Grow Up to be a Child Part 7 “Those Who Showed Us The Way” Traditional Service Livestream
From Paul, who is an apostle of Jesus Christ by the command of God our savior and of Christ Jesus our hope.
To Timothy, my true child in the faith.
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord.
Timothy, my child, I’m giving you these instructions based on the prophecies that were once made about you.
With the summer Olympics set to begin in Paris, pay attention to the races. In the Track and Field competition there is one moment in a relay that often determines the outcome of the race. One moment, filled with tension and anxiety. One moment that can result in a potential victory or an unmitigated disaster. It’s the passing of the baton. The instant when one runner hands a baton to the next runner while both are in full stride. If it’s a clean handoff, the race continues. If one of the runners drops the baton, the race is over.
Here are tips for passing the baton successfully:
•Both runners must be running together towards the same goal.
•There must be trust and confidence that the team member will hand it over properly.
•A runner receiving the baton cannot look back or swerve out of his lane.
•The key is to know when to hold on and when to let go.
•When the exchange is made, the runner passing the baton tells the other runner “Go!”
Paul is handing the baton of faith to young Timothy.
Somewhere in your life you had a mentor, teacher or guide who paved the way and showed you the way. They handed you something important and trusted you to carry it forward.
They also believed when you got older, there would be a moment when you would be the one who handed the baton to someone younger.
At the end of his life, Paul says this to Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Two things:
In the crazy, sacred, wonderful race we call life-
1There comes a moment when we will pass the faith to a new generation.
2It’s good to know where the finish line is.
