Timothy Archives – Sonshine's Journal

December 18, 2023December 18, 2023

What is your goal for 2024?

Paul left his protégé Timothy in Ephesus to teach sound doctrine because he was proven reliable, trustworthy, and loyal. Paul calls him his “true child in the faith.” How about us? Would Paul say the same about us? As we bid farewell to 2023, we should be thinking about our goals for 2024. Paul wrote to Timothy. “But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” [1Tim 1:5]

Notice Paul’s goals for Timothy: love from a pure heart, have a good conscience, and demonstrate sincere faith. Three basic goals that are achievable in real-time. As we think ahead, which of these three goals might be yours as we re-enter Bible studies and fellowship with others beyond our regular Sunday services? Where will you be reading, studying, and memorizing? Where will you meet the concerns of others?

We will be reading again using the NET Bible online study tool. We implore you to join with us as we enter 2024. So here’s our question to you, the reader: are you more interested in reading through the Bible chronologically or just reading through the Bible? Let us know your preferences: https://knowinggod.org/ or https://netbible.org/.

December 5, 2022December 5, 2022

Letters of Encouragement

Phil 1-4 Paul, as a prisoner in Rome, received a visitor who had traveled from the city of Philippi to bring a gift to him. Imagine his joy to receive not just a physical gift but to receive words of encouragement from the Philippian believers. There is no greater gift than receiving one who comes bearing gifts of love from those we miss. Unfortunately, Paul’s visitor, Epaphroditus, took ill as he visited Paul. Yet, this dear fellow believer did recover, and Paul earnestly wrote a letter to let the Philippian believers know how he was faring. He was not only sending Epaphroditus back to them but also Timothy.

Paul’s letter to them must have encouraged them beyond belief! It had been some time since their beloved friend had left them, and they had heard not a word. Now they received not just their friend but also a dear letter to remind them to love one another deeply. In his letter, Paul reminded them to be gentle and be anxious for nothing. Even more, Paul wanted them to know that God is using this imprisonment here in Rome, and the message of His love was being poured out amongst the guards who serve Caesar. Many were hearing the good news of Christ.

When we are far away and hear that others are praying, it encourages our hearts. Who today needs that message of encouragement?

March 20, 2015

How Forgiving Are We?

Today as in the days of Paul, we may face circumstances when all those who once stood by our side forsake us and we stand alone. How do we respond when this happens? Paul has learned his lessons well and he learned the art of forgiveness from the lips of Jesus “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” and the first martyr Stephen, whose cloak he held, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” [Acts 7] Now Paul can say about those who have abandoned him in his time of deep distress: “may it not be counted against them.” That is true grace.

We must be ready in season and out of season because there will come a time when we must be ready to offer forgiveness for these who once stood beside us but now have forsaken us and like the words of Jesus: we must forgive not seven times but forgive with no limits. [Mt 18] It is now that we come back to the Word and remind ourselves, that we have “been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God…” We are indwelt by the Holy Spirit who gives power to forgive even the most unforgivable remembering this truth: although men may fail you the “Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”[Deut 31/Heb 13] This is mature faith, true grace and true humility.

March 19, 2014

“Who is Your BFF and Are You a BFF?”

The teens of today have coined a phrase “BFF” to mean Best Friend Forever! I hear this a lot from them and it always brings a smile. If you ask them what qualities a “BFF” has, you hear always ready to listen, is there for me when no one else is and more. Isn’t it wonderful that our true BFF is Jesus who sticks closer than a brother and in return we show Him that we are His BFF by doing what he commands us to do. Today in our first chapter of the letter that Paul sent to Timothy there are two men who truly stand out as two of Paul’s BFF’s.

The first is Timothy. He is Paul’s dear child in the faith, and Paul longs to see him but because he is now incarcerated in a Roman dungeon cell with only a hole in the ceiling for air, food and water, it seems like a far off dream. He yearns that one day he will once again see his beloved Timothy. Therefore, Paul labors to send him an encouraging note to stay the course, “Hold to the standard of sound words that you heard from me and do so with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Protect that good thing entrusted to you, through the Holy Spirit.” He reminded timid Timothy that God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control and that he should not be ashamed of Paul’s imprisonment. God would use it for His glory.

The second is Onesiphorus, a quiet yet determined saint who traveled a long distance to encourage his BFF Paul in Rome having heard of his imprisonment. This precious BFF is one who searched all of Rome looking for him and what a blessed reunion when Onesiphorus found Paul! He stayed the course by coming to refresh Paul, openly showing his loyalty and true friendship in a time when the Emperor Nero was on the warpath looking for others to also throw to the lions and blame for his problems. Yet, Onesiphorus, unlike Phygelus and Hermogenes and perhaps Timothy, was unashamed and became the “wind beneath the apostle’s wings” when Paul was all alone. He truly understood that wherever one is they can be content and be used of God. Therefore, he came searching that he might fulfill this verse out of Proverbs: As iron sharpens iron, so a person sharpens his friend. It was because of that that Paul could pray this for Onesiphorus: May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day!

One of the themes of this book will be to “Encourage One Another.” Would you say that you are an Onesiphorus or a Timothy to someone in need of refreshing? Who will you encourage today?

March 12, 2014

1Tim 2 “Prayer Warriors”

Do you know of anyone you might call a “prayer warrior?” I knew a precious lady who was in my Bible Study who was nearing the 100 yr mark in her life. She would often arise as early as 5 a.m. When I asked her why she got up so early she told me “if I don’t get up then I can’t get all my praying in before I start my day at 9.” Talk about being put to shame and what a model of living life in the presence of God! The NT is replete with men and women who model for us what it means to be true prayer warriors and Paul is one of them.

As Paul is writing to his beloved Timothy he urges him to remain in Ephesus to help this precious group of saints to remain faithful to the doctrine he had taught them. In chapter one he reminded Timothy of the God whom he serves. Today in chapter 2 Paul underscores the power of prayer.

First is the instruction for prayer and its subsequent reasons: “requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people, even for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity”

Secondly the purpose of prayer: God “wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” thus echoing Peter’s words “The Lord ….does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” [2Pe 3:9] and the words of Matthew “ In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that one of these little ones be lost.” [Mat 18:14]

Thirdly, Jesus is our mediator or intermediary between God and humanity and thus when we pray, Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father interceding for us unlike the sigh of Job who said “Nor is there an arbiter between us…” Jesus has paid the price and thus has the right, the privilege and the honor of being our mediator.

Paul continues on with these words of counsel: “I want the men to pray in every place, lifting up holy hands and likewise the women.” Prayer is something both men and women can do with holy hands coming before the Father that His will for all men to be saved can be accomplished.