October 31, 2024

Passage Read: 2 Timothy 1-2
Meditation Verses: 2:3-5

Thought

Paul is again imprisoned, possibly for the last time, yet he doesn't hesitate to call Timothy to suffer with him, like a good soldier of Christ. He is not afraid to call Timothy to care more for the Gospel and the salvation of others than for his own comfort, freedom and even life. The truth of salvation is so clear to him and the glory and honor of Jesus Christ so precious to him and the concern for the lost and the saved so heavy on him, that he thinks little of suffering to make sure Jesus is praised everywhere and believers kept on track, and even likewise challenged to surrender their lives for the sake of Christ and those who have yet to hear of Him.

Application

There are those who have abandoned Paul, some out of love for this present world and some because they abandoned the faith. Paul's kind of faith demands much of a believer, that he surrender his life fully to Jesus Christ, that he becomes a slave of Jesus Christ, that he die to himself and to this world and live for the proclamation of the Gospel, the glorification of Jesus Christ and the salvation of souls rather than for anything he could gain in this world. It invites suffering for no apparent immediate benefit. Those you lead to Christ do not even promise a lifetime of loyalty and faith and partnership. The only hope you can be sure of is the return and reward of Jesus Christ. To invite that on myself is one thing, to ask another to live like that is quite another. But it is right and true. I need a stronger, more steadfast faith. I need the courage to abandon all for Jesus, and the courage and confidence to call others to do likewise. Paul had it right; he walked in and taught the ways of Jesus Himself. I need to be a better soldier of Christ Jesus and to suffer like Paul for the gospel.