This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I have been sent out to tell others about the life he has promised through faith in Christ Jesus. I am writing to Timothy, my dear son. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace. Timothy, I thank God for you—the God I serve with a clear conscience, just as my ancestors did. Night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. I long to see you again, for I remember your tears as we parted. And I will be filled with joy when we are together again. I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:1-7 NLT
This is the last and most personal letter Paul wrote. He was writing to Timothy, his protégé and son in the faith. Paul was on trial (again) for his life, and this time he would not survive – he would be executed by Caesar Nero, martyred for his faith and love for Jesus. As Paul looked toward his impending death, he wrote this letter to encourage Timothy (and all of us).
Timothy shed tears as they parted. Tears are part of the life of faith because we love those who share the journey with us. There is a bond in Christ that is deep and powerful. This bond is eternal, and it will outlast marriage, parenting, friendship, work, and family. In heaven, I will not be my kids’ dad anymore – we will be brothers and sisters. That perspective helps me as a parent.
Tears are part of faith and so is power. Too many Christians forget that we have the power of God inside us. God’s Spirit in us is not full of fear but full of power, love, and self-discipline. Let Jesus unleash His power in your life. You do not need to live in your own power. You are like a lamp with a power cord. Don’t live in fear – plug into the Source of unlimited power and shine brightly for Christ.
Paul looked back to the early years of Timothy’s conversion. What are your milestones of faith? In what ways is God wanting to unleash His power into your life? Tears, farewells, and death are part of the life of faith – how can you do them well?
