Faith Connections
Second Timothy 1:1-14, Luke 17:5-10
Two interesting passages this week that speak in different ways about faith and its power.
First, in Second Timothy, Paul expresses thanks for Timothy's strong faith and notes that this faith did not spring up in him ex nihilo but from his mother and grandmother (whom Paul perhaps converted?). The faith also came to him "through the laying on of hands" at his baptism? ordination? commissioning as a missionary? The hands that served as the conduit of the HolySpirit came from the church, the faithful gathered to strengthen Timothy's faith.
So he is reminded, as the intro to the Star Trek series puts it, to "boldly go." He's not to be timid, but to see this faith connection with other people as empowering him both to love powerfully and also to stay grounded and not fall to temptation. Paul tells him to "guard the good treasure," not meaning to lock it away in a vault, but to courageously share it, not being afraid of the consequences.
Faith here, grown from and strengthened by connections between the past and the present, enables Timothy to move beyond fear to bring the treasure of the gospel into the future. Those connections, human and divine, are critical.
Then in Luke we get the all too well known mustard seed passage. Check out the context, though, in verses 1-4 of Luke 17. The apostles are asking Jesus in verse 5 to increase their faith because he has just told them that they'd better not do anything to make another believer stumble, and that they need to learn to forgive a ludicrous amount of time; even to forgive a person who sins against them seven times in one day! A feat seemingly beyond the capacity of any human being!
Jesus responds that they don't need more faith, they just need to fully access and exercise the faith they already have, even if it is a small as a little mustard seed! Then he goes on to say that if they just do what they know they should (like a household slave does), then they will find the faith they need, to do as he asks them to do.
They don't need "big" faith in order to say to God and the world, "my, look what big faith I have!" Rather they need to do what is required without expecting to be complimented on the greatness of their faith, either by God or by the community. Very much in line with Paul's charge to Timothy, isn't it? shelly
Two interesting passages this week that speak in different ways about faith and its power.
First, in Second Timothy, Paul expresses thanks for Timothy's strong faith and notes that this faith did not spring up in him ex nihilo but from his mother and grandmother (whom Paul perhaps converted?). The faith also came to him "through the laying on of hands" at his baptism? ordination? commissioning as a missionary? The hands that served as the conduit of the HolySpirit came from the church, the faithful gathered to strengthen Timothy's faith.
So he is reminded, as the intro to the Star Trek series puts it, to "boldly go." He's not to be timid, but to see this faith connection with other people as empowering him both to love powerfully and also to stay grounded and not fall to temptation. Paul tells him to "guard the good treasure," not meaning to lock it away in a vault, but to courageously share it, not being afraid of the consequences.
Faith here, grown from and strengthened by connections between the past and the present, enables Timothy to move beyond fear to bring the treasure of the gospel into the future. Those connections, human and divine, are critical.
Then in Luke we get the all too well known mustard seed passage. Check out the context, though, in verses 1-4 of Luke 17. The apostles are asking Jesus in verse 5 to increase their faith because he has just told them that they'd better not do anything to make another believer stumble, and that they need to learn to forgive a ludicrous amount of time; even to forgive a person who sins against them seven times in one day! A feat seemingly beyond the capacity of any human being!
Jesus responds that they don't need more faith, they just need to fully access and exercise the faith they already have, even if it is a small as a little mustard seed! Then he goes on to say that if they just do what they know they should (like a household slave does), then they will find the faith they need, to do as he asks them to do.
They don't need "big" faith in order to say to God and the world, "my, look what big faith I have!" Rather they need to do what is required without expecting to be complimented on the greatness of their faith, either by God or by the community. Very much in line with Paul's charge to Timothy, isn't it? shelly
posted by shelly @ 10:20 AM
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