PROCLAMATION
“I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived
in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now
lives in you also.” 2 Timothy 1:5 (NIV)
EXPLANATION
These words were written by the apostle
Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to Timothy, his son in the
ministry, to provide him with directions and instructions. (1 Timothy 1:2) Paul begins this second letter to Timothy
with a self-introduction and Christian salutation. (2 Timothy 1:1-2) He thanks God and says that he prays for him
day and night. He also says that he
longs to see him again. (2 Timothy 1:3-4)
Then Paul tells Timothy that the sincere faith in God which he saw in
his grandmother and in his mother, he now sees in him. (2 Timothy 1:5) He encourages him to fan the flame, the gift
of God which is within him, which gives him power, love, and self-discipline.
(2 Timothy 1:6-7) Paul tells him not to
be ashamed of God or of him in his current situation chained in prison. (2
Timothy 1:8-14) He ends this first
chapter talking about those who were loyal and disloyal to him. (2 Timothy
1:15-18)
APPLICATION
Most of us acquired our religious beliefs as children
from our parents. Their instructions,
guidance, directions, and examples left a significant imprint on us. We may have rebelled as teenagers and went
our own different way as adults, but most of us retained our childhood
training. As we read and study The Bible
for ourselves and grow in knowledge and holiness, we find that some of the
things which we were taught were not Bible based. None of us will ever be perfect, but when we
know better, we should do better. The
moment that we accepted Christ, we received the indwelling of The Holy Spirit
of God and became babes in Christ. Our
growth in Christ requires an active effort on our part but the foundation is
already within us.
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