2 Timothy 1:2-10; 3:14-17
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."
(Proverbs 22:6)
As I've aged, I realize how blessed I am to have been born into a Christian home. My family taught me God's love from birth, read the Bible daily, and took me to church. Jesus was (and is!) a fact of life, like breathing.
The Apostle Paul had friends the world over, but there was one young man he loved like a son: Timothy. When Paul first preached in Lystra, Timothy's family had already trained him in the Scriptures. Even as a teen, Timothy's spiritual potential was evident to Paul. Soon Timothy accompanied Paul on his missionary journeys, learning evangelization. Finally, Paul left him in Ephesus to resolve the growing problem of heresy there. Paul wrote Timothy letters from prison, encouraging him to stay true to the faith, fearless, unashamed, fanning the flames of God's already unmistakable grace.
What a gift to have someone like Paul as a mentor on the journey with the Lord! Do you have such a spiritual friend or relative? If not, why not ask God to provide a spiritual teacher for you?
INSIGHT
"A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher."
(Luke 6:40)
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Esther 5-6
Psalm 40
Luke 3
2 Timothy 1:2-10
New International Version (NIV)
2 To Timothy, my dear son:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Thanksgiving
3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors 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 am 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.
Appeal for Loyalty to Paul and the Gospel
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 the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
2 Timothy 3:14-17
New International Version (NIV)
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Footnotes:
a. 2 Timothy 3:17 Or that you, a man of God,
LIGHT FOR THE NATIONS
The Olympic flame represents the nations coming together in peace. As powerful as this image is, it pales in comparison to the Light of the World who calls people from every nation to Himself.
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