Able to Teach - 2 Timothy 2:24

Mission Trip Day 3 - Know what you believe. Are you "able to teach?" Second Timothy is believed to be Paul's last letter. It's a note to Timothy, but not a farewell letter, because we see toward the end that he expects Timothy to meet up with him later in the year. (See 2 Timothy 4:21.) 

Some consider this a pastoral epistle - a letter from Paul to pastors. Paul is clearly writing Timothy. And he is instructing Timothy how to live as a follower of Jesus. Timothy was setting up churches. So in a degree that is true, but the idea also contributes to what some call the sacred-secular divide. This divide is the idea that part of our life, and certain occupations, are sacred. They operate according to different rules. Others, like working in IT, or running a business or being an accountant, are secular. The word "secular" even means, worldly, or without religion. 

But Jesus never asks us to be religious. In fact, he had the most difficulty with the religious people of his day. When Paul suggests that the Lord's servant should be able to teach, he means we must know what we believe. We need to be able to explain it. He's not just talking to pastors, but this is something that applies to every believer. We must be able to explain our faith in a way that would make sense. I believe the phrase "The Lord's servant" at the beginning of this verse applies to the word "anyone" in verse 21. These are people who choose to follow Jesus. 

Paul further modifies able to teach by saying, kind to all, patient when wronged and with gentleness, correcting those who oppose. These are commands for each of us. Today, we need to know what we believe. We want to be able to explain our faith in a way that makes sense to others and doesn't suggest they're ignorant or lost. We want to state our faith and our relationship with Jesus as a matter of fact, based on our own experiences. God will use that to cause others to question their life and their relationship with Jesus.

So, today, practice your two-sentence answer to the question, "Why are you doing this?" Remember to assume they ask, "But why?" and answer again, each time with short, one-or-two sentence answers. The Holy Spirit will use your explanation to cause others to question their own life. And some will move one notch closer to Jesus.