Timothy

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7 KJV)

I’ve enjoyed reading of the growing relationship between Paul and Timothy. Luke speaks first of Timotheus, the Greek of the name:

Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: (Acts 16:1 KJV)

Paul salutes him in Romans, first in a list of many:

Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you. (Romans 16:21 KJV)

Paul’s epistles become personal, and loving:

Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Timothy 1:2 KJV)

To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. (2 Timothy 1:2 KJV)

The two letters Paul wrote to him would be as a loving Christian father teaching his most beloved son the depths of his faith.

Timothy had two other close examples of those who loved God:

When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. (2 Timothy 1:5 KJV)

What brought these verses to mind today is another grandmother and grandson – with a loving mother in between – who love their Lord and have shared His word. The grandmother shared it again this Christmas with a number of “You Say, God Says” cards with our excuses and verses from God’s word. She made one for each of her grandchildren. When this grandson opened his gift, he came and knelt at her chair, pointing out one verse.

“That’s my verse,” he told her. “I have it on my heart,” and he showed her the tattoo. More than just hiding His word in his heart, he displays it for his peers to see.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7 KJV)