Begin with 2 minutes of silence and stillness before God.

In 2 Timothy 4:5, Paul encourages young Timothy with this solemn reminder. “But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” 2 Timothy 4:5.

"Be sober" in the different versions of the Bible was translated to keep your head, be calm and cool, be clear of mind, and be watchful. This was the first part of Paul’s encouragement for Timothy.

Endure hardships. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. This part of the verse was warning Timothy that through his faithfulness and ministry, it would not be easy. He would often be criticized and admonished for his faith; chastised and rebuked. Suffer and endure anyway.

When I looked up what is meant by being an evangelist, there are two things besides sharing the gospel and ministering to the lost. Those two things are for us to correct with compassion and encourage with hope. It is easy to preach “at” someone and tell them all the things they are doing wrong, but how much sweeter the reward is if you correct with compassion and encourage them with hope. The last thing a lost sinner needs is more discouragement.

In this 4th Chapter of 2 Timothy, we are being instructed to fulfill our ministries. Have you ever stopped to really search for what your ministry entails? For some, it may be made known and very clear but for others, it may take careful reflection, prayer, and even discernment to be sure that we are wanting the same things that God wants for us.

I attended the funeral of a very dear friend this past weekend and her charge for the pastor was to challenge all who attended to get ready. For none of us know the very hour that we will be called home. His common thread throughout the message was how if we want what God wants aligns with what God wants, not even the work of the enemy can stop those plans. He spoke about how even before Zacchaeus needed a tree to climb up to see Jesus, the seed had been planted in that very spot. Have you ever really stopped to think about how many minute details have come into place so that you would be at this very place at this very moment?

When I think of meeting Jesus face-to-face, the one most certain thing that I hope to hear Him say is, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21).

Take 2 minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• Reflect on what your ministry looks like. In what ways do you evangelize others?
• Are you careful to stay calm and clear-minded? Are you prepared to endure hardships for the sake of suffering for Kingdom work?
• Prayer: Dear God, thank You for the lessons we can learn from Paul and Timothy on being faithful servants. Help us to be bold in our efforts to reach out to others. Help us to love them with compassion and to encourage them with hope. Amen.

Family Devo: 2 Timothy 4

By: Kaylee Collins

When partnering with your family to know, love, and follow Jesus, we strive to create and share content filtered by the Head-Heart-Hands model.  

Head: the knowledge of God and His Word | Heart: the personal connection from scripture | Hands: a missional mindset  

Head

Throughout this last chapter of 2 Timothy, Paul is writing his final instructions to Timothy. As Paul is approaching the end of his life here on Earth, he strongly advises Timothy to preach the word of God to others. He instructs him to be patient with his people as he corrects and encourages them. A time is coming when people will listen to their own desires instead of listening to the teachings of the Bible. They will hear only what they want to hear rather than what is actually true and good. Therefore, Paul urges Timothy to keep a clear mind in every situation and to continue teaching the Good News no matter what happens.  

Heart

In today’s culture, we are surrounded by numerous ideas and actions that go against the teachings of God. With today’s technology, we have very quick access to all kinds of information whether we want to see it or not. This plays a big role in our exposure to the evil desires of the world whether it’s through social media, radio stations, movies/T.V. shows, music, etc. No matter what, we will continue to encounter these worldly ideas and be surrounded by people who have fallen into this trap of sin. So, what can we do as Christians to keep a clear mind of the truth so that we can also teach others about God? Spending time in scripture and prayer will help us to remain focused on God’s Word versus what the world wants us to believe.  

Hands

Take a moment to reflect on how you normally respond when faced with the evil desires of this world. Ask God for strength and a clear mind so that in times of trial, you can remain focused on Him.  

Prayer: Dear God, thank You for the example of Paul and Timothy. Help us to keep a clear mind and to stay focused on You in every situation. Help us not to let the evil ideas of this world consume us but help us to be a reflection of You. Help us to be patient with others as we encourage them to follow Your truth.