Pass it on

Jonathan Fleming May 09, 2023 2 1

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2 Timothy 4: 9-13 (NRSVA)

9 Do your best to come to me soon, 10 for Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful in my ministry. 12 I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.

In what could be described as Paul’s ‘farewell discourse’, Paul sends for Timothy to bring him his cloak, scrolls, parchments and Mark, with whom Paul had parted company on the first missionary journey found in Acts. Paul is cold, lonely and preparing for what lies ahead from the (dis)comfort of a prison cell in Rome. He is getting his affairs in order and chooses to write to Timothy in order that Paul may pass on the baton to the next generation.

Isn’t it wonderful to read Paul entrusting this responsibility to a young leader like Timothy? Can the same be said in our congregations?

How prepared are we to involve young people in the life of our church?

How willing are we to invite young people to consider taking up positions of responsibility and trust in congregational life?

As we are reminded in the accompanying series notes for this week’s passages, if it were not for Paul’s scrolls and parchments, that torch may not have been passed on to Timothy and all the ‘Timothys’ to follow.

What steps are we taking to prepare for the future?

Are we even considering it or are we only interested in the church seeing us out?

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ,
You called the eleven to go and make disciples,
baptising them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
and teaching them to obey everything that you commanded them.

Help us to obey.
Inspire us to share your message with all around us.
Challenge us to find fresh and innovative ways
of passing your word on to the generations that follow.
Rebuke us when our laziness or selfishness blocks us from this important task.
Sustain us when our efforts don’t go to plan.
Encourage us to keep going and to never give up.

So be it.