SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/8/2025 9:11 AM
My Worship Time Focus: “PT-2 Timothy, The Faithful Son”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: 2 Tim. 4:9
Message of the verses: “Make every effort to come to me soon;”
Let us first look at how Paul addressed Timothy in his first letter to him: “my true child in the faith.” Now we will look at how Paul addressed Timothy in his second letter to him: “my beloved son.” It is easy to see that Paul had no other earthly friend who was so dear to him as can be seen by these two introductions that he gave to Timothy.
We also can see that Paul did not have a co-worker who was more dependable than Timothy. He tells the church at Corinth the following “I exhort you therefore, be imitators of me. For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church” (1 Cor. 4:16-17). In the same spirit of confidence, the apostle told the church at Philippi, “I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare” (Phil. 2:19-20). Timothy not only followed Paul’s doctrine but also his example and that surely made him a faithful person in the Lord.
Now this love was mutual as we will see. At the beginning of the second letter, the apostle says to Timothy, “I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day, longing to see you, even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy” (2 Tim. 1:3-4).
Now as I think of how much Paul loved Timothy in the Lord I can’t help but think of another friend that Paul had, and that would be the beloved Luke, who is the author of the gospel of Luke, and also the book of Acts. Luke was with Paul in Rome at the time, the apostle longed to see Timothy with the longing of a father, especially because he knew the possibility of seeing him again in this life would soon be gone. It was therefore imperative that Timothy make every effort to come to Paul soon.
John MacArthur concludes this section by writing: “Many great Christian leaders have had a spiritual mentor, someone who has taken special care in teaching them the Word and in setting a high example. For Timothy, of course, that person was Paul. Like him, such mentors doubtless have no greater satisfaction than seeing someone under their guidance turn into an effective servant of Christ.
“The writer of Hebrews told his readers to ‘take notice that our brother Timothy has been released’ (Heb. 13:23). This young minister was following in Paul’s footsteps, even to the point of being put in prison for boldly proclaiming and refusing to compromise the gospel.”
Spiritual Meaning for my Life Today: As I think about those in my life who have been great mentors to me I can think of three Pastors. The first one was Pastor Ralph Burns, who was my first Pastor after I became a believer. I had been saved for about four years and actually began a Bible study at a friend’s Christian book store who was run by the first man that the Lord brought me to, Fred Yetka, who I suppose was my first mentor, and then I began to go to my first church headed by Pastor Burns. Next came the third mentor, Pastor Jack Jacobs who taught the Bible in a way that caused me to grow in my faith. The last person I will mention is Pastor Patrick Odle, who is not the president of Baptist Mid Mission, but I sat under his teaching for close to ten years. I have other friends I could mention, but these four men have had a great influence on my walk with the Lord.
Spiritual Meaning for My Life Today: I trust the Lord that through His Holy Spirit will be the greatest One to continue to mentor me in my walk with the Lord.
8/8/2025 9:45 AM
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