Paul Selects Timothy
Open Your Bible
Acts 15:36-41, Acts 16:1-15, John 15:26, 1 Corinthians 9:19-21
BY Erin Davis
If you are in Christ, you have been chosen.
Chosen for a mission of supernatural significance (Matthew 28:19–20).
Chosen to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19).
Chosen to be a living epistle, written on the hearts of man (2Corinthians 3:2).
Chosen as a beacon of bright light in the darkness (Matthew 5:14).
Chosen for a privilege you could never earn and do not deserve—to be on co-mission with Christ for the spread of the gospel and the glory of God. As we park in Acts 15–16, Timothy is our mascot for this truth. He was a part of something truly remarkable, a movement of God’s Spirit unlike anything the world had seen before. With his own eyes Timothy saw sinners become saints in droves. He saw churches being formed where there had never been churches before. He saw believers growing in strength and power in a culture determined to weaken them. He saw the fruit of a harvest of souls grow so rapidly he could measure the change day by day (Acts 16:5).
Timothy didn’t earn the right to be used by God in this way. It was mercy, not merit.
His position was preceded by a “sharp disagreement” between Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:39). How’s that for starting off on the wrong foot? He was half Jewish with a momma who could no longer fit within the religious establishment. He was half Greek in an era when Gentiles were just discovering the door to the kingdom was open to them. Paul attempted to bridge the gap with a ritual to appease some, but likely just placed a bigger magnifying glass on the fact that Timothy didn’t fit into the expectations of others (Acts 16:3). He was a misfit, chosen for a mission he wasn’t qualified for. Aren’t we all?
Timothy’s calling reminds me of a beloved quote from another unlikely instrument. Helen Roseveare, the daughter of an English mathematician, was called by God to love and serve the people of the Congo. She saw the Spirit of God move too and once reflected,
“Looking back, one has tried to ‘count the cost,’ but I find it all swallowed up in privilege. The cost suddenly seems very small and transient in the greatness and permanence of the privilege.”
That’s the song that all unlikely instruments play: the greatness and permanence of the privilege of serving Christ. As we see how God used Timothy, let’s consider our own calling. Jesus didn’t draw us to Himself because we are worthy. He doesn’t use us to build His kingdom because we’ve climbed an invisible ladder of perfection or performance. Instead, He specializes in calling the underqualified and undeserving. Let’s marvel anew at our Timothyness—unworthy, yet chosen to serve.
46 thoughts on "Paul Selects Timothy"
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Anyone else notice the shift in 16:10 to first person? Who is telling the story at that point?
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Ariana, I get where you are coming from. Following God can feel burdensome, especially when you are three days behind in your Bible study, haven’t prayed in a while, and groan when you have to get up early on Sunday to go to church. We’ve all been there. My recommendation is to add a few things to your passive time. spend time in the car or when you prepare meals and listen to praise music or Christian podcasts. These tools enable us to “worship” in our own way and allow us to enjoy learning more about God and his plan for our lives. I have found these actions open my heart to God more and then study, prayer, and worship seem to fall into place a little easier. I still get behind in studies and grumble occasionally when I have to get up early for something, but I’m a work in progress. I’ll keep you in my prayers.
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“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.”
I think it’s a beautiful thing to be chosen by God. It means that God wants you to publicly share the gospel with others.. to carry it to the ends of the earth, and get dozens, even millions of people saved! I pray that whenever God calls us to send us.. that we will not use our regular excuses of “oh, i’m not ready” or “I’m not capable enough” and just go.. and of course trust him!
It’s also interesting to look at the disagreement between Paul and Barnabas in this section of Acts. I can definitely understand why Paul perhaps had his own doubts of bringing Mark along.. and I definitely understand why Barnabas saw more in him and wanted to give him a second chance. However, I think it’s important for us to not judge Mark too harshly, or, at all. Some of us have done the same thing, leaving God because for something else.. but the important thing to focus on is that God has forgiven us for that.. and we have returned to Him!
But when we choose to join the followers who were sent out to Jesus, we have to remember that all of us are in it together.. no one is better than anyone else. Its better to work together than instead of against each other
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I love how the Holy Spirit lead them to where they needed to go and where they weren’t suppose to go. I want to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading like that in my life.
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Unworthy, yet chosen to serve. ❤️
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Did anyone else notice that Paul not only picked up Timothy but in Acts 16:10 he picks up Luke? Starting with Acts 16:10 everything is phrased “we”. Paul had a new convert and someone who had been with Christ traveling with him. I sometimes feel like Timothy when I’m doing some of my devotions and studies because of all the new information I’m learning. At other times I feel like Paul I know the rules but I’m the one to pass on my knowledge. And yet at other times I feel like Luke because I’ve been a Christian for all my life and I know many of the stories forward and backwards. The one thing I’ve learned is that, through new insights, I don’t know all I need to know (and probably never will) about being a Christian, God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the Bible.
Have wonderful and blessed day sisters. -
Arina,
Beyond anything, the grace and the blood of Jesus covers us. We are not perfect and we never will be, but we are also not called to be. Yes, we are asked to leave our old selves behind and take up the cross. Denying our flesh is difficult, and it is something that EVERY Christian struggles with. But by the grace of God, it is not something we are called to do by our own strength. We have a mighty and perfect God that wants to help us. The Holy Spirit gives us the strength and will to make the choices we should to bring God glory.Jude 1:24 mentions “to the One who is able to keep us from stumbling” – this means that our God is great enough to help us make whatever changes are necessary, we just need to lean on him.
New nature comes from a closeness with the Lord and learning His nature intimately. Holy Spirit will cultivate in you a heart of grace, just like his, and the fruit of the Spirit will manifest in your life too. As we lean in to him more, we crave him more, and the outside life just begins to sort of “slough off.”
Lean on His Grace, tuck in to His love, and talk to Him about this daily. He will give you the strength you need, and the peace that surpasses all understanding. Remember He has made you accepted in the Beloved.
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Arina,
Beyond anything, the grace and the blood of Jesus covers us. We are not perfect and we never will be, but we are also not called to be. Yes, we are asked to leave our old selves behind and take up the cross. Denying our flesh is difficult, and it is something that EVERY Christian struggles with. But by the grace of God, it is not something we are called to do by our own strength. We have a mighty and perfect God that wants to help us. The Holy Spirit gives us the strength and will to make the choices we should to bring God glory.Jude 1:24 mentions “to the One who is able to keep us from stumbling” – this means that our God is great enough to help us make whatever changes are necessary, we just need to lean on him.
New nature comes from a closeness with the Lord and learning His nature intimately. Holy Spirit will cultivate in you a heart of grace, just like his, and the fruit of the Spirit will manifest in your life too. As we lean in to him more, we crave him more, and the outside life just begins to sort of “slough off.”
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