four parts to faithful ministry

This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience.
1 Timothy 1:18-19a

Paul's encouragement to his young protege Timothy has four parts to it worth thinking over. First, Paul appealed to past history. There is this interesting statement regarding "previous prophecies" made about Timothy. Evidently God has revealed some purposes in the young leader. Paul is gently reminding Timothy of these as he begins to fulfill his assignment in the city of Ephesus.

Secondly, Paul warns Timothy that the work of the ministry would be hard. The metaphor chosen to convey this was that of waging war. Ministry wages war on a world system and upon Satan's forces. Timothy needed this reminder. But it is a "good warfare" that results in the salvation of souls and the glory of Jesus Christ.

There were two things to cling to as the warfare battles blazed: faith and a good conscience. Timothy was to believe and trust God. He was to hold fast to the truth of the gospel. He was to trust that God will empower His work in Timothy for His glory. And doing so would confirm the "rightness" of the ministry efforts in Ephesus. It would help him sleep well each night doing with confidence what had been his commission with a good conscience.

Lord,
Thank you for these short pastoral reminders to Timothy. I may not have ever been the gifted young leader that young man was, but the task of ministry today carries with it the same weight. And these encouragements to faithful ministry resonate in me as I anticipate more work in your kingdom today and in my future.
Amen