What do you do when your third grandchild doesn’t settle to the same bedtime songs as his older brother and cousin? You reframe Jesus Loves Me, Jesus Loves The Little Children, and This Little Light of Mine to the tune of Hey Diddle Diddle. There are several soft crinkly baby books in my Lolly Bus hanging above the car seats, and from the beginning, Timothy was drawn to this particular one. It entertains him or calms him on drives to the zoo or short trips across town. My brain is so hardwired to hymns and Sunday school songs that I struggle each time to remember the tune. Often I have to ask his mama to remind me before I can start. Each time he settles almost immediately.
Timothy Joseph’s name comes from my daughter’s daily Bible reading and from my husband, her daddy. When she was pregnant and choosing his name, she and her husband agreed on his Bible name and since their firstborn shared his dad’s father’s middle name, Timothy would have his mom’s. He has two strong Bible names, just like his daddy. It was an unexpected honor for Poppy and I find myself using both names just so he regularly hears his namesake. Still, he is already his own little man, attacking life full steam ahead, volume set to maximum, knowing exactly what he wants and how to get it. Spending time with him is pure joy and I look forward to his being mobile soon because I won’t be able to lift him much longer! Except my Papa always said when mine were little that if you can lift the calf you can lift the cow.
I read Paul’s letters to Timothy while my daughter was pregnant and again recently. (I & II Timothy) I spent a good deal of time pondering what this new little one would be like. Never could I have imagined all that he is or will be, only God knows that, (Psalm 139:13-16) so I’m certain to be off on imagining his other namesake, Biblical Timothy. We read that his father was Greek but he had a Jewish mother who had placed her faith in Jesus as the Christ. Timothy was well thought of, wellknown, and highly respected among the believers in his hometown and the surrounding areas, so much so that the apostle Paul recruited him on his missionary journeys and often left him behind to encourage fledgling churches in his absence. (Acts 16:1-2) During the remainder of his life, Paul referred to Timothy as a true son in the faith and to himself as Timothy’s spiritual father.
“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.”
2 Timothy 1:5 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2ti.1.5.NLT
“Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.”
2 Timothy 1:13-14 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2ti.1.13-14.NLT
“Let no one look down on [you because of] your youth, but be an example and set a pattern for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in [moral] purity.”
1 Timothy 4:12 AMP
https://bible.com/bible/1588/1ti.4.12.AMP
“And don’t be intimidated by those who are older than you; simply be the example they need to see by being faithful and true in all that you do.
Speak the truth and live a life of purity and authentic love as you remain strong in your faith.”
1 Timothy 4:12 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/1ti.4.12.TPT
Two things Paul taught Timothy and shared with new believers everywhere paint powerful mental pictures of the Spirit life God desires for every believer. We’re coming to campfire season. Whether you’re hosting a bonfire for all your kid’s friends or roasting marshmallows for s’mores around a cozy backyard fire pit, picture the first flame catching and watch with me as it grows into a blaze of reds, oranges, yellows, and blues licking the night sky. Feel it warming your face. Fire requires oxygen to burn. The Holy Spirit is referred to in scripture as both wind and fire.
Jesus said to Nicodemus, “The wind blows wherever it wants.
Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.””
John 3:8 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.3.8.NLT
“On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place.
Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.
Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.
And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.”
Acts of the Apostles 2:1-4 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/act.2.1-4.NLT
All the believers gathered on that day spoke with one voice but were heard in many languages. Peter preached a fiery sermon and thousands trusted Jesus and received the same Spirit through faith. Timothy had this same Holy Spirit. He had been called and set apart for gospel ministry by God. Paul and the elders recognized the Spirit’s presence and power in him and by the laying on of hands, they commissioned Timothy for service. Paul reminds Timothy and all who would believe in Jesus to fan this calling, this gift of the Spirit, into flame. Paul writes more in his letters to the churches about various gifts of the Spirit, but I love Jesus’s promise to his disciples about the Spirit’s role in the life of a believer.
“But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.”
John 14:26 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.14.26.NLT
When I read God’s Word and it comes alive to me, that is the work of the Spirit. When I need encouragement or a fitting word to encourage another believer and an appropriate scripture comes to mind readily, that is the work of God’s Spirit. When someone comes to faith in Jesus, that is the Spirit’s handiwork as well. My ability to carry out the Great Commission, to take the Good News of Jesus to the nations, is dependent upon the Spirit.
“Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.
And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.””
Matthew 28:18-20 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.28.18-20.NLT
“This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord.
With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News.
For God saved us and called us to live a holy life.
He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.
And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior.
He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News.”
2 Timothy 1:6-10 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2ti.1.6-10.NLT
Now what will you do when you’re finally ready to call it a night and that bonfire needs to be put out? You’ve stopped feeding the flame long before now. The embers turn to ash and the air cools even as the fire dies. Maybe you pour on some water to be certain your fire won’t spread in the night. This is the mental image Paul writes to the Thessalonians. As he admonished Timothy to fan into flame the gift of God, here he warns the church not to extinguish the flame either by neglect or deliberate action.
“Never restrain or put out the fire of the Holy Spirit.”
1 Thessalonians 5:19 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/1th.5.19.TPT
“Do not quench [subdue, or be unresponsive to the working and guidance of] the [Holy] Spirit.”
1 Thessalonians 5:19 AMP
https://bible.com/bible/1588/1th.5.19.AMP
“If you explain these things to the brothers and sisters, Timothy, you will be a worthy servant of Christ Jesus, one who is nourished by the message of faith and the good teaching you have followed.”
1 Timothy 4:6 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1ti.4.6.NLT
“If you will teach the believers these things, you will be known as a faithful and good minister of Jesus, the Anointed One.
Nurture others in the living words of faith and in the knowledge of grace which you were taught.”
1 Timothy 4:6 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/1ti.4.6.TPT
“You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses.
Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.”
2 Timothy 2:2 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2ti.2.2.NLT
“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.
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.”
1 Timothy 4:12, 16 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1ti.4.12-16.NLT
Timothy proved by his life that he kept the faith and he led others to do the same. In the Information Age where we’re constantly being bombarded by information and fact-checking has become a catch phrase, you might assume we’re all teachable. But consider the following lists of synonyms before assuming too much.
How many of these words have come to carry a negative connotation? Being teachable does not mean we have checked our brains at the door or stopped thinking for ourselves. Being teachable means we train our minds to submit to the Spirit of Truth in all things. It means I recognize that God has the final say. It’s my amen, I want what You want, let it be as You say, Jesus. Who is most influencing your thoughts? Anyone that we allow to have more influence than God’s own Spirit quickly becomes an idol.
Now consider the antonyms to teachable.
This is where failing to heed the Spirit leads.
“But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets.
No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit.
And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.
When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.
But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit.
It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.
Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others.
For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?”
But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.”
1 Corinthians 2:10-16 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1co.2.10-16.NLT
“So until I come, be diligent in devouring the Word of God, be faithful in prayer, and in teaching the believers.”
1 Timothy 4:13 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/1ti.4.13.TPT
“Cultivate these things.
Immerse yourself in them.
The people will all see you mature right before their eyes!
Keep a firm grasp on both your character and your teaching.
Don’t be diverted.
Just keep at it.
Both you and those who hear you will experience salvation.”
1 Timothy 4:15-16 MSG
https://bible.com/bible/97/1ti.4.15-16.MSG
“Now, may the God of peace and harmony set you apart, making you completely holy.
And may your entire being—spirit, soul, and body—be kept completely flawless in the appearing of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One.
The one who calls you by name is trustworthy and will thoroughly complete his work in you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 TPT
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