PROCLAMATION
“When
I call to remembrance the unfeigned
faith that is in thee, which dwelt in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother
Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.” 2 Timothy 1:5 (KJV)
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 we learn that
some of the things that we were taught were actually taken from The Bible but
we were not told that they were in The Bible.
For example, the “Golden Rule” is a paraphrase of The Bible verse
Matthew 7:12. Also as we grow in
knowledge and holiness, we find out 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 a continued
active effort on our part but the Christian foundation is already within us.
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