The apostle Paul had a young disciple named Timothy (1 Timothy 1:1-4), whom he instructed to be an example to others as a young pastor in Ephesus (1 Timothy 4:12). No matter what age group you belong to, all who belong to Christ ought to live the Truth, pass the Truth. How do we do that? 

LIVE IT 

In our SPEECH. What we say and how we say it matters. When we speak and talk to people, we can have the opportunity to encourage others (Ephesians 4:29). James tells us that our words have the power of life and death! Speak life into other people — use your words to build them up.  

In our CONDUCT. Today’s trend is to do what makes you happy regardless of what God thinks or how it affects others. But for Christians, God’s will is for us to conduct ourselves in a way that is worthy of the gospel (Philippians 1:27). God wants us to live our lives in a way that brings glory to Him.  

In our LOVE. The world’s love is about self-fulfillment; leave when it no longer serves you. 1 Corinthians 13:4 tells us that LOVE is patient, kind, is not jealous, does not brag, and is not arrogant; and Jesus tells us there is no greater love than to lay down your life for a friend (John 15:13). In the last days, people will be lovers of self, money, pleasure rather than lovers of God, etc. (2 Timothy 3:1-5). If love for self or other things becomes greater than your love for God, it’s a misdirected love. We must love God above all! 

In our FAITH. Nowadays people tend to believe in oneself---you are your own source of strength and success. However, the Bible tells us to trust in the Lord, and not depend on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). We apply this when we pray. Instead of trying to control what we cannot control, prayer reflects our faith in Jesus, not in ourselves.  

In our PURITY. Another trend says if it feels good, it’s okay to be sexually intimate. Everyone is doing it. God’s truth, however, teaches us to be pure. Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:18-19). God created sex a beautiful thing inside marriage. Do not believe in the lie that you need to have sex outside marriage or else you are lacking that ultimate thing. When it comes to sexual sin, we fight it by “fleeing” from it and pursuing righteousness.  Be pure so you can be useful to our Master, prepared for every good work (2 Timothy 2:20-22). We need to follow His design for marriage (between male and female).  Also, be part of a Dgroup. We need people in our lives to help us. We need others to encourage us to flee from sin. 

PASS IT 

Paul tells Timothy to be strong in the Lord and to pass on the truth he received. Paul entrusted the truth to Timothy, who would pass it on to faithful men who would teach it to others. Four generations of disciples!  

It was Timothy’s mother Lois and grandmother Eunice who first entrusted the truth to Timothy (2 Timothy 1:5).  For single parents today, you can take heart that even without a spouse, you can pass on the faith to your children.  

In 2 Timothy 2:3-6, Paul reminds Timothy that it was Jesus who enlisted them to be good soldiers for Him. They are to please their commanding officer and will experience hardships as they pass on the truth. To avoid being disqualified, they are to remain focused on Jesus.  Remember when we’re discouraged and tired, it was for the Lord that Paul endured all these sufferings (2 Timothy 2:7-10).  

May we be like the apostle Paul, who fought the good fight and finished well (2 Timothy 4:7-8). Live out God’s Truth and pass it to the next generation!