Bible Stories for the Young
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You probably remember Timothy as a young man who traveled with Paul as they spread the Good News. He followed Paul’s lead and stuck with Paul through thick and thin.
But Paul was now counting on Timothy to not just be a good follower, but to be a good leader by helping take care of God’s sheep. So Paul, who wasn’t with Timothy at the time, wrote him a personal letter.
Paul starts his letter getting right to the point, “Timothy, stay in Ephesus and tell certain people to stop spreading unTrue teaching about Jesus. The goal of our instruction is Love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. Some people have wandered away from those things and have turned instead to no-good talk, talk, talk. They are trying to teach others, but they don’t even know what they’re talking about.
“God has trusted me to declare His Glorious Good News! I’m so grateful to the Anointed Jesus our Lord who gives me strength. He came into the world to save sinners—and I’m the worst of the worst.
“Why was I treated with mercy? So that Jesus could use me as an example to show how patient He is with people, since I’m the worst.
“Let there be honor and glory forever to the Eternal King, who is forever-living, invisible, the only God!
“Now, Timothy, my dear child, it’s time to wage war. Fight the Good Fight!” (And then Paul called out by name a couple fellas who were being trouble, trouble, trouble.)
Paul was one of those people we told you about whose assignment from God was to help train God’s Family how to use God’s spiritual tools—so he’s not only helping Timothy know how to deal with the people talking foolish trickery, but he also goes on to tell Timothy how to help people build their lives on the rock solid foundation of Jesus Life.
“Tell everyone to pray for all people... and give thanks to Jesus for all people, even for our kings and those who are in authority. (Paul said that because sometimes people don’t feel grateful for their “bosses” in life.) Such prayer for everyone is good and welcomed by God, since He wants all people everywhere to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
“Also, women should dress appropriately and modestly with self-control. They should pretty themselves by putting on good deeds (not fancy clothes and jewels).
“And if someone wants to watch over God’s sheep and be a servant in God’s household, then they need to be qualified for the Task of leading.
“Until I come, give attention to reading of scripture out loud for others to hear, and teach and warn people. Be kind toward everyone, able to teach, patient, correcting opposers with gentleness. Appeal to an older man as a father. Speak to younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters—with complete purity.”
And Paul gave special instructions for widows, and slaves, and rich people.
And Paul told Timothy WHY he was telling him these things. He said, “I’m writing to let you know how people should be in the Household of God, because it is the Ekklesia, the Community of the Living God, the Pillar and Foundation of Truth.”
So many people and false religions argue over what God’s Truth is. And that was happening back then, too. So notice what Paul says about Truth. The foundation and the support for Truth is the Community of God, the Ekklesia.
Hmmm. Why didn’t Paul say the scriptures are the foundation and support for Truth? Now while Paul later told Timothy to be very devoted to reading the scriptures because they are super duper valuable (we all know that too, don’t we?)... but Paul says it is the Community of God’s Life that is the support for Truth, the foundation... because God’s stuff is supernatural stuff that you can’t just figure out by reading enough or knowing enough in your brain. You gotta live it to know it.
You have to be reborn and living His Life to really Know Truth, because Jesus IS the Truth. And His new Covenant doesn’t give us rules from a book. It gives us a LIFE with and In Him—lived out Together every day with all His Family. THAT is Ekklesia/Church life/Christ life. And God designed it so that Truth is known as we live out that supernatural together Christ-life. The daily life that we live together as Christians is the support and foundation of Truth. There’s a saying, “Truth be told”... but Paul is saying, ”Let truth be lived!”
“The Spirit clearly tells us that some people will leave their faith because they chose to busy, busy, busy themselves with deceiving spirits and teaching from demons, letting in the seeds of two-faced tricksters and liars whose consciences have been burned like with a hot iron.”
(When skin is burned badly, it loses its ability to feel pain in that spot. It dies. So a conscience that has been seared or burned means that someone has ignored their conscience so many times and so badly that they no longer feel bad about their wrongdoing. That’s why I’ve reminded you so many times to not ignore that yucky or bad feeling when you sin. Those are crimes against God, and they make your heart feel dark inside because they are dark. That pain or darkness you feel when you sin is a gift from Him—like a whisper to you telling you that you need to turn around and go His direction. Don’t lose that help from God by pushing away the bad feelings until your conscience is burned and can’t feel anymore. That’s baaad news. Instead, when you sin, turn to God and tell Him you’re sorry. Then your conscience will be able to feel again.)
“Timothy, by pointing out such things to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ, having fed yourself on the healthy words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. Command and Teach these things. And don’t let anyone look down on you because you’re young, but set an example for the believers in your speech, behavior, love, faithfulness, and purity. Do this and be absorbed in these things so that everyone will see you grow in Christ. Be careful how you live and what you teach, and hold strong—for yourself and others.”
Did you notice HOW Paul is training Timothy to be a leader? Paul didn’t tell Timothy to boss people around or to shout out, “Hey everyone, Paul says I’m a leader, so you need to listen to me.” No... Instead, Paul tells Timothy to become more and more like Christ, being a godly example to others. Because to be a good leader of Christ the Anointed, you need to be a good follower of the Anointed.
Because you gotta live it to know it, and then if you know it, then show it!