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December 18th

The bible reading today is the book of 1 Timothy...Paul’s first letter to his disciple from Lystra, young Timothy.

1 Timothy along with 2 Timothy and Titus make up Paul’s final letters...we call them the pastoral letters of Paul...offering practical pastoral counsel from the Holy Spirit...to these young pastors.

Paul had recruited young Timothy to accompany him on his second missionary journey alongside Silas. Timothy would be much-needed refreshment for Paul since his recent split with friend and partner, Barnabas. Maybe Paul learned something from Barnabas’ heart for training young John Mark.

The book of Acts ends with Paul sitting in prison awaiting an audience with Caesar Nero. Paul was expecting to be released. Perhaps he was. And from there, perhaps Paul took a fourth missionary journey. Perhaps this was when he visited Ephesus again...placing Timothy over the church there. And then Paul winds up back in a Roman cell awaiting his death. And this would be where the aged Paul wrote Timothy and Titus pastoral letters. Just my accumulative info on when Paul died.

Why is 1 Timothy so important? Perhaps it is because it is the most complete instruction on pastoral leadership for the church in our New Testaments.

We read where Paul by the Spirit made it clear that order for worship and living was essential for a healthy church. He gave instruction on the qualifications and duties of elders and deacons.

Paul was trying to help Timothy to understand the importance of the purity of heart and life for leaders in the church. And he was also giving guidelines for the gatherings that Timothy would oversee.

Paul knew that Timothy’s youth would be a blessing and a curse for his pastoral ministry. Let us listen to Paul’s encouragement.

“Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭4:12‬

Paul knew that Timothy would need the energy of the young to lead the fast-growing church. But he also knew that his example of godliness would come in handy when older brethren questioned his motives.

Paul knew that Timothy was young in the faith. Paul knew that Timothy would be tempted to discouragements and despair in the midst of his ministry. So Paul admonished the young spiritual leader...two times in the same letter...to stay the course...endure to the end.

“This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,”

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭1:18‬

This ministry would be one battle after another...but remember the gifts you've received from the Spirit and use them!

“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6:12‬

Fight Timothy...fight the good and courageous and honorable fight...even unto death for the sake of the gospel that is the power of God unto salvation!

Go for it Timothy...perseverance will be hard and costly...but remember that your own salvation came to you at a high price! March On....another favorite hymn...

“Then let our songs abound and every tear be dry...we’re marching through Immanuel’s ground, we’re marching through Immanuel's ground, To fairer worlds on high to fairer worlds on high.”

Have a great day