I Am Praying For You!
DAILY WORD ➖Feb.02.2019➖Pastor Sheliah
As I read the scriptures today, I thought of you! You see, when you love someone as dearly as you do a son (or a daughter), you want to impart to them all that you have experienced, so they can learn from you, and not make the same mistakes you have.
That’s how it was with Paul and his love for Timothy, who was his spiritual son, and that’s how I feel about you.
Paul had been through so much, and he just couldn’t get over the amazing love and grace of Jesus Christ toward him. He particularly wanted Timothy to understand this and to complete the work of the ministry.
He begins the letter: “To Timothy, my true child in faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord“ (1Timothy.1:2).
Rather than try to explain it in my inadequate words, here are some highlights from Paul’s 1st letter to Timothy that reflect how I am praying for you today:
➖ “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, Who has given me strength to do His work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve Him. Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord is! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus!”(1Timothy.1:12-13).
Paul continues to declare the goodness of God that has brought him to salvation in Christ:
➖ “God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of His great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in Him and receive eternal life. All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the Eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; He alone is God. Amen.” (1Timothy.1:16-17).7
The Great Mystery of Faith
We can read so much more in this wonderful letter, but he also wanted to share some of the deep secrets that God had revealed to him with Timothy. And so he wrote:
“Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith: Christ was revealed in a human body and vindicated by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and announced to the nations. He was believed in throughout the world and taken to heaven in glory.” (1Timothy.3:14-16).
“And you, Timothy, man of God: Run for your life from all evil. Pursue a righteous life➖a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. Run hard and fast in the faith. Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to, the life you so fervently embraced” (1Timothy.6:11-12).
Finally, Paul’s heart’s cry to his beloved son in the faith: “Oh, my dear son, Timothy, guard the treasure you were given! Guard it with your life. Avoid the talk-show religion and the practiced confusion of the so-called experts. People caught up in a lot of talk can miss the whole point of faith.“
“May His Overwhelming Grace keep you!” (1Timothy.6:20-21). ~ Shelia Hart Artt
http://outrageousgrace.org/praying/
