Description
For this week, our activities are focused on the Old Testament readings (Lamentations 1:1-6, 3:19-26) and the Epistle reading (2 Timothy 1:1-14). These readings describe God as gracious, faithful, loving, good, compassionate, powerful to save, and worthy of our trust and faith. What strength we can draw from God, when we call to mind these things! It is these things that are the basis of faith, and that faith provides a firm foundation for living. This week’s readings and activities invite us to focus our attention on God, draw our strength from God, and to live a life that is oriented towards faith and love through Jesus Christ.
The book of Lamentations is a unique book in the Old Testament. It is a collection of poetic laments over the destruction of Jerusalem. The author of Lamentations is mourning the loss of Jerusalem, praying prayers of lament to God. In the middle of this book of weeping and lamenting sits a few verses devoted to hope in the Lord. These verses invite us to also declare faith and hope in our God who is good and faithful, even when faced with suffering or challenges.
Lamentations 3:19-26 shows us the importance of prayer as a crucial part of our faith journey in a broken world, and in the midst of suffering or other challenging situations. There is purpose and power in turning to God and remembering who God is, even when we feel surrounded by darkness. Lamentations 3:19-26 invites us to call to mind God’s character. Who God is gives us hope in the midst of hardship and suffering.
In 2 Timothy 1:1-14, Paul is encouraging Timothy to remember the faith that has been passed on to him from his grandmother, Lois, and his mother, Eunice. Paul has most likely also had a significant role in Timothy’s “sincere faith” (2 Timothy 1:5). On account of this grounding in Jesus as Timothy’s source of grace and power, Paul then goes on to call Timothy into leadership, and to join Paul in suffering for the gospel. As we reflect on Timothy’s faith being passed on to him from his grandmother, his mother and also Paul, this activity invites us to reflect on those who have been significant people in our lives – who have shared their faith with us – and then those who are the people whom we are investing in and sharing our faith with today.
