Friday Devo
Scripture Reading:
2 Timothy 2:8-13
8 Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach. 9 And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained. 10 So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen.
11 This is a trustworthy saying:
If we die with him,
we will also live with him.
12 If we endure hardship,
we will reign with him.
If we deny him,
he will deny us.
13 If we are unfaithful,
he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny who he is.
8 Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach. 9 And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained. 10 So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen.
11 This is a trustworthy saying:
If we die with him,
we will also live with him.
12 If we endure hardship,
we will reign with him.
If we deny him,
he will deny us.
13 If we are unfaithful,
he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny who he is.
Commentary:
2:8 Paul continues the thought of vv. 1–7 by rooting his exhortation in the realities of the gospel (cf. 1:9–11). Remember Jesus Christ. Paul certainly doesn’t think that Timothy is in danger of forgetting Jesus! Rather, this is a call to remain mindful of the truths of the gospel, which is centered on Jesus, the risen Messiah (offspring of David).
2:10 endure … for the sake of the elect. While there is disagreement among Christians on the doctrine of election, a biblical understanding of the doctrine does not undercut mission work but enables it. Paul endures precisely because of a certainty that, through his ministry, God will save some. See notes on Rom. 8:29; 8:30; Eph. 1:11.
2:11–13 The trustworthy statement moves from comfort to challenge and back to comfort: v. 11b is a reminder of life even in the face of death; v. 12 calls for perseverance; v. 13 is a reminder of God’s preserving power and faithfulness. In this context, to deny him must entail a more serious offense than being faithless. Denying Christ envisions final apostasy, in contrast with a temporary lapse in trusting Christ (“if we are faithless”). Those who deny Jesus will be judged forever; but all believers sin, and God is faithful and will pardon, restore, and keep those who are truly his.
2:10 endure … for the sake of the elect. While there is disagreement among Christians on the doctrine of election, a biblical understanding of the doctrine does not undercut mission work but enables it. Paul endures precisely because of a certainty that, through his ministry, God will save some. See notes on Rom. 8:29; 8:30; Eph. 1:11.
2:11–13 The trustworthy statement moves from comfort to challenge and back to comfort: v. 11b is a reminder of life even in the face of death; v. 12 calls for perseverance; v. 13 is a reminder of God’s preserving power and faithfulness. In this context, to deny him must entail a more serious offense than being faithless. Denying Christ envisions final apostasy, in contrast with a temporary lapse in trusting Christ (“if we are faithless”). Those who deny Jesus will be judged forever; but all believers sin, and God is faithful and will pardon, restore, and keep those who are truly his.
Questions:
- For almost all of church history, being a Christian DID mean that you were poor, hungry, full of sorrow, and hated. America is the anomaly here, the blip on the radar. For the Christian, suffering should be expected. We, on the other hand, have taken that warning and completely gotten it backwards. We have ascribed to the prosperity gospel that says that Jesus wants to bless us and give us stuff if we'll just be obedient to him, while in other parts of the world obedience IS the very thing that causes believers to suffer. SHAME ON US! Have you ever been guilty of thinking along these lines? How do we begin to deconstruct this dangerous belief system that is overtaking our country?
- Our country is moving in a direction that could very will lead to our suffering as culture grows more and more hostile to God and further away from his ways. Spend some time thinking through these questions. Really pray through each one and write down your answers. Don't be tempted to answer the way you WISH you were, but be truthful. (1) If being a Christian meant suffering, would you still be one? (And would you let your kids be one?) (2) Are you building the kind of faith now that will sustain you through suffering? (3) If not, what do you need to stop doing, start doing or change?
Pray:
- That you would reject the prosperity gospel whenever you hear it.
- That your faith in Jesus would be so strong that you would be ready and will to suffer for him.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
7. How can I trust that the Bible is still God’s Word today? I trust the Bible is still God’s Word today because Jesus rose from the dead proving He was God and said His words would never pass away. Through the Holy Spirit, God inspired the writing of the Scripture, determined the canon of Scripture and protected the copying of Scripture so that we might know Him and worship Him to this day.
(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
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