1 Timothy 1:1-2 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,
To Timothy my true son in the faith:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

On the one hand, this seems like a very formal salutation to be addressed to someone who was Paul’s “true son,” but on the other hand, it shows that Paul was always Paul, not showing a different persona depending on the circumstances. Paul and Timothy’s relationship is a very moving part of the New Testament story. Timothy’s Greek father does not seem to have been a believer, and may well have been out of the picture by the time Paul met the family, but he was raised to know God by his mother and grandmother. (2 Timothy 1:5) They obviously trusted Paul with him completely, as shown by the fact that Paul circumcised him. (Acts 16:3) As I learned only recently, Jewish lineage is counted through the mother, so Timothy was technically Jewish. That Paul was a father-figure to Timothy is undeniable, fully justifying Paul’s terminology of “true child.” As many adopted families can testify, such relationships aren’t necessarily dictated by genetics! A genuine father will invest himself in his son in many ways, quite apart from genetics, and a genuine son will respond to that, likewise in many ways. All of this comes back to God as our heavenly Father. He has invested Himself in us in countless ways, starting from creation itself and culminating in the gift of Christ on the cross, taking the penalty for our sins, and cementing it all with the gift of the Holy Spirit, who is His presence with us constantly. How much we live as His children depends on how we respond to Him and all He has done for us. Timothy, in all his weaknesses, is a good example for us, because we too struggle with various weaknesses, but he eventually fully discharged all that was entrusted to him, and by God’s grace we can do likewise.

I well remember the emotional blow it was to me when I realized I would never have any genetic sons. I loved my daughters, but as a man, I wanted a son! However, the Lord has given me multiple sons in the faith, and I am deeply grateful. Two in particular stand out in my mind and heart, and interestingly, they share the same given name! One has wandered far, and may even have wandered from the faith, but I have no connection with him at this point to know. The other, though geographically removed, continues to grow in faith and is seeking to raise his genetic son as a believer. There are various others with a somewhat weaker connection, but I think they still count me as a father in the faith. The Lord may well give me more such sons, but that’s His business. My point it to be faithful in exercising the authority and love He has given me to build them up and draw them to Him, for their blessing and His glory.

Father, thank You for my genetic children and my spiritual children. May I be the father You want me to be, always pointing them to You, so that Your family may be as You desire, establishing Your kingdom for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!