Friday 25 April 2008
- Bible Book:
- 2 Timothy
"I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favourable or unfavourable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching... As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith". (v.1-2, 6-7)
Background
In his second letter to Timothy, Paul includes lots of personalinformation. It contains great emotion and humanity from this manwho had travelled so much and worked so hard to spread the gospelamong Gentiles (non-Jews). At the time he was writing the letter,Paul was in prison and awaiting death.
The charge that Paul gives to Timothy has great resonance withdisciples of Christ today. "In season and out of season", withutmost patience, we are to keep the rumour of God alive in aculture that seems to care more about material things and celebritythan about feeding the hungry and welcoming the stranger.
But more striking is Paul's own testimony. He is facing his owndeath in circumstances that the world around him would certainlyjudge as failure. He is in prison and penniless, removed from hisfriends and condemned. Yet in his testimony there is resolution andsatisfaction. Yes, there is still work to be done and Paul caresdeeply that it should go forward, but he has confidence in the parthe has played.
This testimony should deeply challenge our anxiety about the futurein our own lives, as much as in Church and society. It is not arecommendation to be passive. It does release us, however, frommeasuring our success by the favour of the age.
To Ponder
"God grant me the serenity to accept the things Icannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and thewisdom to know the difference." What does this prayer mean in yourlife?