eMseni Methodist Church

Daily Devotions for Fri 19 Jun 2026

Read - 1 Timothy 1:1-2

“To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord ”. v 2

Paul calls Timothy "My true son in the faith". That's the kind of relationship Paul had with Timothy that developed into a father-son relationship. Matthew Henry in his commentary says Paul called Timothy his own son because he had been an instrument of his conversion and because he had served him like a son.

Paul greets Timothy with "grace" - undeserved love of God. Paul adds "mercy” - an act of kindness. Then “peace” - God's gift, which Christ gave to his disciples shortly after his resurrection; Paul extended it all to Timothy. Paul wished all the blessings, all the best, for Timothy regardless that they were not biologically related. The bond they had superseded the absence of biological relationship.

We are therefore encouraged to imitate Paul and Timothy. One of the crises we are experiencing these days is the large number of young men involved in crime who end up in jail. The root problem identified is the lack of father figures in their lives to guide them. At the last Young Men's Guild convention, we were urged to take charge of young men and become father figures to them and mentor them, especially those from single mother families in our neighbourhoods.

This is our social responsibility and Christian service, and by so doing we would be creating ‘Paul-Timothy’ relationships.

Prayer: Father help us to rescue our young people who are wandering in this evil world and show them your light and life. Amen

Daily Devotions for Thurs 18 Jun 2026

Read - Philippians 2:19-30

“I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you”. v 19

Paul was imprisoned in Rome so he could not visit the churches, as was his custom. He needed assistance in the form of a person who had free movement, who could go and visit them, so that Paul would know what was happening and who would continue his work to exhort the churches.

Timothy was that person and Paul wrote to the Philippians to explain the situation. It is interesting to note that Paul said he hoped ‘in the Lord Jesus’ because everything depends on Him allowing something to happen or not.

James 4:13-17 reminds us that we need to subject ourselves to God's will, because it is He who has power over everything and everyone. Phil 2:20 says Paul had no one else like him who takes genuine interest in their welfare. This is a vital quality of a disciple. The Zulu Bible version says 'I have no one with a heart like his who can take care of your affairs diligently’. This is how we should all be, and this is how we can be.

Timothy was a handy young man who could be entrusted with the responsibility of shepherding the flock of God with care and love. This is what we are called to be - ‘a responsible, caring and loving community’. Taking genuine interest in everyone's well being. Praying for each other, carrying each other's burden (Gal 6:2) and being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose (Phil. 2:2).

Prayer: Lord, we ask that you make us a loving and caring community that obeys your commandment of love. Amen

Just a reminder that Confirmation Classes begin this Sunday at 5:00 PM at the Community Centre.
We look forward to welcoming all our confirmands as we begin this exciting journey of faith together.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Jonathan.

Daily Devotions for Wed 17 Jun 2026

Read - 1 Corinthians 16:5-18

“If Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am”. v 10

Shortly after Paul had encouraged the Corinthians about giving, he told them about his traveling plans, including his promise to come and visit them. Then he tells them about Timothy, a young leader of the church, who was to come to them. Paul asked the Corinthians to welcome him with warmth so that He would feel at home.

Sometimes when one is new to a place one is not familiar with the people and place and one may fear to ask even for a small thing. Paul prepared a way for Timothy before he came. Congregations are not all the same as they do things differently.

I know a certain minister who at the end of his tenure in one circuit asked each society to welcome the new minister who was to arrive at the end of that year, as they had welcomed him.

Paul emphasised that Timothy was carrying out the work of the Lord, as Paul was. We all do God's work in different capacities, be it in ordained ministry, lay preaching, door stewardship, ministry leadership, tea duty etc.

No work is more or less important than the other; they are all important and support each other. In Psalm 133 David says "How good and pleasant it is when brothers (sisters) live together in unity” This is what we are called to: working together, sharing the workload and supporting each other.

Prayer: Brother sister let me serve you, Let me be as Christ to you. Pray that I might have the grace To let you be my servant too (Richard Gillard)

Daily Devotions for Tues 16 Jun 2026

Read - 1 Corinthians 4:14-21

“For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church”. v 17

In this chapter Paul raised the fact that the Apostles are servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. He further raised the requirements of a steward, as faithfulness. Paul had made it a point to teach one and the same teaching to all churches he visited or wrote to. He further mentioned that he had sent Timothy, who was faithful to God, to them. Our calling is to be faithful to God not to individual human beings.

It is saddening sometimes when one sees or hears Christians openly declaring their loyalty to a certain leader and not to God, even worse when that leader seems to enjoy that loyalty and doesn’t point allegiance to God, not humans.
Timothy's duty to this church was to remind them, not of Paul's ways, but of what he taught them and practiced while he was among them - faith to God, good conduct both in speech and behaviour.

A good leader is one who leads by example. In verse 16 Paul urges them to imitate him, as he does in chapter 11:1. As leaders and Christians can we have that standard wherever we are? Our allegiance is to God, both in private and public.
Paul in 2 Tim 2:15 writes, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth". We are called to this!

Prayer: Lord help us to be exemplary in both conduct and speech, so as to lead your people truthfully. Amen

Daily Devotions for Mon 15 Jun 2026

Read - Acts 16:1-15

“Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek.” v 1

Luke tells us about the second missionary journey which was interrupted by the squabble between Paul and Barnabas over John Mark who had deserted them during the first missionary journey.

Barnabas wanted to take him with them, as they would be visiting previously visited areas. Paul would have none of it and when they could not reach an agreement he took Silas while Barnabas took John Mark. Sometimes division and disagreements between Christians lead to disastrous consequences, sometimes it's for good.

Paul and Silas came to Derbe and Lystra and found a certain disciple named Timothy. At this stage it is unclear as to how he became a disciple, was it as a result of the first missionary journey or through his mother's teaching and influence, as she was a believer herself.

In Paul's letter to Timothy we discover the identity of his mother, Eunice, and his grandmother Lois. And Paul tells us of their faith.
I identify with Timothy's discipleship influence, the maternal side of his parents. Parents have a duty to save their children by giving them grounding Christian teachings. In Proverbs 22:6 Solomon says, "Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it".

Prayer: Lord, please give us wisdom as we help our children grow in faith in You. Help us to be a positive influence and to show them our true faith in You.

Join us online @ 09:00
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This Sunday Ps Jonathan Coates will continue our series, Jesus Prepares His Disciples for Action, with Part 10: Timothy (2 Tim 1:1-9).

If you can’t join us in person at 07:30 or 09:00, feel welcome to join us online.

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