There’s what you’re doing and there’s who you’re doing it with.
The relationship between Paul and Timothy is a fascinating one based on what we pick up in Acts and some of the church letters that Paul writes. There are, of course, the two letters that Paul writes to Timothy and what they say about what Paul sees as important in the development and operation of the Body of Christ. Particularly fascinating to read these as they’re given to a young man in essence to go among people of different ages and personalities and engage with them in a way to get them in line with the apostolic instruction motivated by the Spirit of God so that the church reflects Jesus within their community and to the wider world.
There’s a part in Paul’s secnod letter to Timothy that I’ve always found intriguing and it’s located right after Paul strongly encourages Timothy to ensure that he’s not taken with fables and tales but rooted in the truths of the gospel.
So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
2 Timothy 2:20
Paul shows an awareness of the youthful passions that can potentially drag Timothy away from his call in Christ and the character he is to develop in Christ. Paul’s encouragement to his son in the faith is not just to avoid those passions it’s about what he makes his passions in their place. Namely from youthful passions to heavenly ones.
Timothy is to be known as a man who is passionately in pursuit of righteousness as he endeavours to do and be everything pleasing to God. Timothy is to be known as a man who is passionately in pursuit of faith as he grows in the connection to the Father through the Son by the Spirit that illuminates his life and allows him to complete his divine calling. Timothy is to be known as a man who is passionately in pursuit of love as defined and exhibited by the Lord Jesus Christ – love that sacrifices to serve in a bid to support people in seeing the greatness of God. Timothy is to be known as a man who is passionately in pursuit of peace the kind he knows from his time with Paul who understood that the peace of God is not the peace of the world, but a wholeness, vibrancy and fullness that enables and enriches because it’s based on righteousness, faith and love that flows from the heart of God.
That’s the reputation Timothy is to have in contrast to the world around him that are in pursuit of other things from old wives’ tales to youthful passions. Yet it’s not enough that Timothy has those ambitions and pursuits, implicit in those things are how they are worked out in relationship with others – others who are like-minded in those pursuits. Not that they’re the same people or conform to a certain dress code or other superficial markings. The people may have a wide range of personality types and cultural tastes, but that which is more important to them is that pursuit of righteousness, faith, love and peace. Timothy is not a sole exhibitor of this pursuit – he’s connected to others who are likewise eager to receive these heavenly qualities and then practice these godly attributes.
From Paul and Timothy we consider our own day. Those qualities remain the top priority for anyone who looks to follow Jesus. They remain the most important things that are worth going after. How often are we convinced about these truths? How often are we challenged to make these our priority pursuits? How often are we mindful to pursue these alongside like-minded people?
What are you doing and who are you doing it with?
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 