Paul and Timothy

Daily Bible Reading – 2 Thessalonians 3:1 – 1 Timothy 4:16

Paul wrote to young Timothy to encourage him in his work for the Lord. Timothy wanted to resign, and Paul’s first burden was to encourage him to stay on and finish the task. Almost every Christian worker has wanted to quit at one time or another. Paul encourages young Timothy in this chapter by reminding him of his position before God and of the fact that God would see him through to victory.

Paul refers to himself as an example of one whom God enabled, by grace, to serve effectively. The word “ministry” in v. 12 is diakonia in the Greek from which we get our English word “deacon,” meaning “a servant.”

Timothy was disturbed because he thought he was too young and lacked the necessary qualifications for the ministry. “Look at me!” says the apostle. “I was a blasphemer and murderer before God saved me! If the grace of God can make a missionary out of a murderer, then it can make a success out of you!” Paul was always careful to give God the glory for his life and ministry (1 Cor. 15:10). Anyone who serves the Lord (and all believers ought to be servants) needs to depend on the grace of God. We are saved by grace (Eph. 2:8–9), but we also serve through grace (Rom. 12:3–6). In v. 14, Paul lists the three motivating forces in his life: grace, faith, and love. His love for Christ and for lost sinners constrained him to labor (2 Cor. 5:14ff); his faith in Christ empowered him (Eph. 1:19); and the grace of God worked in his life, enabling him to serve God (Heb. 12:28).

Paul considered his salvation a pattern (example) of what God would do for lost sinners, especially his beloved Israel. Unbelievers today are not saved in just the fashion Paul was, that is, by seeing a light and hearing a voice; but we are saved by grace, through faith, in spite of our sins. The people of Israel will be saved one day in the future as Paul was saved on the Damascus road: they will see Christ, repent, believe, and be changed.