2 Timothy 1:12-14

For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

Personal Challenge

We live in an age and a culture where sound Christian principles are rebuffed and mocked. The same thing happened to Jesus and His apostles. So, what do we do to deal with this? We stay true to Him. We suffer those things that the world throws at us knowing that God is able keep us in His hands until we meet Him face-to-face. We hold fast to His sound teaching and let the Holy Spirit dwell within us and work through us. Glory be to God!

2 Timothy 1:8-9

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,

Personal Challenge

It is so easy to get caught up in the mindset that we are doing the work of God that we believe is right. We have defined it in our own mind and heart and try to force God into our box of submission. It is God who has a plan, not only for all that happens in and around us, but for what He has called us to do. He still allows us our free will so that we can either choose to follow that plan or go our own way. Either choice we make will have its associated consequences. How much better it is when we choose to submit to Him. That is when we will not be ashamed to give our testimony of Him. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

2 Timothy 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Encouraging Words

As we approach the celebration of Pentecost, we are reminded that when Jesus ascended into heaven leaving us behind, He did not leave us alone. He sent us the Holy Spirit to dwell within the hearts of His followers. This Holy Spirit brings within us a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind, not a spirit of fear. This is our encouragement as we fight the good fight for our Lord. Glory be to God!

1 Timothy 6:20-21

O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge— by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith.

Grace be with you. Amen.

Personal Challenge

We live in an age where there is an abundance of information to be consumed. He also live in an age when so many people count on their own assumption of wisdom to review and embrace that information. Unfortunately, without a solid foundation in the truth, especially the truth carried by those who have been around for extended periods of time, error and lies begin to be embraced as the truth. I have especially seen this happening in the church. Many young people are coming into the church, having searched the internet and decided for themselves what is the “true” church. They ignore those who have been in the church for decades, who have learned from those who came before them, willing to pass that truth to the next generation that would be willing to listen and learn. The result is becoming a church filled with error, a church full of profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge. They have not only strayed from the faith… they never had it. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

1 Timothy 6:11-12

But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Command with a Promise

Let’s start with those things that we are to flee from: obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wrangling of men of corrupt minds, and destitution of the truth. The command is to flee from these things and to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. And what is the promise that we receive for doing this? The opportunity to lay hold on eternal life. Glory be to God!

1 Timothy 6:6

Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

Personal Challenge

There are many things in life that many people deem as great to pursue in order to achieve contentment in life. Wealth. Health. Prestige. A following. Knowledge. And the list goes on. All of these things are fleeting and disappear with time. However, if we can grow to a point in our spiritual journey where we have godliness in our lives and we are content in that godliness no matter what the circumstances of life are going on around us, then we will have achieved great gain in our lives. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

1 Timothy 4:12

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Personal Challenge

I have always enjoyed using Paul’s writings to Timothy to encourage the youth that I worked with. This verse, even though directed at the youth, can apply to all of us. It is our example that speaks loudest. Our words can quickly be nullified if our actions do not follow them. If we desire to be a godly example, an example that others want to follow, then we must be examples in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Love, have mercy!

1 Timothy 4:10

For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

Personal Challenge

Jesus taught, and Paul reinforces, that if we try to live our lives for Christ, following in His footsteps, and loving as He loved, then we will be hated and persecuted. That hatred and per­secution will come from the world who has rejected Christ and sometimes it will come from those who proclaim Christ but have gone off course. But no matter what, we are still called to labor for Christ and to suffer that reproach. We do this because we trust in the living God who is our Savior. We do this because He will someday say to us, “Well done, my good and faithful child.” Glory be to God!