SOULJournal

2 Timothy 4

Vs 1-5

This passage is especially meaningful to me because when I became a pastor my father sat me down and read this passage to me.  As I read it today I was transported back to that time when my dad read and charged me with the responsibility of being a minister and leader in the church.  It was with great solemnity and seriousness - as it probably was with Paul as he was writing his last words to his son of the faith.

Paul did not focus on the visible success of Timothy’s ministry but on the excellence of his service.
He focused on his commitment not on Timothy’s opportunities,
not on his personal prominence but on his character.
He expressed no concern for the young pastor’s acceptance or reputation but great concern for his faithfulness and godliness.
He did not emphasize the size, wealth, or influence of the church at Ephesus but rather its spiritual life and health under Timothy’s care.
He did not concentrate even on Timothy’s spiritual gifts, important as those were, but on his spiritual life and his spiritual service. His advice to Timothy could be summarized in his charge to believers in Corinth: “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31).  (John Macarthur)

Regardless of how things may appear to the world, to the rest of the church, or even to ourselves, God’s Word reminds us that the best of life belongs to those who know Christ as Savior and Lord and who give themselves up for His service and His glory. Unfortunately, many Christians, including some pastors and other leaders, seek for success rather than excellence. But success focuses on the external rather than the internal, on the temporary rather than the eternal, and is measured by human standards rather than by God's standards. Desire for success comes from pride, whereas genuine desire for excellence comes from humility.

Paul's words to Timothy are just as relevant today to those who desire and who are leaders in the church...a church cannot grow beyond the level of it's leaders so for all who are elders, trustees, pastors, teachers, GROW group leaders, or in any area of influence in the church, let us be reminded of our charge...
"In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus,  Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. Keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry."

2 Timothy 2

Every one of us, as Christ-followers, should have that compelling desire to be used of God in whatever way He chooses.   Paul goes from exhorting Timothy to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus to becoming a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the Word of truth.  All of this goes towards being useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. 

We are called to join God in His great work and in order for us to be effective workmen who are not embarrassed, we must be trained to handle truth properly.  We must prepare ourselves for every good work. 

How do we do that? 
Well it takes dedication and commitment to training and study.  We must put aside time to be taught the foundations of the faith and how to read and study the word of God.  We must be willing to memorize learn what we believe and how to defend it so that we are useful to God's work.  We must be willing to place ourselves in nurturing and discipling relationships with those who are spiritually ahead of us.  This is serious business and we need to get serious about it.  Too many Christians today are not Christ-followers, instead they want Christ to follow after them and pick up their messes.  That is not what we were called to - we should desire to be soldiers in His army, workmen in His work crew.  And we should want that so much that we would go into strict training in order to be a part of Jesus' work crew.  Study so that you can get approved to be on the crew.  And always remember that the study and knowledge is not the end but the means to the end.  Every bit of knowledge needs to be utilized towards the end of furthering the kingdom of heaven.

 

2 Timothy 1

If you knew that your time on earth was drawing to an end, what would you say to those you love deeply?  What words of advice, encouragement, appreciation and affirmation would you want to give?  This letter to Timothy is Paul's last words to the "spiritual son" that he loved deeply, and while it was beneficial and encouraging to Timothy, it provides us with much direction and guidance as we go about parenting, discipling others, leading and counseling. 

In verses 1-5 Paul mentions 5 different motivations and motivators present in discipleship. 

The first is authority.  Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God - he establishes his authority in the relationship, but the understanding is that he (Paul) was also a man under authority.

The second motivation/motivator is appreciation. 
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. 
Not only was Paul a blessing to Timothy but Paul says that Timothy was a blessing to him.  To be appreciated, encouraged and told that God wants to work powerfully through them is a great motivator to those we mentor and disciple.  As a parent I find that this particular approach works well with both of my kids.  When I point out that I am thankful for them I notice they work harder to be a blessing to my wife and I.

The third motivation/motivator is constant prayer.  There is no better way to motivate others to be faithful and to serve God with passion and energy, than to continually hold them up before the Lord in prayer—and to tell let them know that you are praying and what you are praying for them.

Fourth is a demonstrating a genuine love for them. 
I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 
One of the greatest motivators for me is when someone truly cares for me, I don't want to let them down, I want to do what pleases them.  If they care deeply for me then I feel safe letting them speak into my life.  I discovered that in youth ministry I didn't have to be cool or hip to minister to kids - I simply had to care deeply for them and show it.  That simple thing provided me the ability to speak into their lives and built the trust necessary to teach them.

Finally Paul demonstrates the powerful act of encouragement and believing the best of someone. 
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.  
For the most part I have found that people will live up to your beliefs in them.  If you believe that they will do well and you affirm them often, they will live up to it.  Paul was never afraid to bring correction and discipline, but he was also quite quick to give affirmation and encouragement. 

