The prospect of persecution, and the stresses of church leadership, might have made nervous Timothy (2 Timothy 1:7) want to step back from his responsibilities as the leader of a gospel church.  However, Paul urged him not to give up (2 Timothy 1:8; 2 Timothy 2:1; 2 Timothy 4:1-5), not just because of duty or personal loyalty to Paul, but because the Word of God is true and the gospel is powerful.  God’s salvation had come uniquely to Timothy through faith in Jesus Christ, and Timothy was to pass it on (2 Timothy 2:2).
 
Timothy’s personal faith was at the core of his ministry.  He knew that God had spoken to him through the Scriptures and that they had proved utterly reliable – assuring him of eternal salvation through Christ and providing wisdom for his life and ministry.  Timothy was not a professional acting out a role, but a gospel-practitioner trusting in Jesus Christ.  And yet Timothy, with all his gifts and all his frailties (2 Timothy 1:6-7) needed to be encouraged to keep following Jesus and believing the Scriptures.

His service for the Lord was not a job but a lifestyle.  He had the example of his grandmother and mother who lived out their lives in faith, expecting the Messiah and trusting Him when they heard about Jesus.  Those women would have taken the responsibilities of Deuteronomy 6:4-9 seriously in bringing Timothy up in awe of the Lord and obedient to God’s Word (2 Timothy 1:5) so that he was prepared to receive the gospel message (Acts 16:1-3).  But He still needed encouragement to keep going with Jesus,
 
We need that reminder too (2 Peter 1:12).  It is not only the pressure of persecution for some; it is easy for the stresses of daily life, family, business or even ministry responsibilities, to get in the way of our personal relationship with the Lord.  The solution is simple: reinvest in your relationship with Jesus Christ as you soak in His Word and talk to Him about everything.  Of course, it is good to be encouraged by the example of others through whom you have come to believe in Jesus.  We cannot be ‘professional’ Christians; we must be gospel-practitioners.  The only way to stay fresh and confident in relationship with Jesus is to receive His Word and practise living it every day.