Christopher’s Substack
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Pastor Chris White says to all of you: HELLO MY FRIENDS. May the Lord bless you today.
HOLA MIS AMIGOS. Que el Señor los bendiga.
Paul writes these words from confinement in Rome—not a dungeon with chains clanking in the background, as is sometimes depicted in works of art, but more likely a small, humble house whose ruins sit beneath an obscure church along today’s Via del Corso. He is restricted in his movement, dependent on friends for food and daily necessities, and awaiting a trial that could go very badly. At the same time, he is encouraged—because through his steady witness to Roman guards, the gospel is becoming known even within imperial circles. From that place of confinement, Paul speaks about hope, trust, and—perhaps most surprisingly—sending help to others.
Paul wants to send Timothy to the church in Philippi. Not because Timothy is flashy or especially impressive, but because he is proven. The word carries the idea of character tested over time. Timothy remained faithful through pressure, temptation, tears, and the long stretches of ordinary obedience that come with serving on Paul’s apostolic team. Time and circumstance revealed what success rarely can: who a person truly is.
Paul also commends Timothy for being “genuinely concerned” for the believers. That word genuinely matters. It is possible to be skilled with people and still not really care at all. Some personalities can charm a room while quietly counting the minutes until they can make their exit. I once knew a hospital chaplain who could say exactly the right things to a grieving family, yet in reality didn’t really care a fig (and no—they are not all like that). Timothy wasn’t pretending. He didn’t simply show up, smile, and check a box. He cared—with real affection, real prayer, and real follow-through.
That kind of care doesn’t mean saving everyone or fixing everything. There is only one Savior, and we are not Him. But it does mean refusing to go through the motions or engage in play-acting—hypocrisy, in the truest sense of the word. Timothy loved these believers as a faithful undershepherd: present, invested, and attentive.
Paul then describes Timothy’s service as being “like a son with his father.” This echoes a major theme throughout Philippians: humble, joyful submission modeled after Christ Himself. Jesus served the Father in obedience—not out of fear, but out of love and trust. Timothy served Paul in that same spirit, not grasping for independence or recognition, but gladly doing what was needed.
Then there is Paul’s quiet refrain: I hope… I trust… in the Lord Jesus. Paul makes plans, yes—but he knows who ultimately orders his steps. His confidence does not rest in favorable outcomes, swift trials, or carefully arranged strategies. It rests in the Lord who governs even our daily circumstances—especially the inconvenient ones.
So what is the Holy Spirit showing us here? Honor and imitate people who seek to live and serve like Jesus. People who have endured trials without becoming broken or bitter. People who submit to the Lord’s authority with genuine humility and joy. They may not always be brilliant. They may not always be impressive. But they are proven—and God delights to use them.
And that is good news. Because most of us are far more “tested over time” than “instantly polished.” And in the Lord’s hands, that is exactly the point.
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