The New Testament
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Devotional
Weekly Bible Devotion By Books
Jan.15-20 2024
Enter the presence of the Lord-
(All) Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord
(Women) Come to hear the sound words from the word of God
(Men) Continue in what you have learned, and firmly believed
(Women) Pursue the righteousness, faith, love, peace with a pure heart along with other saints
(Men) Be hopeful in sharing the suffering for the Gospel
(Women) For God is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until That Day.
(Men) He remains faithful because he cannot deny himself.
(Women) He is able to rescue us from every evil deed
(Men) He will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom
(All) May the Lord give you a spirit of power, love, and self-control to do his will.
(Selections from 2 Timothy, NIV)
Confession
O Lord, you have recused us from the darkness into your wonderful gospel for life. We have been entrusted the good news in you. Yet, we are timid. We are lazy to work out our own salvation and carry out your mission. We are lost in the comfort of running programs and activities. We are terribly sorry. Come to stir up the love, faith, and hope that you have deposited in us. Fan into the flame the gift of God we had received. Bring us back to participate in your glorious mission. Grow us and cause us transformed again and again in the grace of you. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Scripture Reading 2 Timothy (NIV)
1:8-12 8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
4:1-2 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
4:6-8 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 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.
Thoughts to Share: Preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ
The 2 Timothy concludes the Paul’s lifelong journey of knowing, following, and serving Jesus Christ. The risen Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit had awakened and raised Paul for the work of Gospel to the gentiles in Hellenistic Roman empire. Now Paul continued to raise Timothy to carry out the next stage of Jesus movement. He earnestly and patiently passed down the most important lessons he had learned to Timothy whom he carefully selected and trained. We see the very important transition from Paul to Timothy. The transition reveals not only the early history of Jesus movement but also the important ministry lessons in early Church history.
Timothy’s work was to carry out the mission of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, nurturing and strengthening Christ’s followers, and establishing the young churches everywhere. He was to do so in the critical time when suspicion, persecution, and desertion toward Christians were abound and the false teachers and their teachings went wild among Christians and their groups.
Let us see Paul’s important and honest words regarding preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ not only to Timothy but also to the Christ-followers of the later generations.
1)Remember what God gave us and deposited in us – the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the spirit of power, love and self-control, and the gift/ talents of God.
2)Expect suffering for Christ. In suffering, remembering the power of the Holy Spirit, the faithful grace of God, the presence of Jesus Christ. Moreover, remembering the purpose in suffering is to let the others may obtain the salvation in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. Remembering the crown of righteousness awaiting to award to those suffered for Christ. Trusting that God will rescue us form every evil deed and bring us safely into his heavenly kingdom. For this reason, commit to fight a good fight and keep the faith.
3)Preach the Word, Gospel of Jesus Christ. The very work of a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is to preach Jesus Christ. Paul uses eight images to illustrate what a minister of Word is like.
Like stewards, the ministers are those who have diligently learned and passionately believed the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They faithfully keep it. They unashamedly proclaim and courageously guard it. They also carefully select and train those faithful men and women who will be able to teach others.
Like soldiers, athletes, farmers, the ministers dedicate their heart, mind, and strength for one goal: to see all may obtain the salvation in Jesus Christ. To commit this goal means that they will accept sacrifice, hard work, disciplines, rules, courses, and suffering for the sake of Jesus Christ. They will be ready to confront challenges and to endure hardships. They will be patient and perseverant to please the one who enlisted them, to reach that crown, and to taste that first share of rewards.
Like workmen, the ministers of the Gospel are skilled and trained in the Word of God. They will rightly handle the word of truth confidently and unashamedly. They shall avoid the empty and foolish talks leading people to swerve from the truth and into ungodliness. They shall be humble before the Word of God. They will concern what and how the word of God can be proclaimed.
Like servants, the ministers are humble before the Lord who is their Master. They concern what and how the word of God can be proclaimed. They take order from the Lord and implement it according to the Lord’s interests, will and purpose. They complete their work to please the Lord. They honor the Holy Spirit to do the work of repentance, and transformation in the people to whom they minister.
Like teachers, the ministers know well of the content they teach. They have the skills to communicate the word of the truth understandable, comprehensible, and applicable. They are not afraid to correct, rebuke, reprove the distorted and wrong teachings and teachers. Not only so, they have the fruits of life such as patience, gentleness, endurance, and love in their teaching process.
Like the vessel for honorable use, the ministers need to understand that they are set apart by the Lord and for the Lord. They are the honorable vessels of the Lord. Therefore, they will keep themselves pursuing righteousness, faith, love, and peace in the fellowship with other holy saints form a pure heart. Flee from youthful passions. Be ready to do all good works.
4) Understand the 'Time' which people are in and its characteristics.
Paul pointed out the true nature and characteristic of the 'Time' the Timothy was in. Paul used 'the last days' to summarize that time. Its main characteristics are opposition of God and practicing ungodliness. They can manifest in all kinds of forms. Each time period has its own version. Ministers should be able to discern them and to deal with the challenges and difficulties they pose to them.
5) Remember the fundamental nature and functions of the Scripture
Paul instructed this: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and training in righteousness, that man of God may be complete and equipped for every good work.
6) Be steadfast.
Paul exhorted Timothy: Preach the word of God in season and out season in many ways: reprove, rebuke, exhort, with complete patience and teaching. Expect that there will be those who cannot take sound truth. But you the ministers of gospel will need to focus on your work. Be sober-minded. Endure suffering. Do the work of an evangelist and fulfill their ministry.
In reading 2 Timothy, we can sense Paul’s mixed emotions in facing his own end-life time. But we also see his rational determination that the mission of the Gospel of Jesus must go on after his passing. We see that Paul’s entire being was saturated with Jesus Christ to the end. He loved the Lord with all his heart, mind, and strength to the end. He dedicated his life and time to the work of God. He endured all kinds of challenges and difficulties. He thoroughly knew the ins and outs of being the ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
In fact, the gospel of Jesus Christ call people out of the world in the world. It is never popular. The Gospel will always challenge those who hear. So, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ will never be an easy work. The 2 Timothy has provided a handbook for those who are placed on the ministry of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We can praise and thank God for having this letter preserved to us in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer Suggestions
The Lord of the Gospel, Sovereign Triune God, I am in awe when I see your plans to ensure all to receive the chance of hearing your salvation plan! You have raised your servants, generation after generation, to continue the mission of sharing your glad news. Being entrusted as your servants, we have awesome and sober work to do. Please open our minds to see the wonder of your truth. Open doors for us to share your good news. Gift us with your word and necessary talents. Strengthen us in difficulties. Continue to transform us into your image. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Benedictions:
The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you! (4:22)
Prayer Request
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