Burning Brighter

It’s been…. Hard. New troubles arrive. New problems. New pressures. The work is demanding. The future looks bleak. The society is in moral decay. Persecution whispers. He was sitting there, head in his hands, bent over. Timothy, pastor of Ephesus. Timothy, alone. Timothy, tired. The little oil lamp barely lit the dark corners of his room late that evening.

And tonight—our lamps?

And as he sat there, a knock on the door. He straightened up, sighed. Another problem? Another arrest? Another Christian struggling with the questions of how am I to feed my family if I can’t work since I can’t participate in the artist’s guilds? I can’t sell my goods in the market because I won’t burn incense at the market gate to the Greek gods that govern the marketplace?

No. A letter? A letter? His quivering hands undo the seal—yes, he recognizes the handwriting, the big uneven scratched letters of Paul, his father.

“….For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,….” (2 Timothy 1:7-10).

Share in his suffering. The first imperative in the letter. The bold imperative. It is not a “read the Bible” or how to build himself up in the Christian life. It is not an imperative of how to lead well. Share in his suffering. Paul, I’m doing that. Oh God, can’t you see I’m doing that? What more can I give?

Paul—can’t you see we’re doing that? Suffering when we’re mocked for not having sex like our friends. Given looks like we’re stupid because we’re remaining faithful to our spouse when they aren’t “making us happy.” On the outside. Suffering under sickness, disease. Alone in a nursing home. Caught in a financial crisis not from our own folly. Trying to care for a child with severe autism. Reaping consequences of past sins. Can’t you see we are suffering?

What more can I give? What more do you have to say, Paul? Share in suffering—by the power of God. Timothy gulps, his hungry soul. He is not alone in his suffering. He shares by the power of God. The power that moves mountains, that causes the Red Sea to part, that raised Jesus from the dead. By this he shares. The power to deliver, yes, but the power to endure, to share as well.

The power of God—with us. Breathe. His power, in you, in your circumstance. The power you need today in an Almighty resource-abundant, Life-giving, unfathomable rich God, for you. Whatever your need, circumstance—God is greater. And for you, with you, the heir of his power and love.

His grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began. Grace for Timothy, given before the ages. Before creation, God and Christ and Spirit gave grace to Timothy. Thought of him. Set forces in motion to give him grace. Grace in Abraham. Grace in David. Grace in Christ. But grace for today. Before God spoke the first molecule into existence, the grace Timothy needed—revealed and promised and secured most fully in Christ—but his particular grace was planned, provided for, set forth for him personally. Before time began.

This eternal grace, now in the present manifested in Christ. Eternal grace. Now. Today.

Life and immortality, now, in this present darkness.

Jesus reigns.

Timothy straightens up. His lamp burns brighter.

Grace—for you, personally, set in motion before the world was created. Grace was provided for, planned for. From ages beyond, now presently manifested. Life in your suffering, life in your death. May your lamp burn brighter because his love burned before ages began.