Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Wisdom”
Our Bible verse for today: “Therefore, I remind you to keep ablaze the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.” 2 Timothy 1:6-7 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “Biblical wisdom must be learned and then it must be nurtured.”
There can be no question that the Apostle Paul was a Biblically wise man. He had a well developed degree of godly wisdom of his own, and he had a passion for developing that wisdom in others. And he didn’t stop at just preaching and teaching to large crowds. Beyond just that, he made it a point to invest the extra time and effort necessary to build into the lives of a select group of promising young men (Timothy, Titus, and Silas that we know of).
Paul made it his mission to pass on the wisdom to the next generation. The only way to do that effectively was to teach it, but then to nurture it in them as well. Paul spent time with them, he did things with them, he discussed Biblical principles and their practical application in real life situations with them, and he encouraged them. That’s what we’re reading in 2 Timothy 1:6-7. As part of this letter to Timothy, Paul exhorts him to “keep ablaze” his passion for knowing and serving the Lord. By phrasing it that way Paul was making it clear that there were things Timothy needed to be doing on a daily basis to ensure the flame of his passion for the Lord did not die out, and he was urging him to keep at it.
Biblical wisdom has to be learned, but then it also has to be nurtured. We have a responsibility to be sure that’sthe case in our own lives first, but then we also need to do the things necessary to help nurture wisdom and passion in the lives of those the Lord has given us to mentor. Are you being Paul to a Timothy? Whose life are you building into and are you being intentional about it?
I encourage you to first have a pattern of personal discipleship in your own life which will result in the ongoing learning and nurturing of godly wisdom. Then be intentional about being a good example, and an intentional source of inspiration and encouragement for others.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 