Christian family, I hope and pray all is well. In 2 Tim we find the last epistle written by Paul directed to this younger brother in Christ named Timothy for encouragement, instruction, affirmation, warning, concerning the expected end for the lives of obedient Christians. The word “thou” [ you that refers to a singular individual] is found 18x. For ex; “that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee”, “be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord”, “thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in CJ”, “thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of JC”, “continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of”, “but watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry”. These verses stand out to me because of the last thing Paul mentioned to him in Ch 4. 2 Tim 4:16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. He stated earlier in vs.10 that “Demas hath forsaken me”, “Crescens to Galatia & Titus unto Dalmatia”. In vs.11 he said, “Only Luke is with me”. What is the point you may ask? Serving the Lord does not guarantee people will stay by your side the whole way through your ministry. At some point we must accept the fact that this faith must be strengthened by ourselves in the Lord without allowing the faults/failures/ disappointments of others to hinder us from serving Him. In the end of the day, although I may fail you at some point, your pastor may fail you, the members of your church, your family, the Lord will always stand by your side, vs.17 “ Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known” to keep you strengthened for His work to preach the gospel. Do your best to maintain friendships, maintain discipleship with others, as well as forgive others. When we find ourselves as the fault which stumbled others in their walk, ask for forgiveness. Do not be discouraged when you do not see the results immediately, or the falling away of results from the past. Be encouraged to know the One who saved from the first, will stand with you unto the end to finish strong on His behalf. In love- Bro Carlos
