July 17 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 18–19; Acts 20:17–38

What’s My Purpose?

I am reminded of your sincere faith which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice. 2 Timothy 1:5

READ 2 Timothy 1:1–5

“I felt so useless,” Harold said. “Widowed and retired, kids busy with their own families, spending quiet afternoons watching shadows on the wall.” He’d often tell his daughter, “I’m old and have lived a full life. I have no purpose anymore. God can take me any time.”

One afternoon, however, a conversation changed Harold’s mind. “My neighbour had some problems with his kids, so I prayed for him,” Harold said. “Later, I shared the gospel with him. That’s how I realised I still have a purpose! As long as there are people who haven’t heard of Jesus, I must tell them about the Saviour.”

When Harold responded to an everyday, ordinary encounter by sharing his faith, his neighbour’s life was changed. In 2 Timothy 1, the apostle Paul mentions two women who’d likewise been used by God to change another person’s life: the life of Paul’s young co-worker, Timothy. Lois, Timothy’s grandmother, and Eunice, his mother, had a “sincere faith” which they’d passed on to him (v. 5). Through everyday events in an ordinary household, young Timothy learned a genuine faith that was to shape his growth into a faithful disciple of Jesus and, eventually, his ministry as leader of the church at Ephesus.

No matter what our age, background or circumstances, we have a purpose—to tell others about Jesus.

By Karen Huang

Whom can you encourage to believe in Jesus? What opportunities to share the gospel can you pray for?

Dear Jesus, open my eyes and heart to people around me who need to hear of Your love. Please give me the opportunity to share the gospel with them.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

God has given parents the responsibility to teach the Scriptures to their children. Timothy was of mixed parentage—a gentile father and Jewish mother (Acts 16:1). However, he was taught by his mother and grandmother (2 Timothy 1:5) “the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make [us] wise for salvation” (3:15).

In the Old Testament, God made clear to Abraham and Sarah their parenting responsibility. After assuring the childless couple that they’d soon have a son (Genesis 18:10), Abraham was to “direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just” (v. 19). This parenting duty and privilege was later entrenched in the law when God commanded parents and grandparents to teach the Scriptures to the next generation—“to your children and to their children after them” (Deuteronomy 4:9; see also 6:7; Psalm 78:3–6).