Daily Bread 2011 - 2 Timothy 1
Encouragement to Be Faithful
3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
What Does This Mean?
Paul starts this second letter to his young son in the faith, Timothy, with many of the same admonitions as in his first letter. Paul highlights the deep relationship and friendship they shared together, as he recalls Timothy’s tears at his departure. Paul also mentions the spiritual mentors Timothy had in his mother and grandmother, and how they had so successfully passed on the faith to him.
As Timothy was young in the faith, there was a tendency for him to be looked down upon because of his age. Paul reminds Timothy of the gifts he had received through the laying on hands and encourages him to fan into flames these gifts. This reminds us that though we have spiritual gifts they can lay dormant, and need to be stoked into the flame that they were intended to produce. Finally, Paul also reminds Timothy that the Spirit he has been given is not one of timidity but one of power, love and self-control. This is a great memory verse for anyone who struggles with timidity, fear etc… Remember is not our own power that gives us confidence but God’s.
What Does This Mean For Us?
Paul shows us the excellent example he is in passing on the faith to the next generation. Stats show us that the next generation of believers in our country is in danger. More than ever we need to have Timothy’s in our lives that we are encouraging and discipling, so that we can reach the next generation. And, of course, if you have children, those are the primary ones God has called you to disciple.
God would want us to be bold in building relationships with others. Pray about someone you might mentor in the faith. Pray for God to reveal to you someone who you might influence through sharing your life with them and praying with them. We notice that fathers are strangely absent from Timothy’s early faith life. Paul became his spiritual father, but one wonders what happened to his earthly father? If you are a father, you are the person who can have the most impact on your sons. This is not to discount moms as Paul obviously uplifts their power in this passage, but now is the time for dads to model what it means to know Jesus and live for him and pass it on to the next generation!
Father, thank you for providing Timothy and Paul’s in our lives from who we can learn from and then support in disciple so they can pass on the faith. God if we don’t have someone to mentor send Your Spirit to show us someone we can influence much like Paul did with his son in faith Timothy. Amen.
3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
What Does This Mean?
Paul starts this second letter to his young son in the faith, Timothy, with many of the same admonitions as in his first letter. Paul highlights the deep relationship and friendship they shared together, as he recalls Timothy’s tears at his departure. Paul also mentions the spiritual mentors Timothy had in his mother and grandmother, and how they had so successfully passed on the faith to him.
As Timothy was young in the faith, there was a tendency for him to be looked down upon because of his age. Paul reminds Timothy of the gifts he had received through the laying on hands and encourages him to fan into flames these gifts. This reminds us that though we have spiritual gifts they can lay dormant, and need to be stoked into the flame that they were intended to produce. Finally, Paul also reminds Timothy that the Spirit he has been given is not one of timidity but one of power, love and self-control. This is a great memory verse for anyone who struggles with timidity, fear etc… Remember is not our own power that gives us confidence but God’s.
What Does This Mean For Us?
Paul shows us the excellent example he is in passing on the faith to the next generation. Stats show us that the next generation of believers in our country is in danger. More than ever we need to have Timothy’s in our lives that we are encouraging and discipling, so that we can reach the next generation. And, of course, if you have children, those are the primary ones God has called you to disciple.
God would want us to be bold in building relationships with others. Pray about someone you might mentor in the faith. Pray for God to reveal to you someone who you might influence through sharing your life with them and praying with them. We notice that fathers are strangely absent from Timothy’s early faith life. Paul became his spiritual father, but one wonders what happened to his earthly father? If you are a father, you are the person who can have the most impact on your sons. This is not to discount moms as Paul obviously uplifts their power in this passage, but now is the time for dads to model what it means to know Jesus and live for him and pass it on to the next generation!
Father, thank you for providing Timothy and Paul’s in our lives from who we can learn from and then support in disciple so they can pass on the faith. God if we don’t have someone to mentor send Your Spirit to show us someone we can influence much like Paul did with his son in faith Timothy. Amen.
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