January 7, 2024
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in 2 Timothy? Here’s today’s reading:
2 Timothy 1 (NIV)
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,
2To Timothy, my dear son:
There is no 1 Timothy 7.
Pastor are we suppose to be in 2 Timothy 1 for there is no 1 Timothy 7.
Sorry for the confusion everyone. Clearly there is no 1 Timothy 7 or 8, but I also don’t know if 2 Timothy is our next book either. I will text Kelly tomorrow since I am on here late. We will get it sorted out ASAP.
Paul who was chosen by God to be an Apostle and a teacher to the Gentiles was trying to encourage Timothy by telling him that he is in his prayers. He was reminding Timothy not to be fearful for God has given us His power, and love, and of a sound mind. And also that He has saved us not by anything that we have done but according to His own purpose and His grace through Jesus the Christ before the world began. God was not taken by surprise by anything for He knows everything and is all powerful. So because of Paul`s trust and faith in God he was able to have complete confidence that God would work things out. Also a reference that the Holy Spirit indwells a believer. verse 14. Then he calls out two people that turned their back on him. They were Phygellus and Hermogenes. But then he says encouraging things about a faithful brother who was there for him while he [Paul] was in chains. His name is Onesiphorus. Also this brother was there for Paul in Ephesus. God bless us all.
The above statement was for 2 Timothy 1.
Godliness with contentment is great gain. The wisdom behind such a statement!! Paul gives many examples of the comparison of earthly richness compared to Godliness. Riches will one day be gone. The movie it’s a wonderful life. There’s a picture in the wall in the bsnk. You only leave this life with what you have given away!! So true!! Be content with what you have. Love people more than money. Love Gods work more than money. Freely share with others what you have. Acts 4:32. Examine ourselves what we are willing to do to gain more money. Jesus spoke more about money than heaven and hell combined. Our attitudes towards riches must be important
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
8 ¶ Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God,
“5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
I appreciate this quick mention of Timothy’s mother and grandmother. Women may feel like they have a “lesser” role in the church and the kingdom, but one can review, in the Old and New Testaments, God’s work through women, in rearing Godly men and women and in sharing the gospel whether by parenting or discipleship in the world and in the body.
I also appreciate the clarity of mind that Paul reinforces – “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” The world, and Satan, want us to believe that the spiritual is non-existent, powerless and all in our heads. Therefore we disregard the power that we have in that realm, and we relinquish it to Satan as we passively exist in the flesh.
2 Timothy 1
2 Timothy 1
Even though Paul did some horrible things to Christians in the past, he mentions here that he has a clear conscience. He goes on to say that the Lord saved us, not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This remark clearly indicates how grace covers all our sin, and we can walk in full assurance that God will help us achieve his purpose in us. And he gave us his Holy Spirit to dispel our fear and enable us to walk in power, love and self discipline. We are to guard the truth of the Gospel with our very lives, with the help of the Holy Spirit, that is how important it is.
So important to remember each day the words shared here…”for God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind”
Daily we are under attack via our minds! Satan knows fear and anxiety are a great way to get people’s eyes off of God. But we are being told here that there is a better way! We have power over those thoughts we are able to take them captive and be victorious knowing whatever we face we do not face it alone but rather with God!
As Paul sits in prison in Rome and writes this, his final letter, and maybe sees that his life may be nearing it’s end, it is no wonder he reflects on the past, affirms what God has done for him now, and clings to the hope he has for the future. Timothy was dear to Paul and he wants to make sure he carries on the mission set before him. It is not enough to rest on the faith and work of the past, but to fan into flame the gifts we have from God and be inspired in all that God is and all that He has provided. It is then that we will realize that there is no place for fear in our work for God but love, self discipline and power. It is our conviction about the reality of God that causes us not to be ashamed but to glory in the great salvation that He has made possible through Christ. But that salvation is just the beginning of the work that God wants to do in us and through us. Hopefully we like Timothy will be active participants in it and recognize that what we entrust to God will be guarded by Him and it’s value will be seen when we stand before God to have our works judged. And it is good to know that a standard of truth has been set down as well as a pattern of ministry that provides a basis from which to grow. And regardless of whether people abandon us, there will usually be some who are faithful who encourage us, that we then call down God’s blessings for them because of the comfort they are to us.