Read it: 2 Timothy 4:1-8
Live it:
For this devotion we are going to pick-up from our previous brief study of Paul’s relationship with Timothy. Today, we will look at Paul’s final charge to his beloved son. Paul was more than just a mentor for Timothy; Paul had become Timothy’s spiritual father, but I also wonder if more advice was shared between the two of them than just how to preach or share the Gospel. I would imagine that Paul stepped into an all-around father role for Timothy, which would make our passage of scripture today even more challenging for Timothy to read.
2 Timothy is known as Paul’s final letter, and some have even referred to it as his farewell letter. Paul is sitting in a Roman prison, waiting for the soldiers to receive the order to behead him. I picture a damp, dark dungeon-like-prison with cold cement for a bed. Paul knows that he is not being released, and he writes this final letter that we now know as 2 Timothy. In Paul’s final charge to Timothy, he tells Timothy to be ready at all times to preach the word. Paul tells Timothy to PREACH THE WORD. I just think of the passion that Paul used to write those words. Paul goes on to say (my paraphrasing) that my time is done on this earth. I have done all that was asked of me, and now Timothy, it is your turn to continue the ministry that I started. Paul continues and says that he has taught them all that he can teach them and has discipled them in the way of the Lord, and NOW, it is THEIR TURN. It is now Timothy’s turn to fight the good fight, to preach the gospel, to find someone to disciple, just like Paul discipled him.
As far as we know Paul did not have any children of his own, but that did not stop him from leaving a legacy for the next generation. That did not stop Paul from finding a young man from the town of Lystra, who needed a father figure, and who needed to be discipled in the things of the Lord. Yes, discipling Timothy took time, but by the words that Paul wrote in his last letter to Timothy, I guarantee that Paul thought Timothy was worth every bit of time and energy. Who are you discipling? Who are you investing in? Who is taking up your time so they can hear? Now, it’s your time to go preach the word and fight the good fight!
Becca