Daily Devotions
2 Timothy
"Love..."
Text: 2 Timothy 3:10
BUT YOU HAVE CAREFULLY FOLLOWED VI
The apostle Paul discovered the love of God when he came to genuine faith in the Lord Jesus Christ! Only a great God of mercy and love could have forgiven him of his many grievous sins committed against the Church. Through careful cultivation and deep personal experience, Paul was able to write about “the love” that he very much wanted Timothy to cultivate for his life and ministry.
1. How did Paul cultivate a deep and strong Love for the Lord and for the ministry?
a) The outpouring of God’s love into his life.
i) Mercy extended.
ii) Grace bestowed.
iii) Mercy and grace are outstanding expressions of God’s love.
b) Cleansing must have taken place.
i) Cleansing from a deep hatred felt deep in the heart.
ii) Cleansing of sins that could have hindered the cultivation of love.
c) Discovery of the depth of Christ’s love.
i) There were so many dimensions to discover.
ii) The love of Christ surpassed all the knowledge he had obtained.
2. The Practice of love
a) Love has to be demonstrated to prove that it is there.
b) Paul expressed his love in many different ways:
i) He loved the Lord and spent much time in prayer.
ii) He loved the church deeply.
iii) He cultivated a love for the brethren of the Lord.
3. Special people he loved
a) His spiritual sons (Timothy, Titus, Onesimus).
b) Brethren who laboured with him.
c) He cultivated a love for Gentiles.
EXTOLLING THE VIRTUES OF LOVE
The apostle Paul’s extolling of the virtues of love found its expression in 1 Corinthians 13. Love was placed and ranked above even mighty and impressive spiritual gifts. If love was missing in the heart and life of the believer, all that he may boast of would have amounted to nothing at all. How our hearts must be challenged to discover and develop the love of God in our life and ministry!