'For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye

received the Word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as

the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which

effectually worketh also in you that believe'.

The fact that the word is

'effectual' is of

particular interest to all those

who labour among children

and young people,

a service of supreme importance

and worthy of our fullest

support.  We turn

therefore to the second epistle

to Timothy for an example

of 'the effectual

Word' in the ministry to the

'From a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to

make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus'

(2 Tim. 3:15).

Let us consider the testimony of this passage under the following

Encouragement.  Here is a great encouragement to all who labour

among children and young people, 'From a child thou hast known'.

Empowerment.  The proverb says 'knowledge is power'.  This

passage rather says 'Here is power to make you to attain to

knowledge', 'Able to make thee wise'.

Enrichment.  Power and wisdom pertain to all departments of life

and often lead to richer and fuller enjoyment of life, but the

goal before us in this passage is nothing less than salvation in

its highest sense.  Let us ponder this threefold message.

Encouragement.  The passage of Scripture which is before us occurs in a

letter written by Paul to his own son in the faith, Timothy, with the most

obvious intention of encouraging Timothy to stand fast and to hold fast the

faithful word, and to make full proof of his ministry.  The times were

testing in the extreme.  The apostle writes in the full knowledge that his

life is forfeit.  Great grace and holy boldness were demanded of Timothy to

be willing to step into the breach at such evident hazard, and Paul uses

every opportunity in this brief epistle to encourage Timothy to finish his

course, as he (Paul) had finished his.  He turns Timothy's thoughts back to

the beginning of their fellowship together, saying:

'Thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life ... persecutions,

afflictions' (2 Tim. 3:10,11),

and particularly those that came upon him at Antioch, at Iconium, and Lystra,

cities with which Timothy had been acquainted as a child and as a young man.

The pointed reference to the 'persecutions' and 'afflictions' at that time

was in order that Timothy should be encouraged by the remembrance that 'Out

of them all the Lord delivered me' (2 Tim. 3:10,11).  The apostle takes

Timothy back further still; he reminds him of his childhood, and the

unfeigned faith that dwelt first in his grandmother and then in his mother,

'and I am persuaded' he added, 'that in thee also' this faith dwells.  From

this he leads on to the exhortation:

'Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me

His prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel

according to the power of God' (2 Tim. 1:8),