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The apostle Paul was nearing the end of his life when he wrote this letter to his young friend him how to live and minister in accordance with his faith in Jesus. At this point, Timothy had been a disciple maker in the city of Ephesus for about four years. Paul was writing from prison in Rome. Nero had burned down half the city. Some said he used human torches, setting them ablaze all over Rome. This was a time of great tribulation. In the midst of that, Paul encourages his young friend to be strong. Later in the chapter, he will call Timothy to be “a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (vs. 3). In context, he’s reminding his young friend to have a soldier’s focus, refusing to be distracted from his main purpose of growing God’s kingdom through discipling others. Amid all kinds of circumstances, that’s the main task Jesus wants all of us to work on. He wants us to make disciples.  MIMBS 1 16 Monday—July 3•Focus Like a Soldier You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 2:1) Timothy. History says this pair met about a decade previously. Paul mentored Timothy, teaching What distracts you from the main task to which God has called you? Daily Reading: 2 Kings 22:3–23:30, Acts 21:37–22:16, Psalm 1:1–6, Proverbs 18:11–12 Tuesday—July 4•Spiritual Multiplication And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. (2 Timothy 2:2) Acts 16 tells of young Timothy’s first meeting with the apostle Paul. At that point, local believers already spoke highly of this young man. Paul apparently also was impressed, for he opted to make Timothy part of his mission team. Paul mentions Timothy repeatedly in his various letters, calling him a “co-worker” (Romans 16:21), and at one point even identifying his young friend as “my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 4:17). Now Paul is nearing the end of his life, so he writes some final encouragements to his mentee. In essence, he says, “You know how I’ve invested my life. You know the message you’ve heard come from my lips. Now invest that in other people, and encourage them to invest it in still more people.” In just a few words, the apostle Paul spells out the essential principle of spiritual multiplication, through which believers reproduce themselves by discipling others, and then they unite as a team to pursue God’s principles and to promote the growth of His kingdom.  MIMBS 1 How are you reproducing your faith in Jesus in the lives of other people? Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 1:1–2:17, 2 Kings 23:31–25:30, Acts 22:17–23, Psalm 2:1-12, Proverbs 18:13


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