Today's Reading:
1 Timothy 1,2,3,4
Scripture
Timothy, my son, here are my instructions for you, based on the prophetic words spoken about you earlier. May they help you fight well in the Lord’s battles. Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. (1 Timothy 1: 18-19)
Observation
In this book, Paul writes to Timothy and gives instructions and guidance from his many years of experience in ministering to people in many different countries. He wanted to make sure the baton handed off well from mentor to mentee. Paul didn’t want his knowledge to die with him, he wanted to hand it off to the next generation so that the work of the ministry transferred well and was strong for the future. Paul called Timothy his true son in the faith and prepared him for the battles ahead. He encouraged him and passed down as much information as possible to set him up to continue the ministry where he left off.
Application
It’s important to set up future generations so that the work of the ministry continues. And not just continue but thrive and grow. In the 1830s, in the sleepy town of Hilo, Hawaii one of the world’s biggest revivals took place. The missionary, Titus Coan, arrived from New England and started ministering on the Big Island of Hawaii. Over the next few years the small congregation of Haili Church, which at one point had as few as 36 members, exploded to over 4000. When I first heard about Coan I was surprised that I had never heard of him or the Haili Church. Why was that? It’s because once he left the islands the church returned to its prior size and influence. Coan didn’t pass the baton well and the story of Haili Church and Titus Coan is now only remembered by scholars and academics. We must pass along our knowledge and experience to the next generation so that they can pick up where we left off and take it to the next level. Our legacy must be that we left the ministry in a better place than when we arrived and we passed the baton well so the generations to come can see revival.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Please help me to train and develop the next generation to prepare them for the battle ahead. I hope to encourage the very best out of them so that Your ministry will thrive and grow even after I’m gone. I want to pass the baton well so that many, many others will come to know You as their Lord and Savior. In Jesus name, Amen
