1 Corinthians 16:10

1 Corinthians 16:10 says, Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do.  Paul asked them to treat Timotheus, or Timothy, with as much respect as they would have for Paul himself.  Though Timothy was young, and Paul had asked him to go, he wasn't Paul's replacement, but a minister himself.  We cannot serve as a replacement for anyone else but must go under the power and leadership of the Holy Spirit.  We do not need to put certain Christians above others and feel that they alone know the truth of the gospel.  Paul did not place himself in a superior position to other Christians but said he would do all that he could to win the lost to Christ.  I believe he expected the same from others, just as we today must make sure the spreading of the gospel is the priority of each Christian.  Verse eleven adds, Let no man therefore despise him: but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me: for I look for him with the brethren.  I believe Paul was asking them to treat Timothy with the respect that they would show Paul.  There were problems in the church that Timothy was going to be addressing, but Paul reminded them that they were not to despise them for this.  If we today have allowed problems to arise in the church, we need to respect those who are sent by the Holy Spirit to correct the problems.  Above all else, Timothy was coming under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse twelve continues, As touching our brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come unto you with the brethren: but his will was not at all to come at this time; but he will come when he shall have convenient time.  The Christians at Corinth might have been divided as those baptized by Paul and those baptized by Apollos, but I believe that Paul was letting them know there was no jealousy or division between the two of them.  If people today begin to elevate one preacher above another, the best way to stop such foolish talk is for the preachers to show that they are united in doing God's work.  No preacher can allow himself to be viewed as better than any other and remain true to the gospel.  To carry the thought a little further, no preacher can allow himself to be viewed as more important than any other Christian.  The emphasis must always be on presenting Christ to the world and not on bringing glory to oneself.  Verse thirteen concludes, Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.  I believe Paul is instructing us to stand strong in our faith, even when we are being persecuted for that faith.  Persecution was a definite possibility then, and we know that in many countries today it is a reality.  Paul tells us that even if that persecution comes to us, we are to stand strong in faith.