Between  – 2 Timothy 4:1-8

I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:1-8

Few things are more precious than words born of love. They are usually the distillation of much thought and consideration, saved up to be spoken at just the right time and place. The conveyor yearns to impart their heart in order to bring as much blessing as they can into the lives of their beloved. That is the flavor of this ultra-personal letter from Paul to Timothy – his beloved and cherished spiritual son.

The yearning in this letter is accentuated by the fact its author is awaiting execution. Paul’s circumstances no doubt brought all his considerable intellect and heart into razor sharp focus for this time and place;

I solemnly charge you (by everything Paul deemed holy) to preach the word.

I believe for Paul the idea of preaching included all those occasions where truth was employed to intentionally confront darkness. Our text is much more than a well prepared message designed to flow from pulpit to pew. Preaching included; reproofs, rebukes, exhortations and instruction, all to be done with great patience. I envision it happening in scheduled events but even more so in the impromptu situations naturally arising in the daily flow of life and relationship.

Spiritual father’s have been further down the trail than their sons. Paul has seen diabolical, Satanic efforts to dilute the words and teachings of Jesus through things as innocent looking as myths and traditions – those aberrations of the fallen imagination which become lodged in individuals and cultures, influencing the discernment of truth and reality. These imaginations, which we are told must be cast down, lure people off the narrow trail on which Christ would lead them. All of these offshoots from the main path lead people to bad endings. Paul has seen this and has set his heart on finishing well and helping others do the same. And, as a spiritual father, he is especially jealous that Timothy cross his finish line in full-stride. Do you have a Paul in your life? A Timothy?

In the race, what separates winners and losers, runners and plodders, the passionate from the indifferent? I believe Paul’s words allow us to peek into his heart for our answer. Paul was focused on the prize: a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge will award to him on that day. Paul was motivated to endure hardship and await his finish line because he was focused on a reward he felt far outweighed the modest costs he had incurred. Is this crown which is to be awarded by God Himself, serving as motivation to us? Are we running with this motive toward our finish line? I am proposing that it is our motives which steer our course, the secret things in our hearts we treasure. My reasoning is that; in a kingdom of light where the secrets of men will become known, motives matter. Again….

Watch over your hearts (your motivational engine) with all diligence because everything in your lives is a direct byproduct. (My paraphrase of Proverbs 4:23)

Search me oh God and know my heart. Try me and know my anxious thoughts and see if there be any hurtful way in me and lead me in the everlasting way. Psalm 139: 23-24

It strikes me that the scriptures themselves are much like Paul’s letter to Timothy. They are God’s letter to us – His beloved. They represent his distillation of thoughts which He has stored up for us, voiced at just the right time and place. God’s great heart and wisdom were brought into razor sharp focus in His Word so that we too will stay in the race and cross our finish lines.

Father, we invite your Spirit to awaken us to see where we are in our race. We ask that You alert us to any myths we have bought into, effecting the we we run. And may You also awaken us to your solemn charge to share Your words in living, loving and natural ways to those around us, to those we are being charged to love and encourage. Help us to find our stride. Amen.

 

 

 

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