Key verse: For God hath
not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a
sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).
Adoniran
Judson, an American missionary, was jailed in Burma because of his
stand for Christ. His ankles were chained, while his feet were bound to a
bamboo pole. Yet, he was not perturbed. His conviction about Christ
gave him a fulfilled and utmost joy to suffer for righteousness. A
fellow prisoner, with a sneer, however, asked: “Dr. Judson, what about
the prospect of the conversion of the heathen?” With undisturbed inner
peace and delight, Judson replied: “The prospects are just as bright as
the promises of God.”
This aptly explains Paul’s situation,
who, at the time he wrote this second letter to Timothy, was already in
prison, awaiting conviction. Yet, he never bemoaned his circumstances.
For some people, it could be a litany of complaints about their
predicament. They might even say: “Look at my life. I have served the
Lord all my life, but see where I have found myself now, only waiting to
die unjustly at the hands of pagans and God could not do anything.”
That was not for Paul. Rather, he
profoundly regaled his apostleship, noting that it was by the will of
God. Some people have the promise of death, which is of Satan, who came
to steal, to kill and to destroy. For such people, Satan is at the
driver’s seat in their lives.
For Paul, God is the centrality of his
existence. That was why, in spite of his challenges, he could still
pray for Timothy, commending his godly virtues. Paul appreciated
Timothy’s sincere and heart-felt conviction about Christ. Rather than
bewail his own dilemma, which could make some people get discouraged in
following Christ, Paul enjoined Timothy to “stir up the gift of God” in
him.
How do you handle the challenges of
life? Is your relationship with God self-serving or Christ-honouring?
Are you a source of succour to brethren with daunting challenges? Ponder
on these things and endeavour to become a channel of blessing to all.
Thought for today: The
only way to learn strong faith is to endure great trials.
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