As leaders (and that means husbands, wives, parents, bosses, people who wield influence, you get the picture) we can learn a lot from how Paul went about discipling those under his care.  Try it and see what happens.

2 Timothy 4

²⁰Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. ²¹Do your best to get here before winter. 

As I read this chapter I am struck by the humanness of Paul.  We tend to think of him as the robot apostle who just was on the go and nothing cold phase him.  But this chapter gives us a glimpse of Paul and the toll that ministry had on him.  He admits in the previous chapter that all those who would lead righteous lives will suffer persecution and in chapter four you sense that he is a little down.  It is why verse 21 struck me.  He wants Timothy and the others around.  "Timothy," he writes, "do your best to come before winter."  

We all have those winter moments in our lives where we need the family of God around us to encourage us, to bring our cloaks and our scrolls.  To provide friendship and support.  We need the family and what strikes me as well is that Paul was not too proud or self-sufficient to admit that he needed the family.  Good lesson for all of us.  As the family we all need each other and the only way we get help is by asking for it.  We need to keep Reaching Up by developing and maintaining our relationship with God.  We need to keep Reaching Out by taking God's Message to the world but we must also be Reaching In - developing and maintaining our relationships with the family of God.  This is really helpful in the winter seasons of our lives.

2 Timothy 3

Kevin Brennfleck

¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. ¹⁷ God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

God's primary means of guiding us in our decision making is through His Word.  Charles Swindoll says that "as we derive precepts and principles from the Scriptures, based on a careful, intelligent interpretation of His truth, we're able to apply it in numerous ways to our circumstances today."  Studying the Bible molds our thinking so that we are able to see our lives, our world, and ourselves from God's perspective.  We partner with God in making decisions whenever we prayerfully make choices in alignment with His revealed will.

God's Word is the most important input we can have in making a decision about our life.  If we ignore or overlook what God says about a particular issue, we deprive ourselves of guidance from the very Source of wisdom:  "Unbelievers make sound judgement their first priority in making decisions; believers rely on God's Word...With such a great resource at our disposal, we dare not neglect the counsel of God.  Let us not live like those who do not know God."

Are we reading God's Word and allowing it to change our lives and prepare us for God's Work we are called to do today?

Today's Journal entry is an excerpt from a book by Kevin and Kay Brennfleck called "Live Your Calling."

2 Timothy 2

Doing Your Best for God
^1-7Throw yourself into this work for Christ.
Pass on what you heard from me to reliable leaders who are competent to teach others.
When the going gets rough, take it on the chin with the rest of us, the way Jesus did.
A soldier on duty doesn't get caught up in making deals at the marketplace. He concentrates on carrying out orders.
An athlete who refuses to play by the rules will never get anywhere.
It's the diligent farmer who gets the produce.
Think it over. God will make it all plain.

  ^14-18Repeat these basic essentials over and over to God's people.
Warn them before God against pious nitpicking...
Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won't be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple.
Stay clear of pious talk that is only talk. Words are not mere words, you know. If they're not backed by a godly life, they accumulate as poison in the soul. 
^22-26Run away from infantile indulgence.
Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God.
Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights.

I encourage you to read through the two passages above and think it over as Paul encourages Timothy to do, then will you share what you think Paul is saying and how does it apply to you.  Looking forward to getting your insight today.  You can choose between the Doing Your Best passage or the Basic Essentials passage.

2 Timothy 1

Eugene Petersen

Christians are quite serious in believing that when they gather together for worship and work, God is present and sovereign, really present and absolutely sovereign. God creates and guides, God saves and heals, God corrects and blesses, God calls and judges. With such comprehensive and personal leadership from God, what is the place of human leadership?

Quite obviously, it has to be second place. It must not elbow its way to the front, it must not bossily take over. Ego-centered, ego-prominent leadership betrays the Master. The best leadership in spiritual communities formed in the name of Jesus, is inconspicuous, not calling attention to itself but not sacrificing anything in the way of conviction and firmness either.

In his letters to two young associates—Timothy in Ephesus and Titus in Crete—we see Paul encouraging and guiding the development of just such leadership.

2 Timothy 1...

 ^8-10... We can only keep on going by the power of God, who first saved us and then called us to this holy work. We had nothing to do with it. It was all his idea, a gift prepared for us in Jesus long before we knew anything about it. But we know it now. 

 ^11-12This is the Message we've been set apart to proclaim...death defeated, life vindicated in a steady blaze of light, all through the work of Jesus. It's also the cause of all this trouble I'm in. But I have no regrets. I couldn't be more sure of my ground—the One I've trusted in can take care of what he's trusted me to do right to the end.

Take a moment to think about the implications of what we just read.  Saved, set apart and called to GO proclaim the Message.  Obviously this calling comes with hardships and troubles but I can put my trust in God who puts His trust in me. 

What are your thoughts?
Are we holding up our end of the bargain?
Do we tend to want God to save us and then give us more and more?
How are you personally involved in fulfilling God's calling to proclaim His Message?