Sonship

Paul referred to Timothy as his son on many occasions. Why?

I think it was love, genuine love of Timothy. He desired to see him grow, learn, succeed. He disciplined and encouraged Timothy like any father would.

^{Romans 8:14-17} because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. ¹⁵For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

You are a son, an heir, of God's. He loves you. God sent His son Jesus to die for you.

Abba Father (written by Shaun Groves)

Legacy

Described at dictionary.com as anything handed down from an ancestor or predecessor. As a culture we don't often talk about our legacies. What have you been handed?

Maybe two generations ago, the idea of leaving something to your children for financial or material gain was a top priority in financial planning. Today, even that mentality isn't evident in our society. We talk of diseases like diabetes, heart disease and alcoholism that run in our blood lines. We mention eye, skin and hair color and which side of the family they are from.

One of my favorite verses is about Timothy and the legacy that had been left to him.

^{2 Timothy 1:5}I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

Faith, handed down from one generation to the next, then to Timothy who helped strengthen and grow the Christian church.

I admire Lois and desire to pass that same faith to my children. Besides their curly hair and olive skin I want to pass to them a faith that changes the world. If I were to ask for a legacy to leave my children I would ask God this : Lord, may I ignite a fire in my children to love you, trust you, desire you and know you. May their faith, which started with me, bring you glory and honor. May their faith be tools to change the world around them.

^{2 Timothy 1:6}-7 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Please share any prayer requests you may have to be posted in tomorrows devotional. womenofworship1@gmail.com

Unity

Do you compete your ministry with the ministries of others? Who has the best attendance? Who is bringing more people to Christ? Who is sending out the most disciples? Who has the strongest prayer meetings?

Do you ever keep your ministry plans secret so no one else will find them out or steal them?

I read a recent quote that said: Would you be upset if someone else's ministry was God's answer to your prayer?

It is pretty evident that Paul shared every secret he had with Timothy. He mentored him, loved him and showed him all the ways he knew to serve and grow in ministry. He warned him of pitfalls, encouraged Timothy in weakness, reminded him of his goal. Paul was the kind of leader we should all set out to be. He was a leader that new that his purpose, the purpose of his ministry and the purpose of those who learned from him was to spread the gospel message.

^{2 Timothy 1:8-10}So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

A spirit of unity. No need to compete, no need to be self-serving. A genuine desire to share knowledge so that it may be passed from one generation to the next, from one ministry to the next. We aren't playing a game. Our Savior is coming back for those that are set apart for Him.

Are we so busy making sure our own competitive needs are met that we overlook the joy in all that may potentially share in His glorious riches?

Failure

Sometimes we don't get it right. Sometimes we completely miss the mark. Sometimes our best laid plans fall flat and don't do what we expect.

I am not a big fan of failure. In fact, I avoid doing some things in my life because of the "what if I fail" thoughts that go through my mind. I don't know what it is that I am so afraid of. Being frozen in life over such an irrational fear is frustrating. I know deep down that by not doing what I am called, I am sitting stagnant, neither able to fail or succeed. Everyone must fail.

At some point we all will fail. We need to learn from failure. We need to know what it means to deal with the disappoint. We have to grasp that all failure is the step in a process of becoming who we are intended to be.

Timothy failed. Not in a huge way, but he went out to Corith carrying Paul's message. Corinth didn't really respond.

^{1 Corinthians 4:14-17} I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me. For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

Here is a man that was loved by God and by Paul and yet he still didn't accomplish what he was sent to do. Do you think this had an effect on Timothy? I am sure it did. Just as the failures in my life have changed me. The older I get the more I understand the need to grasp my failures as strongly as my successes. Learn from them, allow them to build on my character and try again. Timothy was sent out many times and Paul continued to trust and guide him.

May I encourage you today to take the step you are afraid of. May I remind you to pick up friends that may be in the midst of failing and give the guidance and encouragement they need. Don't give up on yourself or others when failure is part of the plan.

Character

How do you know if a person has the potential to be great? Let me introduce you to Timothy.

^{Acts 16:1}-5 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra And a disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek, and he was well spoken of by the brethren who were in Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted this man to go with him; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. Now while they were passing through the cities, they were delivering the decrees which had been decided upon by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem, for them to observe. So the churches were being strengthened in the faith, and were increasing in number daily.

Immediately we learn of Timothy's mother, giving her a place of honor. She was leaving a legacy of her parenting by the character that was evident in Timothy. Are you raising up and training your children the way they should go? Do you build in them a confidence in scripture and their faith so that even at a young age they would be willing to stand for what they believe?

Second, we find that he was a man of reputation. While I know it would be great if we didn't have to worry about what other people think of us, truth is, our reputations help tell our story. The way we choose to love, forgive and interact with our neighbors, co-workers and friends tell people a story of who we are.

Last but not least we get a glimpse of Timothy's willingness to sacrifice. Because the Law has been fulfilled by Christ he didn't need to be circumsised. Timothy understood the mission field he was being called to. He didn't have to in order to fulfill any law but did it to be in the world he was ministering to. Timothy didn't want to give anyone a reason to turn from the Truth he was sharing so he chose to sacrifice. What are you willing to sacrifice in order to be active in the mission God has called you to?

Timothy's character was rewarded with the strength and growth in the church.

Heavenly Father,
Reveal to me Lord the character and reputation you wish to see in my life. Show me father the mission field you bring me to and show me the ways I can better be a minster. Show me the places I need to sacrifice. Lord, I desire to love and serve you for what you have given me in grace. Remind me Father that when I proclaim your name, I am representing you. ~In Jesus Holy Name