Reading the book of 1 Timothy felt like listening in on a
mentoring conversation—personal, practical, and full of wisdom. Paul was
pouring into Timothy, his spiritual son, and I could feel the weight of that relationship.
It was not just instruction—it was legacy.
Right away, I noticed that Paul was setting the tone:
protect the gospel. Guard the truth. Do not let false teaching take root. That
urgency came through every chapter. And it made sense—Timothy was young,
navigating leadership in a challenging culture, and probably feeling the
pressure. Paul was not just giving him advice—he was giving him backbone.
That resonated with me. Because sometimes I feel the
pressure too—especially when it comes to standing for what is right in a world
that constantly wants to shift the line. Paul reminded Timothy to be bold but
to also be kind. To hold fast to the truth, but to do it with grace. That
balance is not always easy. But it is necessary.
I was struck by how personal Paul got. He talked about his
own story—how he had once been a blasphemer, a persecutor, the worst of
sinners. But God had shown him mercy. That part got me. Because sometimes I
need to remember that leaders are not perfect—they are redeemed. And their past
does not disqualify them when God has written redemption all over their lives.
Then Paul gave Timothy instructions for how the church
should function—how leaders should behave, how widows should be honored, how
wealth should be handled, how prayer should be prioritized. Some of it felt
cultural. Some of it felt hard. I wrestled with a few verses, especially the
ones about women. I had to sit with them. Think. Pray. Ask questions.
But even in the tension, I could tell Paul was trying to
build something that lasted. He was not just addressing problems—he was shaping
a model for healthy, godly leadership. Leadership that serves. That teaches.
That corrects. That sets an example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and
purity.
The verse that stuck with me most was: “Fight the good
fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called.”
That stirred something in me. Because faith is a fight. And sometimes I get
tired. But Paul reminded Timothy—and me—that this fight is worth it. That what
we have in Christ is worth holding onto.
Reading 1 Timothy reminded me that leadership is a calling,
not a spotlight. That guarding the gospel is everyone’s responsibility. And
that even when I feel young, unqualified, or unsure—if God called me, then He
will equip me.