Learnings from 2 Timothy

Before we leave this amazing letter, Paul’s second to Timothy and the final letter we have before Rome killed him. I would like to summarize a few things I have been learning.

First, our relationship to Jesus Christ is the bed-rock reality in our lives, the Rock upon which all stands. Circumstances may change like people loving us and others turning away from us, for a great variety of reasons one way or the other.  One thing controls everything, our relationship with Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit. In other words, when we think of our lives here on the earth, troubling storms may come, then delightful twilights will flood our lives with joy.  All that is good but what remains is most important, our walk with Jesus and his walk with us.

Secondly, enjoy to the full the fellowship we have with fellow believers, especially those surrounding us.  Encourage them and be encouraged by them.

Thirdly, do be concerned when some who once expressed their love for Jesus are now faltering and are falling back into the world, but do not let that affect your spiritual peace.  We can witness to them and maybe even warn them about their ungodly attitudes but we cannot, should not, feel that their love for Jesus is in any way controlled by us. They are free moral agents, like us all.  I find my spirit is deeply troubled when people leave the simple Gospel path. That might be a predictable feeling but if we dwell on that to the extent that it affects our peace, we must shift our attention to Jesus himself.

Fourth, like Paul, we fill our role on the stage of life for a wonderful but brief moment.  I must remember that my times are in the hands of my loving Lord.  I, too, will slip over to be with others like me, now forever with Jesus and the saints and angels.  The Lord controls the seasons of life, not me.  All seasons are good even though each has challenges.

Fifth, be diligent in witnessing to those whom God is calling to get on with the journey, usually younger people, as Paul shared his inner life with young Timothy who was facing a life-time of ministry among the brothers and sisters, sure to face issues like Paul.  We have the baton but for a while, and must be careful it does not drop but is passed on to other hands, now running the race.