Lessons from the offerings for our devotional lives today, first for peace (thankfulness), second for sins of 'ignorance' (light untroubled sinning), third for guilt by association, fourth for 'trespass' (sins against God). How can we repent without knowing these categories of offence?

Like daily prayer, Scripture reading, mortification of sin and good works, the stirring up and enlivening of God-given abilities is a regular duty not only for ministers such as Timothy, but for all believers. Here is the method of Paul.

Paul here names three elements of conversion to Christ: 'Power', describing the great change of life; 'love', describing all that Christ has done to secure pardon for us; and 'a sound mind', describing the clear view of God, of life and of eternity that conversion brings.

The apostle explains his persistence in service, however arduous, as being driven by Christ's love to him, showing how the power of that love comes from reflecting on it. Here are the elements that awaken and compel our souls, proving also that new life is within. 

A final teaching miracle by the risen Lord trains seven apostles to see key principles of service and instrumentality, including the threefold reproof and restoration of Peter, and the lessons for us, especially on the nature of true love for Christ leading to lifelong loyalty.