GENUINE FAITH

2 Timothy is the last letter we know of that was written by Paul and it is a personal letter to a fellow servant of the Lord, Timothy. I think the age difference is that of father to son but in Christ they are on the same page and there was a close and emotional bond. In 1 Corinthians 3 and 4 we see them working together. Paul was the wise master builder and from 1 Cor. 4:16 we read that Paul wanted the believers in Corinth to imitate him and for that reason he was sending Timothy. Timothy’s job would not be easy but the message was clear for Paul states in verse 4:17 that Timothy was to remind them of Paul’s ways in Christ, which he had taught everywhere in every church.

In this personal letter to Timothy Paul speaks of something that must have been very dear to Timothy and that was the testimony of his grandmother Lois, and his mother Eunice, two Jewish women who had put their trust in the Lord Jesus in such a way that Paul describes their faith as being genuine and he is persuaded this genuine faith resides in Timothy also. Seems to me what Paul has in mind here is the faith described in Galatians 2:20 “and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God.” Scripture tells us that “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.” Since He is our ever-present help should we not have an ever present abiding trusting faith in Him? Listening to a message from Warren Wiersbe he told of a friend who had a note under the glass at the corner of his desk that read “Faith, is living without scheming”. On a personal note my mother was called home early and our two daughters never knew her and her name is Eunice. She had a genuine and reverent faith that has lived on and her granddaughters and great grandchildren are looking forward to meeting her for the first time.

In verse 9, we see Paul and Timothy by using the word us are on the same page by being saved (by faith) and called (living by faith) a holy calling and this is true for us as believers also. We also read in Phil. 3:14 of a high calling and in Heb. 3:1 of a heavenly calling. In Ephesians, we read how that we were once dead in trespasses and sins but now are made alive together with Christ. We know from 1 John we cannot reach sinless perfection but it is truly a privilege for those who were once without hope and lost to be called with a holy calling and something we should be ever mindful of and thankful.