My son will turn 18 in a few short months. He is a young man of God hungry for instruction and guidance, not unlike Timothy. What a great thing Paul did in writing these letters and what a wonderful mentor he was, laying out answers for Timothy.
I need to make a mental note to include verses 11-12 in my son’s birthday card because I feel they encapsulate the bible’s message… 11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
We are all called to remember our baptism. That time when we pledged (or our parents pledged for us) to have a heart for Christ and fight the good fight of faith. It is through this baptism that we were called into a relationship with Him and by declaring Jesus as our Savior, we take hold of the eternal life God promises.
Being 18 is a stressful time. You’re expected to be responsible for yourself, but there are still so many decisions to be made. Having someone walk alongside you and tell you, “You are loved,” makes all the difference.
When I read today’s passage, I made a trip to the basement to dig out our old Beginner’s Bible cards. We haven’t looked at them in years, but I thought maybe the one about Timothy would give me some insights. It did. It asks, “Who taught Timothy to love and obey God?” The answer: “His mother and grandmother.”
What a privilege it is to be a mother or grandmother. (Dads are just as important, but I can only speak from the Mom perspective.) If Timothy’s mom hadn’t been a believer and pointed her son towards Jesus, then who knows what would have happened to the Church. I mean, he probably would have still fulfilled God’s will, but it doesn’t take away the fact that Timothy’s mom played a major role in her son’s faith life.
Sometimes I’m overwhelmed with the responsibilities of being a mom, but one of my greatest joys is to point my kids towards Christ. Those who may not be moms in the conventional sense can still play a tremendous role. We all need a mentor to lay out answers for us. I pray that we are open to these callings and provide guidance to young men and women, “so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” (v. 19)
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