3 Things You Never Outgrow
There are some things in life that we enjoy for a season and then its gone. There are some things that are a part of our childhood but not our adult years, while others are not even discovered until we're older. In the midst of it all, though, in stories with everchanging characters, scenes, and props, there are constants for the Christian that never change, never go away, that we never outgrow.
Second Timothy was likely the final letter written by the Apostle Paul. It came nearly 30 years after he first encountered Christ and just before he was martyred for his faith in Christ. Even in his old age, as he was being "poured out" and his "time of departure had come," Paul still championed the same things that had first captured his heart and defined his ministry.
It's encouraging to see what this man was still passionate about so late in life.
There are three things in particular that he continued to enjoy that we today can hold onto as 3 Things We Never Outgrow:
(1) Faith in Jesus
Even though he had completed 3 missionary journeys, made disciples of the nations, faithfully endured countless sufferings, persecutions, and imprisionments for the Gospel, Paul did not boast in his experience as though he didn't need Jesus as much as he did in his early years. Even the mature Paul wrote out of a great dependence on Jesus. His faith was not in himself, but in Christ. Paul knew that the Lord was the one who would carry him through. The Lord would be the one to give him strength, provision, and endurance. The Lord would remain the source of his power and hope.
"I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me" (1:12).
"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control" (1:7).
"There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing" (4:8).
"The Lord stood by me and strengthened me" (4:17).
"The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen" (4:18).
(2) Love for the Word of God & Gospel of Christ
Paul apparently never tired of Scripture. It didn't bore him. It captivated his heart. He delighted in the Word of God. He lived for the Glory of God through the prolcamation of the Gospel of Christ, for no matter how old we are or how many years we've known the Lord, we never outgrow the powerful Word of God. We are never too old to enjoy the Gospel.
"Do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord" (1:8).
"...our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed" (1:10-11).
"What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2:2).
"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work" (3:14-17).
(3) A Gospel Family
That Paul valued a Gospel Community is seen simply in the fact that he is writing Timothy. Paul, writing from prison, perhaps days away from being killed for his faith, still finds it worthwhile to write the young pastor whom he affectionately calls, "My beloved child." Throughout the letter, it is clear that Paul embraced the church family and continued, even late in life, to enjoy Christian fellowship. For him, sharing life was a part of the Christian life. For him, healthy, edifying, Gospel relationships were things he never outgrew.
"I thank God...as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy" (1:3-4).
"May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me" (1:16-17).
"Do your best to come to me soon" (4:9).
"Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry" (4:11).
"Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus" (4:19).
"Do your best to come before winter" (4:21).
Many things will come and go, but as Christians, let us follow the example of Paul and spend all of our days, no matter how young or old we are, championing and valuing faith, Gospel, and community.
Jonathan Williams is the founder of Gospel Family Ministries, the author of Gospel Family, and the Senior Pastor of Wilcrest Baptist Church, a multi-ethnic church of 44 nations located in Houston, TX. He and his wife are blessed with three wonderful children.
