2 Timothy 1:1-8

Rachel Workman: 1 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.

The first things that stands out to me here is Paul saying he was chosen by the will of God. Paul didn't choose the life he had God chose it for him. God's will will always be carried out. No one can stand in the way of it not even us. 

² I am writing to Timothy, my dear son.

May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace. Every one of these are blessings. These are the blessings with the most value. 

³ 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. ⁴ 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.

⁵ 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. ⁶ This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. ⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. I love this. We are not given a spirit of fear and timidly but of power, love and self-disciple. It doesn't feel like it at times. But if that's where you are it's not the spirit God has given us. I for one need to keep that in mind when fear starts to creep in. 

⁸ So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News.

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Krista Cook:  I often wonder if others look at me and see me as having "genuine faith" (v.5). I pray that my faith is evident in all I say and do.  

I have these notes written about v.7 -

-use that power to fight the good fight

- use that love to be a blessing to others

- use your sound mind to choose courage

And use all these to share the saving gospel with others.

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Mike Grimm:  1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,

 ² To Timothy, my dear son:

 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

 ³ I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Although Paul and Timothy were separated from each other, their prayers provided a source of mutual encouragement. We too should pray consistently for others, especially for those who do God’s work. ⁴ Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. ⁵ I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

 ⁶ 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. ⁷ For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. Paul mentions three characteristics of the effective Christian leader: power, love, and self-discipline. These are available to use because the Holy Spirit lives in us. We must follow His leading each day so that our life will more fully exhibit these characteristics. ⁸ So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. Even when there is no persecution, it can be difficult to share our faith in Christ. Fortunately we, like Paul and Timothy, can call on the Holy Spirit to give us courage. We must never be ashamed to testify. We must never be ashamed to speak the name of Jesus Christ.