An Alphabetical Analysis
Volume 10 - Practical Truth - Page 34 of 277
INDEX
'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
young:
'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
heads:
(1)
Encouragement.  Here is a great encouragement to all who labour
among children and young people, 'From a child thou hast known'.
(2)
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'.
(3)
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),