FBC Daily Devotions

Read 2 Timothy 1:2.

There is much to say about the man Timothy, and much of it will come through the course of our walk through this letter. Here, we see Timothy’s relationship to Paul – he is like a son to Paul. Their relationship began in AD 50 when Paul stopped in Lystra as part of his second missionary journey. Take a moment and read Acts 16:1-3 for what Paul saw in Timothy.

Timothy was perhaps still a teen when Paul met him. Many scholars feel this is the case because Paul refers to Timothy as a “young man” in 1 Timothy, written some 15 years later. Note Timothy’s heritage: half Jew and half Greek. His father was probably not a believer. He was well spoken of by the brothers of the faith, meaning he had a good reputation. He must have been fairly well known in the area because people knew his father was Greek. In order to eliminate distractions from the gospel message, Timothy was circumcised for the sake of the Jews. I suspect there were Jews who were unsure of Timothy’s allegiance. Word of Timothy’s circumcision would have erased any doubts.

What was it about Timothy that caused Paul to take him along with him for what would be a very long and difficult journey? Consider that only a few years earlier, Paul took another young man with him by the name of Mark. Paul did not want to repeat what had happened on their first missionary journey when a young John Mark was unable to continue on, who deserted them part way into the trip (Acts 13:13; 16:15:37-38). Paul must have seen a more durable candidate in Timothy. I imagine his reputation had something to do with it. Timothy must have been seen as highly committed, loyal, and adaptable, especially considering that he was willing to be circumcised for the sake of the Jews. With this in mind, it is interesting that Timothy seems to be timid, possibly lacking confidence (cf. 2 Tim. 1:6-7; 1 Cor. 16:10-11; 1 Tim. 4:12). Committed and adaptable, and yet lacking confidence. This combination tells me that Timothy was both teachable and courageous. Timothy was a bud, but Paul saw a rose.

To consider: What is remarkable about Timothy is that his commitment to serve exceeded his lack of confidence. In some respects, his timidity kept him humble, yet his commitment inspired courage. He was willing to courageously step out despite a lack of confidence. With Paul at his side, Timothy was willing to humbly serve in ways that were uncomfortable. Looking back, have there been times when your lack of confidence exceeded your commitment – when you were committed to serve, but not enough to do what was most uncomfortable? Do you have a Paul at your side who believes in you and will encourage you in your walk of faith? If not, is there someone who might fit the bill?

Read 2 Timothy 1:1.

An apostle in the simplest terms was a messenger of God. In the New Testament, the Greek word for “apostle” is translated either “apostle” or “messenger” depending on the context and the individual being referred to. Why the distinction? Apostles were a select number of individuals who were seen as leaders of the early church. They were normally identified as the Twelve (e.g. Acts 6:2), and had as one of the qualifications having been with Jesus. They were a select group of men whose primary responsibility was to spread and teach the gospel. Unlike the other apostles, however, Paul is unique because he saw Jesus long after Jesus had already ascended into heaven (on the road to Damascus, Acts 9), and consequently, some people had problems with that. He often spent time defending his apostleship against those who considered themselves better than Paul (cf. 1 Cor. 9; 2 Cor. 10-11). This figures into why Paul so often in his letters identifies himself, as in this case, “an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God.” He makes that statement even stronger in his letter to the Galatians: “Paul, an apostle – sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father…” (Gal. 1:1)

Many have asked if apostles exist today. It seems from the Scriptures that apostles were the founding leaders of the church. They established the foundations of the church, upon which we currently build (meaning we don’t continue to build the foundation, but only build on it – Eph. 2:20). While they were not limited to the Twelve (see Acts 14:14; Rom. 16:7 where Barnabas, Andronicus, and Junias are called apostles though not of the Twelve), they seem to be limited in time by their responsibility to establish the church. Furthermore, the distinction between apostles and elders are very clear (see Acts 15 for example), and by the time the later letters of the New Testament are written (e.g. 2 Timothy), elders and deacons become more prominent, while apostles are only mentioned in regard to whom’s instructions they should be adhering to (2 Pet. 3:2; Jude 17).

To consider: Paul was an apostle by the will of God. To his frustration, he sometimes needed to defend his calling. Similarly, you are God’s child by His will, not by anything man has said, but because of what God says. God says that if you believe in Christ and follow after Him, you are His child. Have you ever struggled to believe that truth – wondering if you really are His child? Defend the doubt with an appeal to the truth. If God says your are His child, don’t doubt it!

While apostles aren’t with us today, leaders of the church have the responsibility to build on the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets. Are you under the care and teaching of those who are committed to the foundational truths established in Scripture?

As we enter a new year, we will begin a study through the letter of 2 Timothy. As Mike noted last Sunday, this was Paul’s last letter and reflects what is important through the eyes of a lifetime of experiences. Nothing can replace the wisdom that comes from years of walking with God. Paul has finished the race. He has fought the good fight, and he has kept the faith. How well will you finish this race of faith?

Mike asked the question on Sunday, “What are you doing to ensure a strong finish?”

A good finish is a product of enduring relationships throughout life. “What relationships are you involved in that will help you finish well?”

Look over your notes from the past week. What one or two things did God impress upon you this week?

Read Psalm 52:8-9.

This psalm ends with a beautiful picture of a life that lives in the shadow of the Almighty. Note the characteristics of this life:

I am like an olive tree – The NIV Study Bible notes that olive trees live for hundreds of years. They stand firm under years of harsh conditions. Note where he flourishes (v. 8a)

I trust in God’s unfailing love – God’s love is never ending, therefore He is trustworthy. And because God’s love is unfailing (never fails), note how long that trust continues (v. 8b).

I will praise You forever – Praising God will not end here, but will continue for eternity. A life entrusted to Him will amount to a life of praise for what He has done in our life.

In Your name I will hope – There is no other name that gives us hope. A life in Christ is never a hopeless one.

I will praise You in the presence of your saints – A congregation of like-minded followers of Christ ought to bring out the best praise we could ever experience in this world. There is no need to be shy in the presence of other saints.

To consider: Does this describe your life? Are you flourishing in the house of God? Are you trusting that His love will never fail you? Do you praise Him for what He has done in your life? Are you hoping in Him or some unsecure thing? Are you able to praise Him among other followers? Consider where you might be struggling, and as you prepare for a new year, pick one area you would like to work on.