Paul’s pattern:
“Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me… Guard the good deposit…” – 2 Timothy 1:13,14, CSB
“You know all those in the province of Asia have deserted me… May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me… when he was in Rome, he diligently searched for me and found me… You know very well how much he ministered at Ephesus.” – 2 Timothy 1:15-18, CSB
Not just words, but a ‘way’
“Hold on, Timothy,” Paul charges him. Hold on to what? Timothy is not just holding on to the facts about Jesus, but to Paul’s pattern of sound teaching. Yes, of course Timothy needs to guard the good deposit – the gift of God he has received through the laying on of Paul’s hands (1:6) –, and he needs to hold to the gospel! But there is more. There is also a way of preaching, teaching, and modeling the gospel in various contexts. As Timothy reads Paul’s letter, I imagine him pausing to reflect on the way Paul has practiced the gospel that he preaches.
Your ‘way’ is your teaching!
What is this way – this pattern – that Paul has diligently practiced and taught? Part of it is contending for unity and pursuing love and gentleness (1 Timothy 6:11). His life example of actually doing this is a major part of his teaching. Even as he opens up to Timothy about his current struggles, notice how Paul reflects on another leader, Onesiphorus, and how that man had refreshed and stood with Paul through hardship. (It sounds like Onesiphorus may have died, though we aren’t given any details. Was he martyred? Was it sickness? We don’t know.) Note also how Paul draws attention to Onesiphorus’ service, both to himself and to the church in Ephesus, where Timothy currently was. This is no small thing!
Paul writes elsewhere (Philippians 4:9) about intentionally leading our hearts by our choice to dwell on what is honorable and worthy of praise, and here we see him practicing this pattern himself. And when is he doing this? It’s during a season of abandonment. (It’s possible that either Onesiphorus - or his surviving family - has somehow abandoned Paul, which would make his choice to pray that God would grant him - and them - mercy for the sake of his previous service all the more striking. What an example of choosing to pursue unity, love, and gentleness!)
Gospel lenses
Part of holding on to the gospel and persevering is learning the ‘way’ to see others through gospel lenses. It also includes leading our own hearts to put those lenses on in times of trouble. We can stew on the problem, or we can lift our hearts to see above the problem by reflecting and redirecting ourselves to God’s work in and through us and others.
Think:
Many people preach and teach the gospel, and each of them also has a ‘way,’ a pattern of living. Who’s pattern and example has been an encouragement to you? Think about not just what they say, but they do. What has been so helpful about the way they represent Jesus through their life?
What pattern or way of representing Christ do you think others are seeing through your influence? What is good about that? Does anything need adjusting? (We all are growing, so don’t beat yourself up! Today, just ask the Holy Spirit to show you one shift or adjustment you could make to better reflect the gospel.)
In seasons of difficulty, do you struggle to see with gospel lenses? How could you use Paul’s words from Philippians 4:9 – “Dwell on these things” – to help you focus your vision and thinking in a godly way?
Prayer:
“Lord, thank You for the way the gospel helps me to see through the clouds of discouragement that sometimes close in. Help me to intentionally put on the lenses of the gospel in seasons of setback, discouragement, or even abandonment by others. Give me grace to see and honor Your work in the world, even through those who may have let me down. I pray that my own pattern and way of living out the gospel will help others to put on those gospel lenses too in their times of discouragement.”