Friday Devo
Scripture:
2 Timothy 4
16 The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them. 17 But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death. 18 Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
16 The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them. 17 But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death. 18 Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
Commentary:
4:16 first defense. Paul’s preliminary hearing before Caesar during his second imprisonment. May it not be charged against them! In his extension of forgiveness to those who abandoned him, Paul is following the teaching and model of Jesus (Luke 23:34); the practice of Stephen, whom Paul saw die (Acts 7:60); and his own teaching (1 Cor. 13:5).
4:17 But the Lord stood by me recalls the Lord’s promise that he will never “leave or forsake” his children (Deut. 31:6, 8; Josh. 1:5; 1 Chron. 28:20; Heb. 13:5). And strengthened me recalls Paul’s confidence in the sufficiency of God’s power and strength, which is “made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:8, 9). The result of God strengthening Paul is that the message of the gospel would be fully proclaimed through Paul, so that all the Gentiles might hear it, signifying that Paul has “finished the race” (2 Tim. 4:7) and completed the mission and calling that God had entrusted to him. Deliverance from the lion’s mouth was a common biblical metaphor for rescue from great danger (cf. Ps. 22:21; Dan. 6:22; Heb. 11:33), and here it probably means Paul was not put to death immediately after his trial (2 Tim. 4:16).
4:18 will rescue me. An assurance of ultimate well-being, not an assurance of release from his present danger. Paul entirely expects execution, but even through death God will bring him safely into his heavenly kingdom (cf. Luke 21:16–19).
4:17 But the Lord stood by me recalls the Lord’s promise that he will never “leave or forsake” his children (Deut. 31:6, 8; Josh. 1:5; 1 Chron. 28:20; Heb. 13:5). And strengthened me recalls Paul’s confidence in the sufficiency of God’s power and strength, which is “made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:8, 9). The result of God strengthening Paul is that the message of the gospel would be fully proclaimed through Paul, so that all the Gentiles might hear it, signifying that Paul has “finished the race” (2 Tim. 4:7) and completed the mission and calling that God had entrusted to him. Deliverance from the lion’s mouth was a common biblical metaphor for rescue from great danger (cf. Ps. 22:21; Dan. 6:22; Heb. 11:33), and here it probably means Paul was not put to death immediately after his trial (2 Tim. 4:16).
4:18 will rescue me. An assurance of ultimate well-being, not an assurance of release from his present danger. Paul entirely expects execution, but even through death God will bring him safely into his heavenly kingdom (cf. Luke 21:16–19).
Questions:
- One of the takeaways from Sunday was, "I may not know where GOD is or what HE'S doing, but He knows where I am and what I'M doing. There are times in all of our lives when we feel abandoned or forgotten by God, or He seems like He's miles away. Reflect on this quote from Francis De Sales: Do not look forward to the changes and chances of this life in fear; rather look to them with full hope that, as they arise, God, whose you are, will deliver you out of them. He is your keeper. He has kept you hither to. Do you but hold fast to his dear hand, and he will lead you safely through all things; and, when you cannot stand, he will bear you in his arms. Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow. Our Father will either shield you from suffering, or he will give you strength to bear it.” What is God speaking to you through this truth? Jot down some thoughts.
- The challenge was to put your HOPE in the RESURRECTION, not in the SITUATION. Paul's hope wasn't in his dark, bleak situation, sitting in a prison cell. It was in the resurrection! The same should be true of us as followers of Jesus. And not just Jesus' resurrection, but ours as well! We have the hope of looking forward to when all things will be made new and we'll spend eternity with Him. How can you know if your hope is in your situation or the resurrection? What are the signs? In what, or whom, does your hope lie?
Pray:
- That God would give you the strength to bear your difficult circumstances.
- That you would learn to put your hope in the resurrection.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
2. Are there sources outside the Bible that confirm the Biblical account of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead? Many Roman and Jewish historians have confirmed that the apostles died as martyrs for preaching that they saw Jesus risen from the grave. No one dies for something they know to be a lie.
(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
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