Words of encouragement are always welcome, and usually come
at the right time. We can probably think
of instances where we were having a "downer" day and someone called
or came by with encouraging words that seemed to give us to motivation to
overcome our low, and build us up to a spiritual high. I, for one, am thankful for those who have
the gift of encouraging the whole body of Christ. They are always encouraging each of us to be
all we can be for God.
The apostle Paul referred to Timothy as his "child in
the faith," and while giving him instructions concerning his work, Paul
also spent considerable time and effort in offering words of encouragement to
Timothy. Perhaps there is an attitude
here that will teach us something good. Look at 2 Timothy 1:1-7 from the Amplified Bible, to get the
picture of encouragement in action.
Paul, an apostle (special messenger) of
Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in
Christ Jesus,
2 To Timothy, [my] beloved
child: Grace (favor and spiritual blessing), mercy, and [heart] peace from God
the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord!
3 I thank God Whom I worship
with a pure conscience, in the spirit of my fathers, when without ceasing I
remember you night and day in my prayers,
4 And when, as I recall your
tears, I yearn to see you so that I may be filled with joy.
5 I am calling up memories
of your sincere and unqualified
faith (the leaning of your entire personality on God in
Christ in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness), [a
faith] that first lived permanently in [the heart of] your grandmother Lois and
your mother Eunice and now, I am [fully] persuaded, [dwells] in you also.
6 That is why I would remind
you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the
[gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying
on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination].
7 For God did not give us a
spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but
[He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.
What Paul was after in Timothy's life and ministry is the
same thing God is after in your life and work for him. God encourages us to
boldly testify about the Lord and not be ashamed of the gospel and our faith in
the gospel. Paul reminded Timothy it was a part of his heritage, passed along
from his grandmother and mother. That
may or may not be the case for us, but we are still encouraged in these verses
to hold fast and be hard working and diligent for God, and to be strong in the
grace that is found in Jesus.
Read the entire letter of 2 Timothy to see the encouragement
throughout the writing. Know that God's love and mercy are extended to us in
our workings for him, and he longs for us to escape the timidity which the
world sends our way, and to stir up the spiritual gift which God has given us.
He blesses us with the spirit of power, and love, and a sound mind. That's encouragement we all need.
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