Influencers Weekly Devotional
Go With ME
Embracing our Sacred Responsibility with Christ
I, Tertius
Paul was likely in his late 50’s when he wrote Romans. He was an old man during this time in history. Beat up and bent over from several stonings, beatings, and numerous other physical attacks, the old Apostle kept doing what he was called to do, which was to serve his King Jesus, until the day they removed his head. It wasn’t easy running his race, and he likely felt handicapped and unable to give it his best effort because of the pain, and because of his infamous “thorn in the flesh.” I tend to think that an athlete running for the prize to win a race should not be required to carry an additional load. This is like a racehorse carrying extra weight or an athlete competing while injured. This seems so unfair to me. Does it to you, as well? However, it was required of Paul. For some strange reason, God determined Paul would do his best work by having a “thorn in his flesh,” nagging at him daily. This “thorn” kept Paul in need of God and other people, which no one would generally want. Why? How can a need be good for us, when it seems so bad and limiting in our race to serve God? The old man was likely losing his sight when he wrote the Book of Romans, one of the most inspirational books in the Bible. This letter to the Romans has been memorized, studied and quoted for almost 2,000 years. Some say his journey into blindness could have been the “thorn” to which he alludes, so writing something such as this lengthy epistle would have been difficult, even impossible. I don’t know what Paul’s “thorn” was, but I can empathize with him. Being dependent on another person to help with the daily issues of life is bad enough, but needing another person’s help to carry out the passion of one’s life and the Christ’s purpose for his life is downright inefficient, not to mention terribly humbling. Why would God do this to Paul or any of us? Why would God require any of His children to be dependent on another person, when it could be so much more efficient to be self-sufficient. I think I know why. I have watched many great Christian men and women surface over my lifetime, not to mention many more who were used of God to be the necessary “burden bearers” for carrying the Good News forward the last 2,000 years. Chambers, Spurgeon, Calvin, Luther, Graham, Witall-Smith, Carmichael, and Elliott are just a few of my heroes of the faith. Maybe you’ve heard of these people? You may have read their books, and were inspired by their life story. You may also have heroes of the faith in your life that come to mind. But could I get an “Amen” from you with your agreement that the Old Apostle should be at the top of the list, as Paul has been used many times over to touch our hearts with his writings? Could I also get an “Amen” that the book of Romans would also fall into this category? What would we have done without Paul and the Book of Romans, as this inspired work has fed us into Christian maturity? But what would Paul have done without Tertius? Now you are asking, “Who, or what is a Tertius?”“I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.” Romans 16:22 (NIV)
I’ve been reading Paul’s letter to the Romans for most of my Christian life. But, being very honest with you, I must admit I had never read the above verse until this past week? I didn’t know that Paul did not pen Romans? I did not know that another man put quill and ink to parchment and produced the letter we read, and reread, constantly? Sure, the inspired words were breathed from God to Paul. But Tertius then reproduced the words, so that we can read them today. Had Tertius not been in the loop, the ministry of Paul would have died with him. But because of that “thorn in the flesh,” and his dependence on another person, namely Tertius, Paul’s ministry continued after his death, in the form of his writings. As I read this passage and received insight, I felt God was leading me to see how the Church is formed by many different parts, and that each part is designed to assist another part in accomplishing God’s purpose. God has created the Body of Christ to need each other, and when we are functioning at full capacity in working together for God’s glory, a dynamic, organic force is unleashed to a lost and dying world. However, to do this, we must all embrace our “Thorn,” by humbly embracing our Sacred Responsibility to be a “Tertius” for someone else, and furthermore, we must allow a “Tertius” to serve us. We might be deceived in thinking we don’t need another person, because as men, it is in our DNA to be rugged individualists. However, if we do not embrace our “thorn” and allow a “Tertius” to help us, or if we fail to be a “Tertius” for another person, our spiritual legacy could end when we are buried. On the other hand, if we will follow God’s plan, and give and receive as God intended for His family, our spiritual legacy will live on long after we are gone. Paul and Tertius are examples of how God will give us a need for another’s help, in order to ultimately bless us and the purpose He gives us. But He will also give us a place to serve His purpose by taking the “thorn” from another person. The little-known Tertius may have desired to be a great leader? He may have desired to be a great church planter. There is no indication he did these things, even if it was his dream to do so. However, he secured his spiritual legacy in history, not by leading, and not by pioneering church plants across Europe. He did it by simply serving another person. I believe God was delighted in Tertius, and for that reason, his name is mentioned in scripture.
That is who Tertius is, but what is a “Tertius?” I think of many people who are great examples of a “Tertius,” but one of the finest examples I’ve seen is Thad Montgomery in Southern California. I have watched this man for several years empower the ministry there by serving Pete McKenzie, Bill Kauble, and numerous other people. Thad is a silent force that undergirds Pete’s great work in his “Man of God” conferences. Bill Kauble would agree with my assessment of Thad. Bill is also a “Tertius,” as he is pioneering the development of Journey Groups in prison systems. Bill’s vision is to deliver a workable, self-contained, discipleship process to Prison Chaplains across the nation, so their work can be made more fruitful. Bill is a “Tertius” for these chaplains. Pete could spend a couple of days sharing about these men and their work, along with some others I have not mentioned. I know he would love to do it, for he recognizes how valuable the “Tertius” in his life is, and he has many of them.
I have these “Tertius men” in my life, as well. Their encouragement and the silent work they have done behind the scenes, has both inspired and empowered me. I think of Paul Dubbell, Bryan Craig, our Founders, our Governing Board and our Strategic Planning Team. I could go on for weeks talking about men who are being a “Tertius” for other men and for me, as well. Theirs is a great story, and great examples of a “Tertius” in my life. But there is also something about a “Tertius”, in that he needs no recognition. Although I want to give it to them, they are content with the applause they get from Heaven. Oh, that we may all be so content as a “Tertius,” for I tell you, it is within this perspective we become courageous spiritual warriors who have conquered our greatest adversary, which is our pride. A “Tertius” is a hero to me, and he ranks up there with the other great leaders in the faith. I want to be a “Tertius,” and I need this person in my life, for he, or she, is God’s gift to me.
Glad to follow God’s design,
Rocky