Luke 17:5-10, Psalm 37:1-9, and 2 Timothy 1:1-14
In two weeks, we will be voting to select a key leader for the City of Red Deer. Thankfully, I have church members who have been sharing information about candidates with me. Unfortunately, I don’t have a voting right, so I’ll pray that God will choose the workers He needs. I hope you vote for leaders who will carry out God’s will and plan.
2 Timothy is a letter from the Apostle Paul to Timothy while he was imprisoned in Rome. Paul expected his death to be imminent. When a person’s life comes to an end, what do they think about the most? I remember meeting people who regretted not loving more and regretted not forgiving someone. At the same time, some calmly accepted death and prepared for their own funeral. The important thing is that this is a time when we must strive to spend it very truthfully and worthily. The Apostle Paul also warned his beloved disciple Timothy of the coming persecution from Judaism and attacks on the church from the world. To overcome such crises, he urges Timothy to have faith and love and to abide in God’s power and grace.
Around 64 AD, when this letter was written, there was a great fire in the city of Rome. When faced with a national disaster, foolish leaders tend to place the blame on the most vulnerable groups in society. In the face of difficult-to-survive disasters like earthquakes and fires, Christians are accused of being the culprits. So, the Roman emperor Nero severely persecuted Christians throughout the Roman Empire. Eventually, Paul was imprisoned in Rome for the second time. He was sentenced to death. He was unjustly accused and had to wait for the execution date. In the face of death, he was deeply concerned about Timothy. What do we need when faced with a life crisis or a crisis of faith?
First, Paul speaks of the importance of God’s power, love, and self-discipline. “7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.” God gives salvation to those who believe. Through the gospel, we receive the power to obtain salvation (Rom 1:16). Next, love has the power to overcome fear. When I was in elementary school, my grandparents loved me very much. However, my older sister, who is three years older than I, has never been happy about the fact that I am loved more than girls just because I am a boy. That was the Korean culture at the time—the elderly preferred boys over girls. So, I don’t actually remember much, but when I was little, my older sister would often scold me, and then apologize to me when she became an adult. By the way, when I was in elementary school, I was beaten up once by some older kids in the neighborhood. At this time, my older sister went out and fiercely protested to the neighborhood’s older brothers and scolded them. They were older and stronger than her, but I just relied on her. I guess my sister was probably scared, too, but she was brave enough to come forward because she loved me. In this way, love drives out fear. Yes, God’s power and love give us the strength to overcome persecution. God’s love and power invite us to understand the incomprehensible. That love brought us together, and that love forms the foundation of our Knox Presbyterian Church. Therefore, dear beloved, let us remember verses 13 and 14. “13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” Let us live with the faith and love that the Lord gives us. May we keep becoming a church through the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. Let us cultivate the world so that it can please the Lord.
Why should we do this? Because God has commanded us, as Luke and the Psalmist mention. Because we are simply servants of the Lord who do what we are commanded to do. “4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord. Trust in him and he will do this: 6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.” Just as Jesus served us with God’s love and power, let us follow the Lord’s commands and say “Amen.” When we genuinely believe in and follow the Lord, He gives us faith, just as the apostles confessed. Grant us the faith to enjoy God’s power and grace fully. We too can request like the apostles. And with that ability, I earnestly hope that we will become people who illuminate the world like Jesus.