Paul to Timothy: LIVE!
(This is the follow-up to my last post, which you can read here.)
[Also, I've decided that the best way to really know what Paul is saying in his second letter to Timothy is to read it every day. It's four chapters; takes about ten minutes. TOTALLY worth it. If you'd like to join me, I welcome your comments and questions below!]
So Paul spent the majority of the first chapter of Second Timothy strongly encouraging the young preacher. Paul and Timothy have a history together, they've known each other for a significant time, and Paul is definitely a mentor to Timothy.
In verse four, Paul says, "I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy, clearly recalling your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois, then in your mother Eunice, and that I am convinced is in you also" (2 Timothy 1:4-5, HCSB). Timothy's faith didn't start with Paul; it started at home, under the example of a grandmother and mother who had "sincere faith." Nothing fake. Other translations use the words unfeigned, authentic, genuine, true, honest, and unqualified. Paul had seen these women live REAL faith; Timothy had it, too. It wasn't just genetics or osmosis; his faith wasn't inherited or copied. It was his faith. But he had seen it lived out by very influential women and knew what real faith looked like.
Has anyone demonstrated real faith for you? You are so blessed. Your goal is not to mimic them, but to use them as an example, a proof that real faith works and can really happen.
So since Timothy had sincere faith, Paul instructed him to "keep ablaze the gift of God that is in you" (2 Timothy 1:6). Keep the fire going. The fire of the Holy Spirit burns brightly, but it's our responsibility to stoke it.
What keeps your faith fire going? For me, it's Bible Study and teaching. I honestly get no greater thrill than sharing God's Word with a group. But it's not something that just happens on Sunday mornings; I spend ten or more hours a week in my Bible Study chair, covered in all kinds of Bibles and resource books and atlases and, of course, a big cup of coffee. Pouring over the Word. Praying it. Memorizing it. Desperately seeking to know everything I can know about a passage so that I can present it fully. I don't exaggerate when I tell you that I get even more fired up at 6:00 am on a Thursday than I do teaching on Sunday morning.
It takes God's Word to keep ablaze the gift of God that is in you. Later on the chapter, Paul told Timothy to "Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching..." and to "guard, though the Holy Spirit...that good thing entrusted to you" (2 Timothy 1:13, 14). It takes living in obedience to the Holy Spirit. It takes prayer and worship and discipleship. You can't expect a fire to keep burning without giving it stuff to burn. And you won't have a faith that's on fire unless you're feeding it.
You want sincere faith because it is fearless: "For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment...so don't be ashamed" (2 Timothy 1:7, 8). A fiery faith is a courageous faith. One that says "Yes" to God and "no" to sin. It enables us to love and be wise and answer every question with confidence in Jesus (Hebrews 4:16).
It is at this point that Paul allowed himself to get off track, which is one of my favorite characteristics of his letters. He just can't help himself; Christ is so amazing to him: "He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began" (2 Timothy 1:9).
Jesus saved you.
He called you to a holy calling.
He has a purpose for you.
He gives you grace.
He gave you all this before time began.
Your purpose and your life were planned before time began. Before "In the beginning," (Genesis 1:1), God had you in mind. He knew what you'd be good at, your passions, your excitement, and what would make you tick. He knew how you'd pour your heart and soul into something that would bring Him glory and allow others to know Him through it.
He knew you.
He called you.
Not just to accept salvation in order to avoid hell, but so that you can truly live the life that has your name on it.
Live your faith.
Live His power.
Live your testimony.
LIVE!
@leslienotebook
myleslienotebook@gmail.com
And PLEASE subscribe if you haven't! Enter your email address in the box at the top right.
[Also, I've decided that the best way to really know what Paul is saying in his second letter to Timothy is to read it every day. It's four chapters; takes about ten minutes. TOTALLY worth it. If you'd like to join me, I welcome your comments and questions below!]
So Paul spent the majority of the first chapter of Second Timothy strongly encouraging the young preacher. Paul and Timothy have a history together, they've known each other for a significant time, and Paul is definitely a mentor to Timothy.
In verse four, Paul says, "I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy, clearly recalling your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois, then in your mother Eunice, and that I am convinced is in you also" (2 Timothy 1:4-5, HCSB). Timothy's faith didn't start with Paul; it started at home, under the example of a grandmother and mother who had "sincere faith." Nothing fake. Other translations use the words unfeigned, authentic, genuine, true, honest, and unqualified. Paul had seen these women live REAL faith; Timothy had it, too. It wasn't just genetics or osmosis; his faith wasn't inherited or copied. It was his faith. But he had seen it lived out by very influential women and knew what real faith looked like.
Has anyone demonstrated real faith for you? You are so blessed. Your goal is not to mimic them, but to use them as an example, a proof that real faith works and can really happen.
So since Timothy had sincere faith, Paul instructed him to "keep ablaze the gift of God that is in you" (2 Timothy 1:6). Keep the fire going. The fire of the Holy Spirit burns brightly, but it's our responsibility to stoke it.
What keeps your faith fire going? For me, it's Bible Study and teaching. I honestly get no greater thrill than sharing God's Word with a group. But it's not something that just happens on Sunday mornings; I spend ten or more hours a week in my Bible Study chair, covered in all kinds of Bibles and resource books and atlases and, of course, a big cup of coffee. Pouring over the Word. Praying it. Memorizing it. Desperately seeking to know everything I can know about a passage so that I can present it fully. I don't exaggerate when I tell you that I get even more fired up at 6:00 am on a Thursday than I do teaching on Sunday morning.
It takes God's Word to keep ablaze the gift of God that is in you. Later on the chapter, Paul told Timothy to "Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching..." and to "guard, though the Holy Spirit...that good thing entrusted to you" (2 Timothy 1:13, 14). It takes living in obedience to the Holy Spirit. It takes prayer and worship and discipleship. You can't expect a fire to keep burning without giving it stuff to burn. And you won't have a faith that's on fire unless you're feeding it.
You want sincere faith because it is fearless: "For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment...so don't be ashamed" (2 Timothy 1:7, 8). A fiery faith is a courageous faith. One that says "Yes" to God and "no" to sin. It enables us to love and be wise and answer every question with confidence in Jesus (Hebrews 4:16).
It is at this point that Paul allowed himself to get off track, which is one of my favorite characteristics of his letters. He just can't help himself; Christ is so amazing to him: "He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began" (2 Timothy 1:9).
Jesus saved you.
He called you to a holy calling.
He has a purpose for you.
He gives you grace.
He gave you all this before time began.
Your purpose and your life were planned before time began. Before "In the beginning," (Genesis 1:1), God had you in mind. He knew what you'd be good at, your passions, your excitement, and what would make you tick. He knew how you'd pour your heart and soul into something that would bring Him glory and allow others to know Him through it.
He knew you.
He called you.
Not just to accept salvation in order to avoid hell, but so that you can truly live the life that has your name on it.
Live your faith.
Live His power.
Live your testimony.
LIVE!
@leslienotebook
myleslienotebook@gmail.com
And PLEASE subscribe if you haven't! Enter your email address in the box at the top right.
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