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JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE 2 TIMOTHY Day 1 2 Timothy 1 2 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; 4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; 5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. 6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9 Who hath 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 us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless, I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. 13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwells in us. 15 This thou know, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. 16 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: 17 But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me. 18 The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou know very well. How many people do you have in your life who consider you more than a friend, but a brother, sister, son, or daughter? Does that person think of you before they think of themselves? Paul was in chains in Rome, a prisoner, and yet he sent letters to Timothy to encourage him and let him know he prayed for him and told him not to forget the faith he grew up in given to him by his mother and grandmother or the gifts given to him when Paul laid hands on him at the beginning of his ministry. Paul’s first letter to Timothy was in the late 50s, either 58 or 59 A.D. before he was a prisoner of Rome when he had left Ephesus, where Timothy was the bishop of the church. Now, Paul was a prisoner in Rome, expecting his death is imminent, putting the date of this letter in 64 or 65 A.D. Paul reminded Timothy he had nothing to be ashamed of as an apostle of Jesus Christ, but was mindful of his calling by Christ Jesus to the Gentiles and encouraged Timothy to be faithful to his calling. As Christians, most of you aren’t in chains, you don’t face persecution, yet all of you need encouragement to keep the faith. You all need prayers and guidance to keep going. Sometimes you forget what you are fighting for with the world persuading you to compromise your faith. The fight is spiritual against Satan and everyone needs encouragement to fight the good fight. Paul never left the battlefield from the day he met Jesus on the Damascus road until he was bound with chains and imprisoned for his faith and work for the gospel. Yet Paul never cried for mercy and favor, but stood firm in his faith, and sent letters of encouragement to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon to do the same. You need the same encouragement Paul gave Timothy. You need prayers of assurance someone is thinking about you and holding you up before the Lord Jesus Christ. Without those prayers of encouragement and letters that lift your hearts with the love found only in Jesus Christ, you cannot go on in the gospel. Doubt and fear set in. Yet, Paul encouraged Timothy and told him God does not give fear, but power, love, and a sound mind. That same power, love, and sound mind are yours when you encourage others and others encourage you in the faith of Jesus Christ. Satan cannot stand against the power, love, and sound mind given you by Jesus Christ. Stand tall, shoulders back, face forward, knowing your faith is sound and you go forward in the gospel of Jesus Christ. You have nothing to fear. Encourage others, and yourself with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let’s pray: Father, thank you for giving me a sound mind and the power of Your love. I do not live in fear, but perfect love casts out all fear. Help me encourage others so they grow in their faith in You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 18 May 2019 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay