20060124
    Today begins our study of the last of Paul’s three pastoral letters, 2 Timothy. The circumstances of Paul’s writing of 2 Timothy are significantly different than when he wrote 1 Timothy, so the focus and tone of the letter are also quite different. A good reference to the circumstance of the writing of Paul’s three pastoral letters can be found in the People’s Bible Commentary on 1&2 Timothy and Titus available from the WELS Northwest Publishing House. Also, here is the BibleGateway.com commentary on 2 Timothy.
    Paul’s initial concern for Timothy is not his own imprisonment, or even so much Timothy’s wellbeing, instead it is for the bold preaching of the Gospel of Christ. As Paul sits in chains in Rome (he was executed sometime after writing this letter), his greatest concern is that Timothy continues to carry out the mission of pastor that Paul himself selected Timothy for.
    How many of us have the same dedication to the Gospel? The question is rhetorical, but we should all consider the example left to us of perseverance in the Gospel by Paul and Timothy. Paul persevered in his writing and preaching, even while in chains and threatened with death. Timothy persevered in preaching even while the leaders of his church were being hunted down and slaughtered by the Romans.
    How then, can any of us justify allowing the events of our daily lives here in this nation eclipse our faithfulness to our one important mission as Christians? This is the test for the modern American Christian that we persevere, not in the face of torture and death, but in the face of freedom and plenty.
DLH
It’s amazing that we have Christians who are being persecuted in their countries praying for *us*, who live in the land of plenty. The life of ease can be a trap for Christians to become lazy and negligent in our faith. We have certainly been blessed by God, but have allowed ourselved to grow farther from God instead of closer.