July 8, 2014 (Tuesday)
While in prison, Paul wrote a letter (1 Timothy) to Timothy when he (Timothy) was pastor at Ephesus, to encourage him and give him more information about church administration and pastoral leadership. Timothy was from Lystra, which Paul visited on his first missionary journey. His mother and grandmother were Jewish; his father, who was deceased, had been a Greek. Timothy was taught the Scriptures at home as he grew up. There was no synagogue or rabbi in Lystra. On Paul’s second visit, he left home and accompanied Paul in his mission work. Paul considered him his “son in the ministry.” Gnosticism was a growing heresy and Paul admonishes Timothy to reject it completely, to stand by the gospel that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. He urged Timothy to stand strong for sound doctrine and allow no one to discredit him because of his youthfulness. He called upon him to treat rich and poor equally, and to warn his people against the temptations of wealth, for “the love of money is a root of all evil.” Timothy is to keep himself focused on spiritual matters and to teach the truth.
First Timothy – a devotional thought
Timothy had no trouble identifying the person who had the greatest influence upon his life; it was the Apostle Paul. Is there someone who has influenced you to follow Christ? Who is that person or persons? Have you thanked them lately?
Although a prisoner, Paul kept witnessing to all he met and kept writing letters as he continued his ministry. Nothing could stop him; knowing and serving Jesus Christ was his very life. He wrote, “To me to live is Christ..” Finish this sentence yourself: “To me to live is..”