Verse: Acts 16:1-5
Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. 2 The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
Thoughts
What strikes me about this passage is the window we get into the beginning of a special mentoring relationship between Paul and Timothy. Paul takes Timothy with him to train him and invest in him personally and spiritually. He would say of Timothy multiple times through his letters that he thought of him as a son.
What can we pull from this and apply to our lives? Is this just interesting information, or can we glean some biblical encouragement for our lives?
For me, as I read this, I think about who is investing in my life like Paul was in Timothy's, and who's life am I investing in? I wonder what would happen if we all had a Paul, and we all had a Timothy?
So think and pray about that today. Do you have anyone who is investing in your spiritual life intentionally? Like a small group leader, or a mentor, or an older Christian friend? And do you have anyone you are investing in who may be younger in the faith? What would it look like for you to intentionally seek those relationships?