I sent you Timothy

For this very cause I sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and trustworthy child in the Lord, who will recall to your minds my methods of proceeding and course of conduct and way of life in Christ, such as I teach everywhere in each of the churches.
1 Corinthians 4:17 AMP

Do you have a 'Timothy' in your life? Someone that God has sent into your life to help you learn more about living Christ's way. For me, God bought such people into my life before I even knew I needed them! I thank God for the many people, in all spheres of my life, that I have learnt so much from. It is such a reminder of the importance of staying connected with people, especially in the tough times. Isolation is not normally conducive to gaining victory.

Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing. Now also we beseech you, brethren, get to know those who labor among you [recognize them for what they are, acknowledge and appreciate and respect them all]—your leaders who are over you in the Lord and those who warn and kindly reprove and exhort you. And hold them in very high and most affectionate esteem in [intelligent and sympathetic] appreciation of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we earnestly beseech you, brethren, admonish (warn and seriously advise) those who are out of line [the loafers, the disorderly, and the unruly]; encourage the timid and fainthearted, help and give your support to the weak souls, [and] be very patient with everybody [always keeping your temper].

1 Thessalonians 5:11-14 AMP

But not only have I learnt much from the divinely appointed personal relationships in my life, but I have also learnt much from books I have read. Books, especially about Christian women who have experienced great trials. Women who have put their complete trust in God and come through the trial stronger and more in love with God than ever. Some of these books I have read with my daughter, including the biographies of Isabel Kuhn, Amy Carmichael and Elizabeth Elliot. We have both enjoyed seeing how God worked in miraculous ways during very traumatic circumstances in each of their lives, and reading how they stood firm in their faith, often alone with no-one else to deliver them except God. It is by those women writing letters, journals and books, that their life stories have been recorded and now provide much encouragement to those who read them. They remind us that God has a purpose for each of our lives, and that He does work all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His design and purpose.

[For it is He] Who delivered and saved us and called us with a calling in itself holy and leading to holiness [to a life of consecration, a vocation of holiness]; [He did it] not because of anything of merit that we have done, but because of and to further His own purpose and grace (unmerited favor) which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago]. [It is that purpose and grace] which He now has made known and has fully disclosed and made real [to us] through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, Who annulled death and made it of no effect and brought life and immortality (immunity from eternal death) to light through the Gospel. 2 Timothy 1:9-10 AMP

Question for today, do you have 'Timothy's' in your life, either via personal relationship, book, podcast, blog etc? If not, I would like to encourage you today to ask God to bring those people into your life, through whatever method He so chooses. When the 'Timothy's' do appear, open your heart and listen and receive all they have to teach you. They are an important part of the journey God has you on.

And we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s servant in [spreading] the good news (the Gospel) of Christ, to strengthen and establish and to exhort and comfort and encourage you in your faith, 

1 Thessalonians 3:2 AMP