The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
2 Timothy 1-4
Act 3: God’s New Covenant People
Scene 4: Christ’s Church: God’s People Advance the Kingdom
Background Information: 2 Timothy 1-4
Paul has lived sacrificially for the gospel. He has faithfully held to good theology and to a corresponding life of holiness in line with that good theology. Now his reward is a nice retirement home, a healthy bank account, and plenty of time to golf and fish. No, in fact, Paul is in chains in a cold Roman prison cell, asking his beloved protége Timothy to bring him a coat and some reading material to ease his suffering. He doesn’t expect to survive this time; he suspects that his life and ministry are about to end. He has been poured out like a drink offering, giving his life away to the last drop. He is confident that he has finished his race, he has kept the faith, and that he will receive his reward in the life to come. Most have deserted him, ashamed of his frequent imprisonments. After all, who wants to associate with a guy who can’t stay out of jail? Who wants to follow a man whose faith can’t keep him from all that suffering? If God grants you the opportunity to retire from your work and enjoy resources and recreation, so be it, but don’t expect or demand it. What we should expect is that everyone who wants to live a godly life will be persecuted. We should expect our faith to bring us increased hardship. We are to learn to be strong in the grace of Jesus, not in our own ability and resources. We are to faithfully pass on the truth of the gospel to the next generation, who will then pass it on to the next. We are to live like soldiers, wanting only the pleasure of our commander. We are to train like athletes, living with an eternal sense of delayed gratification. We are to work hard like a farmer, always planting for a future harvest. All this is the exact opposite of some false gospel that promises health and prosperity. It is a gospel that promises much more than that; it promises an eternal crown of righteousness, a symbol of being an eternal child of the King. It promises that if we die with him, we will live with him; if we endure in faith now, we will reign with him in eternity. Many have become disillusioned when they follow Jesus and their suffering increases rather than decreases. They expected that if they did the right thing by God, then he would do the right thing by them. This means that he will ensure they have all they want and that nothing bad will happen to them. The Scripture is clear that following Jesus will involve hardship and risk. If we live avoiding difficulty and pursuing pleasure, we will surely miss the kind of life that matters the most. We don’t run towards hardship, but we don’t run from it either. We run towards faithfulness, and whatever that kind of life brings us, we receive from the hand of God.
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Pray for Persian house church leaders-that they would be grounded in the Word and have discernment in identifying false teaching.
Ask God for… (what else concerns you?)
Reflect:
Write down one passage of scripture that stood out to you today.
Write down why this passage stood out to you.
Engage Community:
Text or call someone now and tell them…
– What you are praying for.
– What stood out from God’s word today.