2 Timothy 1:4 KJV
Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
We must never forget that the Bible, though a book of great victory, is also filled with tears. This world has rebelled against its Creator and that rebellion has led to much over which to cry. And so this verse, as is true of the Word of God as a whole, contains boths tears and joy.
The sources of Timothy's tears are varied:
• He may have shed a tear when he and Paul parted that last time, prior to Paul's capture.
• He may have shed a tear at the news of the afflictions Paul suffered as a prisoner and awaiting his execution.
• He certainly had shed tears over the souls for which he assumed care as the pastor of the church in Ephesus
Like the four seasons, the Christian who is fully involved in the things of Christ will have times to weep when others weep and times to rejoice when others rejoice. We will experience the fullest range of the emotions as we follow the path Christ has laid out for us. Ours is not to flee those circumstances that bring about the tears but to enter into them, fully expecting that our Lord will use them to conform us into the image of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
We must never forget that the Bible, though a book of great victory, is also filled with tears. This world has rebelled against its Creator and that rebellion has led to much over which to cry. And so this verse, as is true of the Word of God as a whole, contains boths tears and joy.
The sources of Timothy's tears are varied:
• He may have shed a tear when he and Paul parted that last time, prior to Paul's capture.
• He may have shed a tear at the news of the afflictions Paul suffered as a prisoner and awaiting his execution.
• He certainly had shed tears over the souls for which he assumed care as the pastor of the church in Ephesus
Like the four seasons, the Christian who is fully involved in the things of Christ will have times to weep when others weep and times to rejoice when others rejoice. We will experience the fullest range of the emotions as we follow the path Christ has laid out for us. Ours is not to flee those circumstances that bring about the tears but to enter into them, fully expecting that our Lord will use them to conform us into the image of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
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