II Timothy 1:5-18:
I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.
What you have heard from me, keep as a pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you – guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygeius and Homogenes.
May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.
Though his grandmother and mother had faith, Timothy still had to choose for himself to trust and obey. Like us, Timothy was saved by grace through Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Now the apostle Paul, his mentor, encouraged a young man to let the fire of God burn strongly.
“God has given you gifts, Timothy; use them! He wants us to live bold lives marked by God’s power, love, and holiness. Jesus warned in a parable of the servant who buried his talent because he was afraid. Do not be afraid, Timothy, and do not be ashamed of the Lord… or of me, though you know many have criticized and left me.
“I have taught you that it is all about Jesus… his life, death, burial, and resurrection. The Gospel is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes… share the Good News! Rely on the Holy Spirit who lives in you. He produces the fruit of Jesus in our lives… and we know that love is the greatest fruit!
“Jesus has destroyed death! We need not fear anything! God is with us and gives everything we need. I love you. —Paul.”
Mustn’t it make God smile when older men and older women encourage the younger in the faith? And doesn’t it bring God joy when the younger look for ways to help the older? May God’s family live in a manner that brings him glory!
“Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.” I Timothy 5:1-2