by Dale Sadler

Created on: September 03, 2009   Last Updated: September 12, 2009

Timothy was a young preacher who tasted the woes of that life on a regular basis. Being spirit scarred was common for him, no doubt. Paul was his mentor who worked to ensure this youthful soldier of Christ withstood the trials that Satan would put in his path. In 2 Timothy 1, Paul encourages Timothy and lays out reasons why he should continue on in the good fight.

It seems as though Paul knew Timothy was facing some sort of spiritual difficulty. He says in verse six, 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. Maybe, like us today, Timothy was growing complacent and needed to be stirred again by the realization of what was inside of him. Paul reminds Timothy throughout this chapter that Christ is who they serve and that it is He who has abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel . . . . Those who face adversity or a lack of fervor need to be reminded of this so that they do not become complacent themselves and ultimately live in fear of doing anything for Christ. God didn't send His son so that we would cower away, but rather God has enabled us to live a full life on this earth for Him. We have strong tools to endure, but from where should we pull our strength? From Christ of course, but Paul lays out the specifics as to what this actually means.

God has given us power, but it is not power in and of ourselves, it is power that comes from Him. It is an incredible thing to know that we have a Savior who loves us and who has prepared a home for us in Heaven. We sometimes get beaten down by the world, our family, and even our own inner voice that says, You are weak and worthless. Timothy may have been having a difficult time standing for what was right. Paul tells Timothy in verse eight to Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner . . . . This is common today, shame that we are Christians, but Paul tells Timothy to partake in the work regardless. The shame that will try to overtake us is common, but it is part of our sacrifice to God who has made us.

God has given us a spirit of love. This spirit can get us through the most difficult of times as we can only have it if we are in a close relationship with God who is love (1 John 4:8). Hate and apathy are the cancer that can eat at Christians and, if we are ashamed of the life we have chosen, these emotional attributes will ruin us as we move away from a position

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