Second Best (or Not?)
The Apostle Paul wrote letters reluctantly. He communicated this way when he needed to, but his letters are full of statements about how he would rather be with the recipients himself—preaching the gospel and sharing encouragement in person. His letters are full of his hopes that he would travel to the recipient soon, as if the letter was only a down payment, only a temporary concession to distance.
Yet these letters are now Paul’s farthest-reaching legacy. They make up much of the New Testament, and they give us words we can share for comprehending the profundity of faith in Christ.
Even Paul could not imagine the full unfolding of the purpose God had for him. When Paul was doing what he thought was second-best, that’s when God was really using him.