Philippians 2:19 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.  Pau said that he hoped to send Timothy to them soon, so that he could be comforted when he knew their state.  He wanted to know for sure that they were continuing to follow Christ faithfully.  We today as believers like to hear about the good works of other believers as well.  Verse twenty states, For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.  Paul said there was no one else likeminded with him who he could send to them.  Hopefully today, there are many likeminded Christians that we could send to others as our representatives to other churches if we could not go and had a need to hear from them.  Verse twenty-one declares, For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.  This was an indictment of many of those around Paul, who were evidently professing to be fellow believers.  All sought their own way and not the way of Jesus Christ.  Today, would we be Timothy or one of  the others seeking their own way?  Verse twenty-two adds, But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.  Paul said that they knew Timothy was like a son to him in faith.  Timothy had served faithfully with Paul, even if he hadn't gotten off to a good start in their relationship.  We cannot allow what we may see as past failures on the part of other Christians to allow us to give up on them forever.  Verse twenty-three continues, Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.  Once more, Paul had a plan, but he didn't say that the was going to send Timothy, only that he hoped to do so.  We cannot make our plans and demand that God indorse them, but must always make them contingent on the will of God.  Verse twenty-four says, But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.  Paul said that he trusted in the Lord that he himself might also come to them shortly.  We are not wrong to trust that our plans will come to pass, as long as we make them contingent on God's will.  Verse twenty-five states, Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.  Paul said that the had felt it necessary to send Epaphroditus to them, though he was a like a brother and was a companion to him.  We today cannot allow selfish desires to keep others from going to do God's work, no matter how close they may be to us.  Verse twenty-six adds, For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.  Paul said that Epaphroditus wanted to come to them to show them that he was okay after they had heard that he had been sick.  We should always want to allay the fears of others if they are concerned about us, by whatever method God puts at our disposal.  Verse twenty-seven declares, For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.  Paul said that Epaphroditus had indeed been very sick but that God had healed him, which was a great comfort to Paul.  We also should be saddened by the sufferings of our fellow believers and should be filled with joy if God heals them.  Verse twenty-eight adds, I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.  Paul said that he sent Epaphroditus to them more carefully, so that they might all rejoice.   Verse twenty-nine continues, Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:  Paul told them to receive Epaphroditus in the Lord, with all gladness.  No matter who they are, when a fellow believer comes to us today, we need to receive him or her in the joy of the Lord.  Verse thirty concludes, Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.  Paul said that Epaphroditus had nearly died in service toward the Lord, doing for Paul some of the things that the Christians at Philippi had not done.  For this reason alone, they should welcome him.  We should pray that our fellow believers today are not over working because we are not doing what God has called us to do.