Moment of Meditation: Children in Faith (1 Timothy 1:1-2)

Original Broadcast: January 2011

Monthly Theme: Pastoral Epistles (1 Timothy 1)

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior
and of Christ Jesus our hope,
To Timothy, my true child in the faith:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
(1 Timothy 1:1-2)

Children in Faith

Paul begins his Pastoral Epistles with a letter to Timothy, his "true child in the faith." How does one become a child in the faith? That's the easy part. Becoming a child in the faith only takes becoming a disciple. Being taught God's Word.

Why does Paul begin his Pastoral Epistles this way? Because Timothy, as the pastor in Ephesus, has been made the spiritual father of the congregation. That's the role of all pastors. To be a father to the flock that God has given him. As the spiritual father, the pastor has the responsibility of disciplining and encouraging his children. That's what Paul does with Timothy in the two letters he addressed to him. He's disciplining and encouraging his "child in the faith."

May you view your pastor in that role. Listen to him as your spiritual father. Accept his discipline as well as his encouragement for the strengthening of your faith for this life and the life to come. Amen.