“Stir up the gift of God which is in you,” “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:6,7
When the Apostle Paul wrote his two letters to Timothy as recorded in the Bible, he did so in view of his soon departure to go and be with the Lord. Time was of the essence, and the opportunity God had now afforded him was essential for him to communicate to Timothy that which was facing him in his ministry, but also in the days to come. The Holy Spirit would lead Paul, in an orderly fashion, to provide Timothy the knowledge of the great truths that he needed to know, grasp, and hold on to, if he would avoid the entanglements, entrapments of the enemy, and the diversions concerning things which did not contribute to the objective. In doing this, beginning with the essential of the vision of one’s calling, and the clear perception of God according to the truth, the Apostle would in essence, take Timothy by the hand and lead him to understand spiritual reality that now faced him, and also, the way of victory through it all. Where did Paul begin in so short a span of time and space, to communicate all this to Timothy, his son in the faith, sincerely devoted to Christ?
Paul would often begin his letters by illustrating truths in his own life that needed to be grasped by the recipients of his letters. He began the first letter to Timothy by declaring, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the COMMANDMENT of God, our Savior, and the Lord Jesus Christ our hope.” (1:1) Immediately, Paul by his words brings Timothy before God Himself, to realize that what he is relating to Timothy now is not only the result of his personal calling by God, according to the “commandment of God,” but Timothy’s calling. Paul seeks to bring Timothy to see clearly his calling, and eternal purpose, which was foreordained by God. Timothy is brought before God, the Savior of men, and the Lord Jesus Christ, “our hope,” in order that he should see clearly the greatness, and solemnity of God’s working in his life, but also, the privilege and provision of God in Christ for every need pertaining to that calling.
The Spirit of God then leads Timothy to see the ultimate objective of all that is to be declared and explained. It is the knowledge, and manifestation, of the love of God, revealed “…from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith.” (1: 5) Christ is the objective, the means, the great I AM, the “All in All,” to be trusted in, loved and served, and given to others by the Spirit of God. Just as Paul in his letters to the Corinthians, and to the Ephesians would share that the love of God, of Christ, was the greatest revelation and objective of God, so the calling of the believer is to know this love, a love abounding in wisdom and knowledge, ever choosing that which was excellent. The purpose of all ministry was to bring every believer to the “fullness of God” by the experience and testimony of the love of God by the Spirit. But practically, “How can this to be?”
In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, already addressing the issues of how he should conduct himself “…in the house of God, which is the church of the living God,” he encourages Timothy with spiritual truth, encouraging him to use appropriate Christ’s spiritual discipline. He speaks of the Spirit of God, which is in the heart of Timothy, and in every believer, the spirit of power, of love, and of sound mind. All the resources are IN CHRIST to know His power and love. Soundness of mind speaks of self-control, a quiet, sober, solid-thinking mind, that of Christ. All fear and timidity are to be rejected. The power, strength, courage, and abiding love in Christ, is to be ever increasingly received from Christ by disciplined faith.
Dear Father, Strengthen us to abide. In Jesus’ name, Amen.