It is probably around AD64. The previous year Paul had been released from his first imprisonment and visited Ephesus leaving Timothy there to lead the work. This is his personal letter to his son in the faith. This is his mentoring, coaching, leadership course all bound up in this letter. It is treasure to every Christian but especially those who lead others in all capacities.
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, 2 To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” (1 Timothy 1 v 1-2)
From these 2 verses I am thinking of leaders and those who follow leaders. I see this:-
- Follow and lead from a divine calling and a divine purpose. Run away from self-promotion and resist the temptation to think about yourself in terms of what you think you deserve. True authentic leadership serves someone greater. It is not a desire for a bigger stage but it is to serve the One who has the biggest stage for all time. Pride destroys ministries. Don’t grab and if you see grabbing don’t copy it for it may be packaged as divine but underneath the wrapping is just pride.
- Follow and lead from the foundation of hope. Jesus is our hope. Listen to the words. In difficulty or disappointment is the sound that of hope? Is this hope eternal and unchanging? In the uncertainty of life authentic true leadership inspire confidence and stability because they speak hope.
- Follow and lead from the place of investment in others. My true son in the faith. Beautiful words. How many times does the leader speak of themselves? How many times do they start with ‘I’ or ‘we’? Does the leader have genuine friendships? Not Facebook friends. Not friends who are only boosting their ego. Does the leader invest in the younger generation who will continue the work after them or is it all about what they are doing now?
- Follow and lead from Grace giving people opportunity to take risks, make and learn from mistakes and to grow without condemnation.
- Follow and lead from Mercy that pours compassion onto the face of failure. Mercy demonstrates that the value of people is not determined by what they have done or not done but who they are in Christ.
- Follow and lead from Peace which creates the culture for spiritually healthy churches and environments for people to have good well-being.
It is easy to be a leader. It is easy to gather a crowd. You can be a successful leader in the eyes of many. However, it isn’t so easy to be the leader Christ has called you to be. This needs work and it needs humility. This letter is going to help us walk in that humility that we may become the leader that God desires for us and for us to follow.
Missions Paul 