him for a long time. See he has been lying in wait for his divine assignment and purpose. I know some of you get a little impatient at the delays of God. Like Timothy you also have roamed through all the surrounding regions. You might have looked for someplace to call home and found none. So, then you wait on the Lord knowing one day he has something special for you in mind. You know how some of you do. You that have faith tell other people how 'God has something special for you one day.' If anything, this should motivate some of you to take responsibility for what comes out of your mouth. Others really ought to encourage somebody today even if you do nothing else for the Lord. So also did the rest of the believers there with Timothy. They commended him unto the Lord. Then one day the apostle Paul came to town. Here we see the timing of God meet up with the destiny of man. For Timothy it all fits into place. This is what he was meant to do all along. Indeed, he had already been found faithful of the believers already there even before Paul arrived. Is it not wonderful how God works. Sometimes things happen that we do not understand. But God has been working.

Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters:

Now Timothy has been raised up in a household of faith. He might have lacked a daddy; but when God was in the house, he lacked for nothing ever again. Now his father in the faith was here. The name Timotheus means the one who honors God. To his wandering and often absent Grecian father, his name would have spoken of famous generals and battles to come. But how many know that God is greater even than all of this. His plan would not be stopped for this young man's life even from their Jewish relatives in the area. See, this young man had many watching him. It is for this reason that although distant, the Jews there felt somewhat responsible. The well-being of this wandering young man might have been none of their concern. Yet nonetheless they cared anyway. Since Paul sought to dishonor none, he took and circumcised Timothy due to the heritage and the faith of his mother. Such was not done after the manner of self-harm as do some. Rather it came to give Timothy place in the Jewish community. Remember what had happened with John Mark now. Given that history, Paul was not eager to repeat the mistakes of his co-laborer Barnabas anytime soon. I love how the text makes this divine assignment all Paul's idea. Yet according to the text both Paul and Timothy were eager to go with one another. This is not some unholy sort of companionship. Rather, it is one of seeking to offend none. In the process Paul, as was his practice, still won all. So to God, Timothy was most important.