2 Timothy 1
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,
2To Timothy, my dear son:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Encouragement to Be Faithful
3I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5I 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. 6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
8So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9who 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, 10but 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. 11And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.
13What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
15You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
16May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. 17On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. 18May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.
3 comments:
2 Tim 1:
An interesting opening to the letter. As always, I would have loved to see what Tim had written to Paul to cause this almost defensive response. Was Tim ashamed, or feeling kind of ashamed? Again, we recognize the suffering of Paul, one of the greatest apostles, who has been deserted and left for dead essentially.
11And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.
-As a younger, less mature Christian, I found myself shy or ashamed about my faith every once in a while. It certainly isn't the "coolest" mindset in the eyes of the agnostic twentysomethings. And I always felt a doubling, like Peter, I was ashamed to be ashamed. Whether its through God's continual blessings, disclipine, or just growing up, I find myself not ashamed anymore. Instead, I find myself proud of my belief in Christ. Although I'm not the greatest evangelist in the world, or even mildly good at all, I know I will become good at it one day soon, because it is required by God. Not to everyone every day, but in the right place and time it's all of our job to not only study His word, but share it as well.
Father, thank You for continuing to bless our lives, helping us to be disciplined in studying and being in fellowship. Please watch over Eric and family, jrs, Tim and Sheree, LT, Allyson and the pregnancy(let it come in Your timeframe--but we're ready!!) and cas. In the name of our savior, Jesus,
Amen,
crb
2 Tim 1
This is what I pray for:
7For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 8So you must never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord.
Also I pray, just as crb said, not to be ashamed ever. At the end of the day what really matters right?
Father, make us all as bold as Paul!
In Christ,
cas
Sorry to have been so absent from the postings, not the reading of late. Something about the latest arrival has slightly altered the family dynamic temporarily. Nevertheless, here I am.
I love the beginning of this letter. I often quote 2 Timothy 1:7 and verse 12. Paul's faith and confidence in God is truly inspiring to me. I never realise that I often miss the blessing of being able to later enjoy the things I entrust today to God by simply running my life my self. I don't know if that makes too much sense. It did until I started typing:)
Also, it seems that people deserting the faith is a problem that has been around as long as the Christian faith. May we be men that stand strong and finish strong for Christ.
Father God, I ask that you would strengthen each brother who reads this blog in their inner man. That they would have courage in place of fear; vision in place of doubt. Make us men that honor you in our homes and beyond. In Christ's name,
a-men.
er
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