LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
Remember Jesus Christ
A call to the daughters of God, to be women conformed to His heart.
Marcela Azzolini
"Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the seed of David, according to my gospel" (2 Timothy 2:8).
Dear sister: I invite you to read Paul's two letters to Timothy carefully. You yourself will realize that they were not written or directed to the church, but rather, they are of a personal nature. Like when a concerned father writes to his son -in this case to Timothy-, he advises how Timothy should maintain the faith by means of good works and appropriate behavior in the house of God, and also how to resist falsehood.
When reading the letters, we ourselves will realize the great affection that Paul felt for this youngster who was about 20 years old at the time. We see this at the beginning of the two letters: "…to Timothy, my true son in the faith…", "to Timothy, my beloved child".
Remember Jesus Christ
When Paul tells him: "Remember Jesus Christ", I don't believe that it was because Timothy has been straying from the path or because he was showing inappropriate behavior. Rather, it is the sequence of advice that the apostle wanted to mention to him and to remind him. For example in the 1st letter, chapter one: Keep the sound doctrine, to have " faith unfeigned", purity, a good conscience; avoiding the ignorance of the word that some have, reminding of the purpose of the law (for whom it was given); to speak of his personal testimony, to recommend that he work in the Lord to maintain the faith.
In chapter two, Paul instructs him about prayer (who to pray for), and speaks to him of Christ's plan of salvation (why He came). Why does Paul speak of something that is so basic for a young evangelist like Timothy? Then he goes on; how the Christian women should behave. In the chapter three, Paul speaks of the requirements of the bishops and deacons. In chapter four, of the apostasy, of how the Word purifies us, cleanses us and sanctifies us, of the duties of a good minister, of fighting the good fight. To conclude, in the first letter Paul reveals a serious concern to endow the norms of life and behavior for the church.
In the 2nd letter, Paul was imprisoned for the second time, in Rome, in chains (treatment only for evildoers). He foresaw a near execution, but in spite of his difficult personal situation, his main concern was the church and the bad behavior of some believers. There is a constant exhortation to His "beloved son Timothy" to remain faithful and not to be ashamed of being his witness.
In this letter Paul recommends that Timothy proclaim the gospel with diligence, that he admonish the believers with wisdom, that he correct with humility and that he be willing to suffer. He warns Timothy against distorted behavior that some day could be introduced into the church (3:15). I believe that we are already in those dangerous times which are spoken of here: appearance of godliness, men of corrupt understanding that will separate those who are not cautious from the truth.
To conclude, those are the things in which he should remember Jesus Christ: His teachings, His life, His self-denial, His sufferings, His purpose of salvation, the command to preach Him, not being afraid to suffer for serving Him, and how all must conduct themselves in the house of God. That was what Timothy was to continuously remember, to bring to mind.
The burden of a father for his son
It is said that Paul and Timothy knew each other for more than fifteen years. In the two letters, there is a mixture of such basic things, such as reminding him how he converted, his grandmother's and mother's faith, but at the same time Paul reminds him of very serious things such as warning him about those that would deceive some brothers with false beliefs.
It gives me the sensation that for Paul, seeing his death approaching, he was anxious to give, to pass over and to emphasize that which he had spoken to Timothy so many times. I return to the same example: a father who is very sick and knows that he will die and desperately advises his son: "Son, don't forget what I taught you… remember what we spoke of… take care with this... remember that…"
Calvin said, referring to these two letters: "they were written, not with ink, but with Paul's own blood". There was a mission that had to be passed over. Moses passed it over to Joshua, Christ to the apostles, Paul to Timothy. This last command was given more than 1900 years ago, but even today it is preached; it is remembered. It is no longer Paul to Timothy, it is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself who is telling us: "Remember me... remember why I called you... remember why I saved you... remember why I gave my life for you... remember that I gave you a name; you are mine".
All the daughters of God, big and small, are called to serve in His house like this young Timothy. It is not only for some. If you have believed in the Lord you must respond to this call. "But, what will I serve in?", may be your question. God is the one who opens the doors. You only have to prepare to do what He wants you to do. For example, prayer is a command, preaching, to love and to submit to our husbands; to love our children, to visit the sick and those that are deprived of their freedom.
But all service, however big or small it seems in your own eyes, must be carried out as Paul advised Timothy: with a clean, healthy, pure conscience (that the Word creates), with a true faith, a clean heart (that the Holy Spirit of God who came to live in us creates), with godliness and holiness. Our yearning and prayer should not only be to be used by him, but to be approved in Him. The Lord wants all our life for Him; He doesn't just want a part of it. He doesn't ask for a lot... he asks for everything.
Women according to God's heart
Holiness in these times is very difficult, because this whole world and its systems bombard us on all sides, and calls good things bad, and bad things good. We have been called to be saints because He is holy, and without holiness nobody will see the Lord.
As mothers we have the obligation of forming, not "deforming" our children. Because what you don't teach as a mother, God who is their Father, will teach them, and they will surely learn it; but with tears. Because when one comes to God, sometimes, they come very badly formed, then the Lord begins to deal directly with that person, and the breaking hurts, and how difficult it is to change habits, forms of thinking and of acting!
In the Bible there are many examples of mothers who fulfilled that call, and their children showed the fruits. Timothy, Samuel, David, Moses, John the Baptist. In the Bible there are many who began from a young age to understand the perfect will of God. They didn't have anything special or supernatural to differentiate them from our children. The difference, I believe, was marked by their mothers.
For them, it was not easy to remain holy, because sin was always plentiful, and the devil has always had the same mission: to steal, to kill and to destroy; but their mind and heart were kept for God. They made a decision. And that commitment is the same that we must take every day: that of living as holy Christians today. To be women according to God's heart, who do not conform themselves to this world and its system. Valiant women who call sin for what it is.
We are called to wait for His coming in holiness, as the bride who yearns for her Lover's arrival. He follows us, calling with love, the Holy Spirit yearns zealously for us to be presented to Him, and to make us remember Jesus Christ.