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2 Timothy 4 Devotional – Day 1

ADORATION – Reflect on God’s Greatness

GOD IS JUST God always does what is right, and He is the final standard of what is right. Scripture attests to God’s righteousness and justice:

  • “All his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and right is he” (Deuteronomy 32:4).
  • “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25).
  • “The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart” (Psalm 19:8).
  • “I the Lord speak the truth, I declare what is right” (Isaiah 45:19).

Paul says that when God sent Christ as a sacrifice to bear the punishment for sin, it “was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins; it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies him who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:25–26). When Christ died to pay the penalty for our sins it showed that God was both righteous and just, because he paid the wages of sin (Romans 6:23) and forgave his people.

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 the Onelink teams leaving Wichita today. They are going to serve with our friend Sarah overseas. Ask God to use the team to make the gospel known. Ask God to encourage and bless Sarah through the team.

SCRIPTURE READING:

2 Timothy 4 – New International Version
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. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

6 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.

Personal Remarks
9 Do your best to come to me quickly, 10 for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.

14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 15 You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.

16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings
19 Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. 21 Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers and sisters.

22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.

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:

“What is truth?” Pilate asked. Was he asking a real question? Was he stating that you cannot know truth? Was he just exasperated from all the confusion he encountered in his political position and just didn’t care anymore? Maybe it was some of all of that. The world around you is asking that question. Even those who act and speak confidently often are quite insecure about what is true. It’s easy to make bold claims when the sun is shining, but in the dark night of the soul flimsy foundations fail. Christian man or woman, you don’t need to ask Pilate’s question. You know Jesus is the truth. You do ask, at times, what is the truth in this or that situation. But knowing the foundational answer, the big “why” gives you a place to stand as you struggle with the lesser “whats” of life. Do not confuse your lack of clarity on the issues that swirl around your life with a lack of clarity on the most essential question of your life. You have trusted Jesus for your life in time and eternity. That clarity will be enough for any of the “fog” that settles into your life.

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