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| 2 Timothy 2:8-10; 3:10-15
8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. 10 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.
10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 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. 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
New International Version (NIV)
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If you could say one last thing, what would it be? The final words Patrick Henry wrote in his last will and testament are these: “I have now disposed of all my property for my family; there is one thing more I wish I could give them, and that is the Christian religion. If they had this, and I had not given them one shilling, they would be rich, and if they have not that, and I had given them all the world, they would be poor.”
Paul wrote one last letter to Timothy. I know Titus and Philemon come later in the New Testament, but this letter appears to be Paul’s last. He is in Roman chains, preparing to be martyred, but he is still talking about Jesus. In fact, in a corrupt first-century world ruled by pagan emperors, Paul had so little to say about government. He expected every faithful Christian witness to be persecuted in the name of Jesus. Regardless of the emperor in Rome, Paul knew Jesus Christ as Lord. He fixed his eyes on Jesus. So should we.
Years ago, during some denominational battle, one of my heroes, Dr. Frank Pollard refused to take sides. This incensed one of his friends who said, “You need to get in the game, Frank.” Frank answered, “The game is sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with a lost world. What you guys are doing is a fight underneath the stands.” I think of those words these days. The simple message of Jesus transformed a broken world in the first century. It still will. Jesus was enough for the believers 2000 years ago. He still is. Think about him. Talk about him. Lift your eyes in delight and tell about him: “Look who has come to the world.” Watch what he does when we do. Jesus was the first Word. He will have the last word. Jesus.
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Pray with me:
Father, thank you for sending us your Son. Help us to be the “good news” people in a bad news world. Lift us above the strife, Father. Move us beyond the petty politics of our day into the powerful proclamation of Jesus. Change your church, Father, and through us change the world. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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| Our 2022 Every Day with Jesus readings will cover the whole Bible in one year. Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy here:
We would love for you to join us as we read through the Bible this year. In addition, I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year. As we journal together this year, Highlight a verse that stands out to you, Explain what it means, Apply that truth to your life and Respond to what you’ve read with an action or prayer.
Joyfully,
Duane
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