2026-07-12: 2 Timothy: Discipleship: God’s Power and Love ‘s Courage and Self-Discipline
I just accepted an invitation to my 40 year High School Reunion… no way… way. It’s caused me to reflect: what have I lived my life for? Lots of striving and achieving, some investing, many times just surviving… The word that rose to the surface in my heart was ‘Gratitude.’
I realized it’s not so much what I’ve achieved as much as what I’ve received. So whether God gives me 40 more years or 4 months more of life, here is what I want to lean into: Instead of more striving, more surrender. Rather than more money, more gratitude. Instead of more whatever, or other of anything or anyone, more of Jesus. And for sure, the priorities of marriage and family rise to the top of the ‘investment’ goals with the time and energy God gives me for the future, including today. Gratitude.
Sunday, we begin in earnest our deeper dive into the letter of Paul to Timothy (2nd Timothy). It’s a masterpiece writing putting the art of discipleship, a central calling for all followers of Jesus, on display. Our focus will be chapter 1, highlighting vs.6-12, and a central image of ‘fanning the flames’ of the gift of God. Looking forward to what God will reveal to us through Paul in his letter to Timothy, his disciple, a follower of Jesus.
It may seem odd and of poor taste, even insensitive, to encourage us to ‘fan the flames’ in the midst of so much tragic wildfire activity in Colorado. Yet, God encourages us, Paul implores us, to ‘fan the flames’ of God’s good gifts. So let’s add fuel to the fire (kindling), and let the wind (oxygen) of the Holy Spirit blow…
See you Sunday,
Mark (who is old now and going to his 40 year HS Reunion very soon…)