This past Sunday marked the beginning of our celebration of Advent.  Advent is the celebration of the love of God for sinners.  It is the love of God that brought Jesus Christ into the world.  God forbid that this would be forgotten or lightly considered this season.  Instead may the birth of our Redeemer, which redeemed us from wrath, death and hell, be the center of our thoughts, conversations and worship this Advent.   

So, what shall we do with such a love that has been showed to us this Advent? 

To answer that let me go back to this past Sunday.  In Philippians 2.19-30, Paul shows us the lives of two godly men whom he loved very much and likewise did the church of Philippi.  I would like to take two articles to write about both.  In this one I will cover the first.

The first is Paul’s fellow brother and co-worker in the ministry of the gospel, Timothy.  Timothy was part of Paul’s second missionary journey during which the church at Philippi was established (Acts 16).  As Paul is writing his letter to the church at Philippi Timothy is with him.  Paul is chained to a soldier in Rome while writing this letter.  Timothy is there helping with the gospel ministry.  As Paul writes we find that he desires to send Timothy back to Philippi.  Paul is eager to find out how the Philippians are doing, but he also wants Timothy to go and minister to them.  In writing to the Philippians about his desire he shares about Timothy.  I believe we find here the true spirit of Advent.

Paul says about Timothy, For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare.  For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus.  But you know of his proven worth that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father (Philippians 2.20-22).  I love what Paul says about his dear friend.

Paul tells us that Timothy is one of a kind when it came to his love for the Philippians.  Paul has encouraged us throughout the second chapter of Philippians, with Christ Jesus as the example, to be humble minded, selfless, and uncomplaining.  Timothy is an example of one who lived like Christ.  Paul says that Timothy literally craved after and gave constant thought to the welfare and interests of the Philippians.   This was the mission for Jesus as He came into this world to take on human flesh and dwell among sinners.  Christ came seeking the interest of others.  He came full of undeserving mercy and unmerited grace.  Timothy follows that example.  I believe this is the spirit of Advent.  This is our duty in response to the love drenched incarnation of Christ. 

What was the main focus and theme of Timothy’s life?  It was the advancement of the gospel.  This was also the theme of Christ’s life and mission.  He came into the world to save sinners.  Timothy was saved so that he could join Christ in the same mission.  Timothy willingly sacrifices his desires and was completely available for the furtherance of the gospel.  He loved and cared for other’s physical needs, but the end to such ministry was the gospel being heard.  He cared for the spiritual needs above all.  We want to encourage you this Advent season to spend less and give more.  As George Whitefied says best, And instead of running into excess, let that money, which you might expend to pamper your own bodies, be given to feed the poor.  I would add to that and say, relieve the distressed this season, care for the orphans and the widows.  In all of our giving and serving this advent season may the gospel be the theme, as it was with Timothy.