“When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also” (2 Timothy 1:5).
TEXT — 2 Timothy 1:1-5
Message
A newsletter in 2003 reported that 1,500 pastors in America leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout, or contention in their churches. It said 70 percent of pastors constantly fight depression, and 50 percent are so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they had the chance to. This fact is not limited to pastors and ministers. So many Christians have experienced burnout in serving the Lord and have lost interest in the church. A cursory look at the root of all these reveals the need for a strong foundation in their Christian profession and service.
Apostle Paul wrote this second epistle to Timothy when the Early Church faced apostasy and the influx of strange doctrines and practices. Some were already getting carried away and falling off from the faith. He was, however, confident that despite this trend, Timothy, as a young minister, would stay strong and pull through in life and ministry because he had a sound footing in the faith bequeathed to him by his grandmother and his mother. In today’s passage, Apostle Paul reveals that a firm foundation for fruitful Christian life and ministry rests on having a personal relationship with God through the Lord Jesus. It is for this reason that he is thankful to God for Timothy.
Success in Christian life and ministry hinges on a strong foundation, starting with a genuine salvation experience in Christ. Leaders must guide members and children to have personal encounters with Christ, rather than relying on church attendance or family connections. Building a solid Christian foundation and maintaining a close relationship with God will help individuals navigate challenges and avoid burnout, ensuring they finish strong in their spiritual journey.
Thought for the day
No amount of effort can compensate for a poor foundation.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
1 comment
Thank you O Lord for today’s daily manna and the lesson derivable from it. Please Father, help me to remain steadfast in faith in my Christian journey. Let me not experience any form of burnout and distress in my service to you in Jesus name, Amen.
Thank you O Lord for today’s daily manna and the lesson derivable from it. Please Father, help me to remain steadfast in faith in my Christian journey. Let me not experience any form of burnout and distress in my service to you in Jesus name, Amen.