Who Put Me Here? (A SOAP Journal from 2 Timothy 1)

In addition to regular articles, I will once again be posting highlights of some simple SOAP journals that were produced during a regular gathering of pastors to journal, pray, and encourage one another. These are not exhaustively studied as they are generally the work of 20 minutes of reading, 20 minutes of writing, and 20 minutes of sharing with each other what we have written. These brief devotional journal posts will begin in the Pastoral Epistles (1 & 2 Timothy, Titus). Hopefully, they will be encouraging to the readers of this blog.

We used the simple SOAP acronym as a devotional guide... which stands for:

• Scripture—what verse or short section caught my attention today? 
• Observation—what can I briefly notice that the passage specifically says?
• Application—what will I do differently as a result of having read this today?
• Prayer—what will I ask the Triune God to do for, in, and through me today?

S = 2 Timothy 1:1, 6-7, 8-9, 11 

v.1 “…an apostle by the will of God”

v. 6-7 “Fan into flame the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

v. 8-9 “Do not be ashamed…but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace.”

v. 11 “…for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher which is why I suffer as I do.”

Photo by Cristian Newman on Unsplash

O = When faced with hardship and suffering for my trust in Christ, and for my work as a pastor/teacher, I need to be reminded of how I got here, why I am here, and what resources I have available to me. Paul knew he was an apostle by God’s will, not by his own choice. It was God who had commissioned him to go forth with a gospel message of reconciliation. Timothy, to who Paul was writing, had been gifted by God for his ministry assignment. When Timothy was tempted to give in to the fear that what we do makes no difference in the kingdom when tempted to become cynical about people and their motives and ability to change when tempted to give in to his laundry list of subtle appetites that make it easy to forget the nature of the Spirit that God has given him/us Paul reminded him to fan the gift into flame (v. 6-7). It is by that Spirit—the Holy Spirit that enables Christians to trust, love, and obey—that Timothy and by extension we today, can guard the good deposit that has been entrusted to us by Christ.

A = I will remember that am here because God put me here. I will remember that I am called because of Christ’s purpose & grace, not because of my own abilities and general awesomeness. I am his and am not my own… my life is to be lived today, this week, and always, for His glory not my own! I don’t have to appear externally successful to bring glory to God, but rather internally faithful to his voice and responsive to his love. So, I can embrace the suffering for he is with me in it!

P = O Lord, thank you for your plan. Help me to follow boldly in love and purity—empowered by your Spirit today! Lord, if there is a gift that you have given me for the benefit of the church and the common good of the community, please move on my heart this week to create some margin to remember how it felt when it was first given and show me how to fan it into flame! You waste nothing, so may I not waste another day heeding discouragement and criticism more than the indwelling Spirit of God!