2Ti 1:3-6 “I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.”
As was noted in an earlier writing, Paul started out greatly persecuting those who followed Jesus: Paul was also a Pharisee. In the twenty-second chapter of Acts, Paul speaks of this time in his life and declares that even as he did these things, he was zealous toward God (Acts 22:2). Paul’s assertion that he served God from the days of his ancestors with a pure conscience leads back to his statement that he was zealous toward God.
Paul stated in his letter to the Romans that he was a witness to the truth that the Jews had a zeal of God (Rom 10:2). In this, he was speaking from his own experience. His prayer that they might be “saved” was made concerning their failure to acknowledge the truth about Jesus. There is a very important lesson for us here. It is entirely possible to be very zealous toward God (with a pure conscience) and be entirely wrong in the attitude of our service.
Paul had already called out this fact to Timothy in his first letter (1Ti 1:12-14). Here, Paul calls attention to the fact that none of who he used to be (regardless of how zealous he was toward God) prevented him from an earnest love to Timothy. He was able to be in constant prayer for Timothy and his welfare. Timothy was on his mind day and night.
The thing that had so deeply arrested Paul’s attention toward Timothy was not how powerfully he preached the gospel. It was not about how well thought of he was in the church. The thing that caused Paul to have such a constant remembrance of Timothy was Timothy’s unfeigned faith. This faith was something that had been seen in Timothy’s family through at least three generations.
Unlike Paul, Timothy had been raised with an example of sincere and unwavering trust in Jesus as the source of salvation. Timothy had not viewed the keeping of the law rituals as being more important than a relationship with Jesus Christ. This unfeigned faith had drawn Timothy and Paul close: so much so, that Timothy was in tears over Paul’s imprisonment and impending death. Yet Paul said he would have great joy if he could see Timothy again.
It is obvious that this situation was very heart-wrenching to Paul, to Timothy, and to Timothy’s family. I am sure we have all been in situations where circumstances surrounding those we love have brought us to tears. We have felt the joy of remembering their faithfulness and the times we have worshipped together. We have rejoiced in fellowship with families of believers, and it has been difficult to focus on the most important things.
Paul, gently and lovingly, brings Timothy back to this point. He has acknowledged the love of their relationship. He has acknowledged the heartache exists because of the current circumstances. Then, as a father, he has guided Timothy’s thoughts to their common desire.
Paul does not chide Timothy for his feelings. He rather coaches him to look beyond his feelings to the gift of God that is in him. He tells him to stir up that sincere faith. It is time to put that faith in the forefront.
We have all faced (or will face) difficult times in our lives. These seasons may pull our attention away from the powerful truth of Jesus Christ as our Savior (even in and from these difficult times). How wonderful it is to have others who love us enough to point us back to the thing that has brought us along on our journey. Refocusing (stirring up) on the gift of God that is in us is a sure way to overcome difficult seasons.
May we stir the embers of our unfeigned faith into a flame of joy and rejoicing in our Lord!
