[Paul shared this thanksgiving with his son in the faith, Timothy.] I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.
Thoughts on Today’s Verse…
Paul is near the end of his life, feeling very alone and facing persecution in a horrible prison. Many of the young men he mentored had left the faith or turned against him. How can Paul give thanks? He speaks of his confidence in his own victorious future with Jesus (2 Timothy 4:6-8) and his confidence and relationship in his beloved son in the faith, Timothy. What makes this special is that he doesn’t just give thanks FOR Timothy but also shares his thanksgiving WITH Timothy. He’s not content to give thanks to God in prayer. He wants Timothy to realize how precious he is to him as he faces the end of his life. When was the last time you sent a note sharing your thanksgiving to God FOR them and then shared it with them? Don’t withhold your blessing another day from someone precious to you. They may urgently need it at this moment in their walk with Jesus.
My Prayer…
Matchless Father of all grace, thank you! Thank you for every spiritual blessing I have in Christ. Thank you today for the special people who are such a blessing to me in my walk of faith… (Take a minute and say their names before the Father). Help me grow in showing my appreciation and approval of these precious people so they can know what a blessing they are to me. In Jesus’ name, I thank you. Amen.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.