Thursday, October 24

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

Jeremiah 44:24–47:7

2 Timothy 2:22–3:17

Psalm 94:1–23

Proverbs 26:6–8

 

 

“That is why I am suffering as I am.  Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believe, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12)

 

“Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David.  This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal.  But God’s Word is not chained.  Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.” (2 Timothy 2:8–10)

 

“You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings – what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, the persecutions I endured.  Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.  In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.  But, as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:10–17)

 

“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering… ” (2 Timothy 4:6ff)

 

 

Throughout 2 Timothy, Paul’s urgency shines through.  Historical evidence suggests that Paul wrote this letter at the tail end of his life and ministry, imprisoned under Emperor Nero in AD 66 or 67.  While his earlier imprisonment had taken place within a rented house, he now suffers in a cold dungeon, “chained” like a common criminal.  In ancient times, prisoners relied on their friends and family for any kindness, and Paul’s friends now even struggle to identify his location (1:17).

 

Much like the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul had built his ministry around preaching the Gospel and building into worthy disciples.  Now, with precious few days ahead, Paul urges Timothy to persist through difficult circumstances and to focus on matters of lasting consequence.  As Pastor Scott has mentioned before, in the final calculus, only three things remain from our daily lives:  God’s Word, people’s souls, and our decisions.

 

As we read here, the “approved” disciple may employ God’s Word for “teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.”  From 1 Timothy 4:8, we understand that “physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”  God’s Word forms the center of our personal discipleship, helping us and instructing us how both to love God and love people, and our efforts to make disciples.

 

God’s Word will never fade away or lose its luster.  While worldly wisdom may argue otherwise, God’s Word will never be proven false.  It truly serves as the start of all wisdom.  As President Theodore Roosevelt explained, “a thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.”  The world appears overwhelmed with knowledge and information of varying quality.  Our heads are exploding with the overload, but our hearts remain unsettled and unmoored.  The world is dying for want of wisdom.  We have the privilege of sharing the beauty and integrity of God’s Word with this hungry world.

 

Also, please note the proliferation of “suffering” terminology that Paul shares in his letter.  Clearly, Paul faced dire straits himself, but he generalizes that “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”  This idea follows after Jesus’s promise that the world will bring trouble.  Despite this suffering, we sense that Paul experiences the joy of remaining faithful to his King and testifying till the end:  “Now, there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

 

May we cling to God’s Word and the Gospel as our sustenance in a time in which the world appears trouble-filled.  May we embrace the hope of heavenly reward as much greater and deeper than any temporary, earthly promise.

 

Lord God, we seek to love You with all our lives – and especially during these challenging days.  Please fill our hearts and minds with hope and a deep reliance on Your Word.  Teach us to value what You value, that we may live rightly and prioritize appropriately.  In Jesus’s Name, Amen.

________________________________________
1) Blog:                  http://bit.ly/rV1Cw1

2) Facebook:        http://on.fb.me/tc6jkS