Teach Others Well

Scripture

 2 Timothy 1:1-13

¹Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,

²To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

³I am grateful to God-whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did-when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. ⁴Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. ⁵I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. ⁶For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; ⁷for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.

⁸Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, ⁹who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, ¹⁰but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. ¹¹For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, ¹²and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him. ¹³Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.  (NRSVUE)

 

Devotion

 The fall season often inspires people to reflect on their lives.  What good work have they done?  What legacy will they leave behind?  And who will carry on with the things that important to them after they are gone?

These questions are the kinds of things that Paul was considering around the time he wrote his second letter to Timothy.  Paul is sitting in prison and can tell that his death is drawing near.  Paul also expects the younger Timothy--who he personally trained to spread the Gospel--to carry on the work of spreading building Christs' Church on Earth.  And so he writes a letter to begin "passing the torch."

Paul's letter starts out with a few important themes:

1. Paul acknowledges that Timothy is full of a powerful faith--a faith that Paul can see and that runs in Timothy's family. This statement reminds Timothy that he is part of grand tradition of believers whose faith has done, is doing, an will do great things for Christ.  

2. Paul instructs Timothy to "rekindle" his faith so that Holy Spirit that already burns within him can shine brightly in the days ahead.  That same spirit will give him the power, love, and self-discipline he needs to spread the Gospel.

3. Paul warns Timothy not be discouraged when he hears of Paul's or others' earthly fates.  This is part of their Holy Calling, and Paul trusts that Jesus Christ will keep his promises.

4. Paul encourages Timothy to keep following Jesus and spreading the Gospel, trusting that the same Holy Spirit who has been there for Paul will remain with him until his time comes.

Acknowledgement, instruction, warning, and encouragement.  This is how Paul begins to let go of his earthly ministry.  This is how he empowers the next generations of believers to continue his work.  Timothy and others (who probably felt more than a little nervous about building the faith as the original apostles continued to die) took this advice and ran with it.

When people get ready to take over something, they are often nervous about whether they are up to the task.  What, then, if we were to take Paul's approach when we are ready to move on from some earthly task?  We might not feel like writing a letter, but surely we can find others ways of providing  acknowledgement, instruction, warning, and encouragement.  When we do so, we not only ensure that our legacy lives on; we also help empower the next group of people to continue the work in whatever way the Holy Spirit calls them to do it.  And that is always a good thing.

So as we move further into autumn, let's take a moment to reflect on the things that are important to us...the work we have done... and the people who can help carry that work forward.  Let us provide them with acknowledgement, instruction, warning, and encouragement so that when the time is right, they will be empowered to keep spreading the Gospel. 

 

 

Prayer

 Lord, help us teach and encourage one another well so that together, we may carry on the work you appoint us from year to year and generation to generation.  Amen.