Let the Phone Ring Twice

           “Let me know when you get there.” This would be the request of my Mother as we would begin the travel back home. In those days, you couldn't find a telephone company that would have free long distance, so the plan was to call home, let it ring two times and then hang up. That would be the signal that you had arrived home safely. Mom and Dad, knowing the plan would not answer the phone until after it had rung two times. It is all because of our concern for our loved ones that they had a good journey with no problems and had arrived there at the expected time. The same was true of the Apostle Paul. Philippians 2:19-21 says, “ But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.  For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.”

          We want to know the condition and the state of our loved ones and our associates when they are away from us. Paul had promised to sent Timothy, his partner in the ministry, to the church at Philippi in order to gain some information about the young church. Once Paul would get that information, then he could be comforted in what he heard, especially when things were going well. Paul remembered well how things went in the founding of the church, Paul himself and Silas had ended up in jail so they knew about possible opposition to the Gospel message. When the church was formed, it didn't have the most solid group of people leading it at the time. It probably didn't take too long for it to begin growing and Paul was anxious to find out just how things were going. We often think about the same thing for our family and friends when we are separated from them. We are also concerned about the believers that we have left behind and how they are doing with the normal functions of the church. I often think of the churches that I have left to go on to other works and wonder how things are going and what a thrill it is to find out that they are doing well in their ministries. I often think of the people of the church in Mostoles, Spain and how they are doing today. I think of the people of Christian Fellowship Church and how they are doing. I think of the people in Ark, Virginia at Grace Bible Church and how they are doing and I think of the people of Bethel Baptist Church and how they are doing today. Sometimes you receive word that things are not going so well and you begin to feel sad but you increase your amount of prayer for that group. Our communication is far better today than it was in the days of the Apostle Paul. With texting and email, we can reach around the world in a matter of seconds. When we find out the current condition, then we can either praise God for His Work or increase our prayer time for that particular group. So, my friends and co laborers, “How are you all doing?” Praise God for His work which is going on around the world, of which you and I are a part.