NO LONE RANGER

Philippians 2:19-30
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

Paul Commends Timothy and Epaphroditus

19 If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. 20 I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. 21 All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. 22 But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News. 23 I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here. 24 And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon.

25 Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need. 26 I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. 27 And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another.

28 So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you. 29 Welcome him with Christian love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. 30 For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.


From the very beginning of the Christian church, the work of spreading the gospel was done by groups, not individuals. Jesus called a group of twelve disciples and taught them this strategy. He them out two by two (Mark 6:7). The Apostle Paul had two ministry companions that he praised for their work in ministry, in keeping with this no Lone Ranger strategy.

Who has partnered in ministry and had an impact on your spiritual growth? This would be a great time to say thank you. Who has partnered with you on a work to spread the gospel? Have you paused to say well done? Use this season of Thanksgiving as an opportunity for ministry commendation.