Great Impact

2 Timothy 1:1-7 >>
Greetings from Paul

1 This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I have been sent out to tell others about the life he has promised through faith in Christ Jesus.

2 I am writing to Timothy, my dear son.

May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.

Encouragement to Be Faithful

3 Timothy, I thank God for you—the God I serve with a clear conscience, just as my ancestors did. Night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 I long to see you again, for I remember your tears as we parted. And I will be filled with joy when we are together again.

5 I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. 6 This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

—

1. From the verses read, the people that influenced and disciplined Timothy are Paul, his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois.
2. Reflecting upon myself personally, the strongest influence in my life are my parents (mentors too and strong women of God that I respect…but a LOT of influence is from my parents). They influenced me to hae a love of God and His people, and to not go with the flow but hear and obey God’s voice. The fruit of it is that I serve the Lord enthusiastically and love Him dearly! I am becoming closer to God by that influence.A fter I finish meditating on today’s devotional I should apologize to my grandma if I was being disrespectful this morning!

Mentoring (Leading Others)

2 Timothy 4:1-5
1In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

—

1. When I see friends doing the wrong thing, I will usually say a comment of disapproval. When I see something wrong, as a believer, I must step in. But I must do it in LOVE, with the right motivation – not out of self-righteousness but love and compassion. So in doing so, I must encourage also!
2. A good way to confront someone and motivate them is to be a good example yourself first (“walk the talk”) and also to do it without judging or criticizing. We may not have all the information so we should try to be understanding and encouraging so they can know that we care and are not just there to condemn them.

Mentoring (Leading Others)

2 Timothy 4:1-5 >>

1In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:

2Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
–

God, answer the questions below, honestly before the Lord:

1. What I usually do when I see my friends doing things that are not right, is that I tell them to stop, but sometimes I don’t. From the verses above, I learned that as a believer, when I see something wrong, I need to be ready at all times to correct, rebuke and encourage.

2. A good way to confront someone and motivate them is to love them at all times first so that will establish your general goodwill for them, so that they do not misinterpret your intent as ill will. Also do it at a proper time and don’t say things brashly, but kindly.

 

 

MAKE CHRIST YOUR MENTOR; & BECOME AN EXAMPLE TO OTHERS

Tuesday, 17 March 2009

1 Timothy 4:12-16 >>

12 Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. 13 Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them.

14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. 15 Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.

[C] – CONTEMPLATE / MEDITATE ON:

To help you in meditating on God’s word, answer the questions below honestly before God and yourself:

1. All along, there have been several people who have become my mentor or has influenced me in the way I dress, speak, and act. They are ka Spica and Tina, and my parents and church coordinators and pastors and other spiritual leaders.
2. In what ways that I could be a mentor? [verse 12] By being an example in what I say, in the way I live, in my love, my faith, and my purity. But Until I get there, I’ll focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them [verse 13].