Impressions from Philippians 2:19-24

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you.  For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also. (Philippians 2:19-24 ESV)

Lesson Focus: It’s all about being genuine.

“I have no one like him”
Paul was the servant the Lord used to mentor Timothy in Christ.

For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me. That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church. (1 Cor. 4:15-17)

“who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare”
Timothy shared the same heart for the ministry as Paul.
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21)

One question tonight: What does it mean to be genuine?

“Returning to Christ changes absolutely everything. I was no longer able to work with the vampire metaphor. The vampire for me was a metaphor for the outcast, and the person in a godless world. Well, I wasn’t a person in a godless world, far from it. And it suddenly occurred to me, what if I just don’t write them anymore? What if I write books that can be dedicated directly to God. To Jesus Christ. What if that’s all I do? And at that moment, I made the decision, that’s what I’m going to do. I have changed and I have to do this. I have to write for Him.”
- Anne Rice, New Orleans resident and author of the "Vampire Chronicles"
(See Anne's video testimony at www.iamsecond.com)

Impression: Jesus was always genuine to the Father. If we are to be genuinely concerned for others we must let Jesus love through us.