January 24th is set aside for Timothy. His seminary training under Paul’s mentoring was painful, thorough, exciting, and dramatic.
It was painful because the before leaving Lystra with Paul and Silas, Paul circumcised Timothy. On the other hand, the pain probably didn’t last as long as today’s seminary student suffers learning Hebrew in 9 weeks during summer school.
His seminary training was thorough because their journey began in Lystra, in what is now south central Turkey, and ended in Greece. If you read Acts 16-18, you find that the action moves along quickly. However, if you read with a map of Paul’s second missionary journey in hand, you will find that they traveled at least 850 miles on foot, for the most part. That’s like walking from St. Louis to Baltimore or Denver.
It must have been exciting for young Timothy to travel with Paul and Silas as they sought to discover just where the Holy Spirit would allow them to go. Finally, they end up at the Aegean Sea where Paul has a vision of a man calling them to Macedonia. Can you imagine the discussion that went into the decision to leave Asia and go over into Europe? Then to travel down the east coast of Greece and end up in Athens and then Corinth?
Finally, training was dramatic because he saw churches strengthened through Paul and Silas preaching and teaching. He saw churches established at .places like Philippi and Thessalonica He also witnessed Paul and Silas being beaten and thrown into jail, where the jailer underwent an overnight conversion.
Timothy absorbed what Paul had to teach. Eventually, Paul sent him back to Thessalonica to pastor that beleaguered congregation. Truly Timothy learned how to “fight the good fight” and to “take hold of the eternal life to which you were called.” (I Timothy 6:11-16)
Lord Jesus Christ, You have always given to Your Church on earth faithful shepherds such as Timothy to guide and feed Your Flock. Make all pastors diligent to preach Your holy Word and administer Your means of grace, and grant Your people wisdom to follow in the way that leads to life eternal; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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