Discover His heart: He gives us a spirit of power, love and self-discipline to keep our lives burning brightly for Him
For most of us, the idea of “Passing the Torch” immediately brings to mind the Olympics. The torch is lit in Greece, home of the first Olympics, and then is passed from runner to runner until it reaches the Olympic host city where it remains lit throughout the games. What an exhilarating experience for the last runner who carries the torch to its final destination, the Olympic Stadium. 2 Timothy is all about torch passing, certainly a somber moment for Paul.
The writing of 2 Timothy was Paul’s last words to Timothy and also to us and was written during his final imprisonment in Rome where he sat in a dungeon awaiting execution at Nero’s hand. Of all the notorious individuals from my Italian background, Nero would be right there at the top as most despicable. Needing to blame someone for the burning of Rome, he murdered Christians throughout the empire and Paul was one of his casualties. But first, Paul wrote his final letter, passing the torch of ministry to his young charge now pastoring in Ephesus.
“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…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.” (1:2-4) The God I serve with a clear conscience. Paul had no regrets in his final days, he was passing on a torch that was lit and shining brightly, and this is the responsibility of the torch bearer – to keep the flame going.
Paul continued his letter with advice for his young son in the faith on how to keep the flame going, burning and moving forward. “Never be ashamed to tell others about the Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for Him…I am not ashamed of it, for I know the One in whom I trust…” (1:8,12) Keep the flame going.
“Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus.” (1:13) Keep the flame going.
“Be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus…Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” (2:1,3) Keep the flame going.
“Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive His approval. Be a good worker..who correctly explains the word of truth (2:15) Keep the flame going.
“Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts…pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love and peace.” (2:22) Keep the flame going!
Someday the responsibility to carry the torch will be on those who follow us. Paul’s challenge to Timothy was 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.” (1:6) Fanning those flames will keep it going!
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.” (4:7) Paul’s faithfulness to God to the very end credentialed him to pass the torch, the torch that was aflame. As we live and work, in whatever we do, will those who come behind us find that we were faithful to God? Will the torch that we pass on to the next runners be burning brightly? And will we say, “I thank God for you—the God I serve with a clear conscience.”
Moving Forward: Planning to keep my flame burning today! “May all who come behind me find me faithful. May the fire of my devotion light your way.” (J. Mohr)
Tomorrow @ Numbers 9-12
Phyllis Benigas 