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2 Timothy 2:1-13 Devotional – Day 1

ADORATION – Reflect on God’s Greatness

IMMANENCE OF GOD The literal meaning of the immanence of God is “to be within” or “near” in relation to God’s creation. Immanence is closely related to God’s omnipresence, in that God is always present within the universe, though distinct from it. God is ‘within’ the universe in that God is its sustaining cause. God is active within His Creation. 

Genesis 3:9 But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”

Matthew 1:23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us.

Praise God for His Immanence
God calling to Adam in the garden in Gen. 3:9 showed that God made us to be near Himself. Praise God that He has drawn near to us. Praise God that He is distinct from creation but near. Give thanks to God for specific times when you experienced His immanence.

CONFESSION: Confess your sins to God and receive his continued mercy.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

THANKSGIVING: Giving thanks to God for his specific blessings in our lives.

“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100

SUPPLICATION: Bringing our requests to God.

  • Bring your personal prayer requests to God.
  • Pray for Sarah. Ask God to encourage her and give her many opportunities to share the gospel.

SCRIPTURE READING:
2 Timothy 2:1-13 – New International Version
You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 3 Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

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.

11 Here is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with him,
we will also live with him;
12 if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;
13 if we are faithless,
he remains faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.

New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

SCRIPTURE REFLECTION:

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

Be strong…in the grace of Christ. What a beautiful tension. What a perfect balance. I must decide to be strong and then apply full effort to being strong. I must get my strength from the underserved and unearned grace of Christ. Grace is unmerited favor and grace is also divine power. It is used both ways in Scripture. We are to be strong in the power of Christ. This is an equation of 100% effort and 100% pure grace not effort. This doesn’t work as a math problem but it does work as a life well lived. Think about it for a few minutes in your own life. If you will go from the realm of the conceptual to the world of the practical, you will see how it works out. What does it mean in the real problems and opportunities that face you right now to give full effort and at the same time rely fully on God’s grace? Think practically. What will you do in actual practice? For instance, you might give full effort towards some task or relationship and as you trust God fully not stress over whether your effort is “worth it” or even if it will “work.” You will focus on faithfulness because you are convinced God is faithful. Since he is faithful and his grace is a guarantee, then you can afford to be faithful even if your desired results are not guaranteed.

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