Personified

1 Timothy 4:11–16 (ESV)
11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
 
One of my favorite books is J.R. R. Tolkien’s, The Fellowship of the Ring.  You’re probably familiar with the book and the movie, so no need to go into a great explanation regarding the storyline.  If you are not familiar with the work, I strongly encourage you to read it!
 
The movie does an excellent job capturing a great scene from the book where all the main characters, the Wizard Gandalf, Frodo the Hobbit, along with other men, dwarves, elves, and hobbits, are at the council of Elrond and are engaged in a fierce debate concerning the ring of power.  Some of the men want to use the ring of power as a weapon against the enemy, forgetting what happened the last time the ring was used in that manner.  The elves want the ring destroyed.  The dwarves refuse to let men have possession of the ring or to let elves make decisions for them.  The council is divided, and a huge argument erupts as old biases and hatreds are brought into the conversation until…
Finally, a small voice from a small hobbit is heard.  Frodo shouts, “I will take the ring to Mordor, though I do not know the way.”

 
What I love at that moment is the look on Gandalf’s face.  It is one of relief, but also deep sadness.  Why?  Because he knows the weight of the task that is being placed on this young hobbit and how difficult it will be to accomplish.
 
That is the picture I imagine in this passage as Paul writes to Timothy.  Timothy is young and gifted, and in these verses, Paul is passing on instructions to Timothy and placing the weight of responsibility for ministry on his young shoulders (just to be clear here—it’s not doom and gloom!).
Encouraging and instructing Timothy in ministry has been the thrust of the letter.  Now Paul is instructing and encouraging Timothy to be strong and follow his calling, and to let his life be a witness and testimony to others.  Remember, Timothy is Paul’s choice to succeed him, and Paul wants Timothy to embody faith in Christ to those around him.
 
One of the things to notice in the passage are the verbs Paul uses.  Look back on verses 12-16.  All these verbs are strong and point to Timothy being faithful and acting on his faith.  All these verbs, in the Greek language, are in the present tense.  The meaning of these present verbs is that our faith in Christ is literally personified, lived out in simple obedience.  However, this isn’t something that is just for Timothy; it’s for all who entrust their lives to Jesus.  All of us are called to live in simple obedience.  It’s simple and at the same time it’s always challenging…, but always good.
 
It may surprise you to know that, like you, I find that it can be hard to keep that awareness of God’s presence in my life throughout the ordinary moments of my day.  It’s so easy to go an hour or two (or longer) without noticing God’s presence as we press on with the ordinary “stuff” and day-to-day activities of our lives.
Even still, persisting in my awareness of Jesus’ presence with me is something that I am constantly striving for, and I would encourage you to do the same.  It’s amazing how my perception of things alters when I am able to stop and notice God’s presence with me in simple, ordinary, everyday moments.
 
God is always with us.  Seek to be aware of the Lord’s presence and calling in your life and act on that always.  Ask God to help you be aware of His presence today.  You will probably be surprised as you unexpectedly notice His grace guiding and leading you to be His example to those who are lost, as well as to those who are maturing as Jesus’ missional disciples!
 
Take two minutes to stop and do nothing other than listen for His voice.  If you do this, everything else will find its good and right place in your life; it never gets easier, but it’s always good.
 
God bless you, and know that I am praying for you constantly.
Scott