Monday 20th November
“I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:3-7)
This is a very personal prayer for a dear and loved friend and in the first verse Paul is reflecting on his spiritual family and this son in faith? Paul clearly prayed for Timothy routinely and with a great amount of thought and care. He had been at Timothy’s ‘ordination’ and had seen the Spirit of God work in Timothy’s life and he now reminds Timothy of that fact, reminds him that even in hard times when things seem to be going ‘pear shaped’ that God had provided power, love and self-control for his ministry. So, are these verses really about prayer or simply a word of encouragement, they are certainly heart felt? It seems to me that Paul is assuring Timothy that he is constantly remembering him in prayer (day & night) because he wants to see this young man’s faith grow as he uses the pastoral gift he has been given. The passage makes me ask, do I have a commitment to pray for someone in this way, someone to disciple who is part of my family of faith?
Geoff Hinch
