Religious Education

Marylene Douglas

I remember being at a 60th birthday of a friend, and when the time for speeches came, I was so struck by the way  my friend’s husband and daughters honoured her life. They spoke about her qualities and virtues, about her faith and who she is as a mother and a wife. I really was so moved by all that I heard and the celebration I was a part of on that night. 

Have you ever thought about what you would like the people in your life to say about you at an important event like that or when you are not in the room?

In the Scriptures, there is a story of Saint Paul talking to Timothy. Paul was in prison at the time and encouraging Timothy to keep going.

“Now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, and my suffering the things that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them” (2 Timothy 3:10-11).

Paul was able to say, “you have observed…” meaning you have seen all these things in my life. You know me. We are Christ-followers together and because you have observed all these things, you know how to go on living when I die because Paul knew he would die in prison and soon.

Who are you observing and following today? There are more people on the Internet, on social media, and on television that are easier to ‘observe’ than ever before. Just think how fast news or scandal is shared around the world, and it is hard not to ‘observe’ all of that. Sometimes you just want to shut yourself off from all news and media and take a break as it can be so stressful.

 There are people you come across that you don’t want to observe in any shape or form.

But what Paul said was, “you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, and my suffering.” He was talking about all that he had learned from Jesus and how he lived his Christian life. His way of living was something for others to take hope from and emulate because he was a Christ-follower who was full of faith.

So let me ask  again, who are you observing and following today, and who is observing and following you?

As Christians, we all have that responsibility and even though our lives may look different, I am certain that you will have people in your world looking to you for example, for hope, and for encouragement. Paul was reminding us that it is not so that we would be honored or loved or even acknowledged ourselves, but that people would see Christ in us or feel they are closer to God because of us. It is through our conduct, aim in life, faith, patience, love, steadfastness, forgiveness and hope that we  can reach people with the “Good News,”  otherwise, how will they  hear it? 

There’s too much noise and negativity in the world, trying to drown out God’s Word. But our mission remains steadfast, to live the Good News and to be the face of Christ to all those we meet. We can be a light in the darkness. We can be a beacon of hope that helps someone find their way to God.