Skip to main content

Keep As A Pattern of Good Teaching

 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. (II Timothy 1:13-14)

                In today’s passage, Paul continues his discussion of the gifts that God had given him and Timothy. Paul was given a gift of appointment as 1) a herald, 2) an apostle, and 3) a teacher. One gift in the sense that they came together, but three gifts. We’re not limited to one. Paul also didn’t indicate what Timothy’s gift was for some reason. That’s a good thing, though. If he had mentioned that Timothy’s gift was as a pastor, anyone who doesn’t believe they’re appointed or gifted as a pastor would have a way out. Whatever good deposit has been entrusted to you, you’re to guard it and use it for God’s glory.

                Another aspect of today’s passage is that Paul wrote about his suffering. Once again, why do bad things happen to good people? Paul seemed to be one of God’s main men at this time, so why did he suffer? One reason was that, since suffering is a part of life, to teach others how to suffer. Suffering also was and is evidence that he was on the right path. There would be no reason for Satan or anyone else to attack him if he weren’t a threat. Suffering, or a close association with someone else’s suffering, is also a motivation to act. Various advocacy groups found their start in the suffering of a victim, or a family member of a victim.

                The other point in this passage is Paul’s call for Timothy to keep what he had heard from Paul as a pattern for life. That’s a bold statement. In one sense, I think we all make it. We think we’re doing things right and while we may not speak the words, we stand in judgment of those who are doing it wrong because they’re not keeping our pattern. That’s not good. On the other hand, I suspect we live in fear that anyone would decide to use us as a pattern for their life. I know I do. We don’t want the responsibility. I can’t think of anyone other than Christ that I would say, “I want to follow his/her pattern.” And the things about them I’d like to emulate are beyond my ability or have little to do with patterns of godliness. But here’s the catch. The things that Timothy was to learn and to teach weren’t all about Paul and they weren’t all of Paul. Paul’s goal to embody the teachings of Christ, and for Timothy to do the same. It wasn’t about Paul.

                And here is where I need to note something about my writing of these blogs. There are times when (as today), I just sort of drop insights. Here’s an idea. Here’s another idea. When I’m done listing them, I don’t tie things together. This was a complaint made when I was in Toastmasters as well. I’m not comfortable with what they called “calls to action.” I will argue with you until you die of boredom, but I’m not likely to conclude with “Here’s what you need to do.” I don’t want to make up your mind for you. I want to give you information – perhaps arguments – and let you make up your own mind. It's another way of saying, "Don't pattern your life around me." I suspect I need to work on that.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The List

              Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,   through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;   perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)           Think about it. We have been justified. At least, we could be justified if we stopped insisting that our justification be based on our merits. We have peace with God, or could have peace if we stopped throwing temper tantrums. We have gained access into grace i...
Post a Comment
Read more

Listen!

  While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5)            Do you like roller coasters? I don't. You spend forever climbing a hill. You get to the top and have half a second, then you race down to a low point. Sometimes the racing down involves tying your insides into knots. At the bottom, you either have to be dragged up another hill or you get off the ride. Peter's life was a roller coaster from the time he met Jesus. There would be miracles, and then Jesus would teach things that didn't always make sense, and then they'd go out and perform miracles, and return to be taught. Peter was praised for giving the right answer to "Who do you say that I am?" Jesus said that said answer came from God. Peter was at the top of the hill.            ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Prayer Lists

                 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. (I Peter 2:2-3)   In connection with what I wrote yesterday about the possibility that I’m wrong, I’m feeling the need to go back to basics - craving spiritual milk because somehow, I missed something. It’s a little embarrassing, craving milk like a newborn, but the truth probably is that we are newborns many times in many ways in our lives. From God’s perspective, we may never be anything more than newborns, forever needing that milk. On the other hand, being a newborn can also be exciting because so much is new. My mind is playing pinball - ricocheting from one idea to the next and through six more before it happens to hit the third again. The main topic is prayer. I have at least seven organizing structures all somewhat influenced by the movie War Room , which I’v...
Post a Comment
Read more