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2 Timothy 4:18

And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

Encouraging Words

Once again we are reminded that we are not alone on our lifelong journey to theosis. Our Lord is with us on this journey and will deliver us from any evil that might come our way. We can choose to accept and receive that help or press on into the midst of the evil and receive the consequences accordingly. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

2 Timothy 4:7-8

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Personal Challenge

Life is tough. Paul talks about fighting the fight and running the race. Living a godly, Christ-centered life is not for the weak or the uncommitted. It is an all or nothing decision that we must make. And when we choose to commit our all to the life of Christ we can expect to be beaten, spit upon, ostracized, and even crucified. But there is a plus side to all of this. What we choose to give up in this world turns out to be a down payment on all the treasures that God has in store for us in eternity. We believe, we know, that in that day He will give us our crown of righteousness and He will welcome us into His Kingdom and the presence of our glorious God. This may be our personal challenge, but it will definitely be worth it. Glory be to God!

2 Timothy 4:1-4

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

Personal challenge

We have been duly charged by Apostle Paul to be ready to stand firm on the teachings of our Lord through His Church. Our charge is to preach the Word of God, Jesus Christ, to be ready at all times to give an answer with regards to whom we put our hope in, Jesus Christ, and to rebuke, exhort, and to do it all with long-suffering. We are also to be on our guard against fake teachings and doctrines that will infiltrate the body of Christ. We have our work cut out for us. Glory be to God!

2 Timothy 3:16-17

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Encouraging Words

The teachings and writings that we follow have been inspired by our loving God so that we would have what we need to live Godly, Christ-centered lives. Christ, himself is the living embodiment of the Word of God. He is the Light that illumines our way. Glory be to God!

2 Timothy 3:12

Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

Personal Challenge

So, after reading this simple verse, I have asked myself “Am I suffering persecution?” The answer is, “No!” So, if I am not suffering persecution, then does that mean that I am not desiring to live godly in Christ Jesus? That is a tough one. We do live in a country and a time where I am not persecuted for being a Christian. Yet! But that day may be coming. We do live in a culture, though, where if I try to live a Christlike life, people around me will get agitated. We have become so polarized in our thinking that if I try to think or behave outside of the cultural box that everyone wants to force me into, then some form of persecution is exhibited. Try it out sometime and see what happens. Be apolitical, neither Republican or Democrat and see what happens. Love those around you, no matter what their sexual preference, political leanings, social agenda, race, color, or creed and see what happens. Love and take care of the downtrodden, the widow, the orphan, the migrant, or the outcast and see what happens. Maybe the reason I am not seeing persecution in my life is that I am not following in the footsteps of Jesus. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

2 Timothy 2:22-26

Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

Personal challenge

This is another one of those passages that is packed full of the truths that we need to make it through every day. What should we avoid in our lives? Youthful lusts. Foolish and ignorant disputes that generate strife. Do not quarrel. We avoid these so that we can do the things that God wants us to do. What are these things? Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, especially with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Be gentle to all, able to teach. Be patient and humble in our dealings with others. We are God’s instruments in this world to show them who God is and how much He loves them. This should dictate to us the behaviors to live our lives by. Glory be to God!

2 Timothy 2:14-17

Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer.

Personal Challenge

Heresy, the truth of God twisted to meet our own desires. We must constantly be on the guard for those who twist the truths of our Lord for their own gain or edification. We must also watch our own words to make sure that we are not professing our own doctrine and therefore creating our own heresies. This is especially true today as the post-modern church becomes more individualistic and fosters the mindset that we each have the right and the ability to interpret the scriptures the way that we see fit. Our responsibility is to our God, to be diligent in our work and approved by Him, to rightly divide the word of truth. We do this by staying connected to His Church and relying on the teachings of our holy fathers before us. Glory be to God!

2 Timothy 2:11-13

This is a faithful saying:
For if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him.
If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him,
He also will deny us.
If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself.

Encouraging Words

I remember growing up and hearing my mother say, “If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride.” We can go through our lives wishing things were different or wishing for things to be given to us, but this passage reminds us that if we do certain things, then there will be consequences. If we die to ourselves for our Lord’s sake, then we will live our lives with Him and in His glory. If we endure this world, then we will reign with Him in His Kingdom. If we deny Him, He will deny us in the day of judgment. If we stumble and lose our faith, He will remain faithful to us because He dwells within us. Glory be to God!