Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I am very thankful that I get to write to you and share God's word. It is powerful and along with the Spirit transforms lives to the glory of God the Father.
Today we are going to look at 2 Timothy. It may seem out of place to discuss the latter book rather than the former, but that's exactly why we're doing it. We often pay more attention to the former than the latter. 1&2 Timothy are a part of Paul's Pastoral Epistles, which also include Titus. They are thus labeled Pastoral Epistles not only because Paul is pastoring these two men, but also because these two men are themselves pastors. Timothy is regarded as Paul's final written work. Paul wrote to Timothy while in Rome on house arrest. The desperate tone in the final verses of the letter suggest that Paul has little time before his dead sentence is carried out.
Paul was under house arrest and sentenced to death by order of emperor Nero. Nero was a tyrant. He hated Christians and regarded them with contempt as second class citizens. He often blamed them for public issues thus leading to their persecution under his rule. When Nero intentionally burned a portion of Rome to clear land for his new royal palace, he blamed Christians for his crime. He was also known to have Christians tied to stakes and burned alive to serve as lanterns in his gardens while he entertained guests. Paul is in trouble and he knows it. He trusts in God but desires to see his dear friend Timothy before he dies.
1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
God did not give us a spirit of fear. Paul wants to remind Timothy of this because of his impending execution. He is not afraid and he is telling Timothy to not be afraid. This serves as a reminder to us all. We have a Spirit inside us, given by God, that has power. We have no need to be afraid of what will happen to us. What's the worse that could happen? We could die? If I die I get to be with Jesus. So I will work to do God's will all the more harder. We have to remember that no matter how hard we work, we must work with love. Love must be the motivator. Why do anything for God if we don't love Him? Why do anything for people if we don't love them? Therefore, we must always work to love God and others. Remember what Paul said in Corinthians...if I have not love, I am nothing!!!
We also have a spirit of self-discipline. Self-discipline is something that has fallen by the way side in our culture. We think about workaholics in their self-discipline forgetting about everyone else except themselves and their career. But self-discipline is a good thing meant to be used in the way God intended.
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
- Colossians 3:23-24
Whatever we do must be done with our all. After all, who wants someone to do something for them and give a half-hearted effort? Not being self-disciplined is the symptom you are immature and need to grow in some aspect of your life.
2:14 Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.
Quarreling about words means quarreling about things that are said and done. How often do we have open quarreling between two people? Open quarreling often comes as a result of someone saying something offensive or unloving about them behind their back.Though open quarreling does happen, it does not happen as much as one-sided quarreling (gossip).We often hold on to things don't we? We hold on to an annoyance or displeasure with someone's behavior. Instead of being honest and talking with them in love...we talk about it with others and gossip. It tears people down. It tears down the ones we talk about and the ones listening. It encourages those listening to join in and they think it is a perfectly acceptable practice.
So let me to continue to encourage you in love. Love is always the best solution. If you care about someone and want them to grow to become a better person...love them!!! Let me remind you of what we read in Ephesians recently.
2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. - Ephesians 4:2-3
Why do I tell you these things? I do for the same reason Paul said the following to Timothy.
3:1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
Paul says to have nothing to do with them. These aren't the people who have yet to make a decision for Christ. These are those who have already made the choice to deny God. I pray that none of us end up being a part of these people. Unfortunately, there will be some who do. We have a choice to make. Will we love God or evil? Will we love others or ourselves? Remember the Scriptures.
3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
We have everything we need, in the Bible, so we know what we ought to do and what we ought not to do. Unfortunately, people will know and intentionally turn away from it.
4:3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
This is why I want to encourage you all to be well versed in the Scriptures. It is called the Living Word for a reason. It has the power to lead us into eternal life...after all...the Word became flesh (Jesus) and dwelt among us. And just as Paul encourages Timothy, let me encourage all of you to fight the good fight of faith. I would love to see you all in heaven and have the Lord to say to you, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Until next time...
Grace, mercy and peace be with you all from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
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