June 27                       2 Timothy 2:3

3 Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 

SUFFERING

All of us experience suffering.  All of us wish we didn’t have to and many try to medicate their suffering through worldly ways: drugs, alcohol, denial, etc.  The truth is suffering is part of the human experience.  If you are alive you will suffer.  The key is to recognize that the Lord protects us in our suffering and walks through the suffering with us.  Jesus is here.  Jesus is alive.  Jesus loves you. 

June 26                       2 Timothy 2:1

1 Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus. 

NEED

We desperately need grace.  Few realize how desperate their situation is but God in His wisdom provides grace for us even though we may not realize our great need at the time.  Grace is a gift that perfectly matches God’s resources to our need. 

June 25                       2 Timothy 1:13-14

13 Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. 14 Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you. 

CARE

We are to live our life with care.  Constant in prayer, consistent reading of the Word, and regularly sitting under faithful teaching.  We are to guard ourselves against the Evil One and to be wise in the way we live.

June 24                       1 Timothy 6:20

20 Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge. 

WASTE

Don’t waste your time.  So many things are not worth pursuing.  Jesus is the focus of our life.  Set aside those worldly things that entangle us and be faithful to the Lord.  Focus on Jesus. 

June 23                       1 Timothy 4:13-16

13 Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them. 14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. 15 Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.

KEEP

We are to focus on doing those things that are advantageous for the body of Christ.  Love one another.  Read and teach the Word of God.  Encourage the believers.  Do not be discouraged.  Trust the Lord. 

June 22                       Exodus 18:21

21 But select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. 

FEAR

We love God, we want to be with God and we seek to please Him with the way we live. Many often forget that we also are to fear God.  This is an important concept to get-we are to fear a God who can cast us in eternal separation.  A healthy fear of God will give us a stronger bond of love and submission to the Father. 

June 21                       1 Corinthians 4:20

20 For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power. 

REALITY

The reality of the Christian life is that the Lord is always and forever in control. He will not leave us nor will He forget us.  The Lord is committed to us without any reservation.  We belong to Him and He belongs to us. 

June 20                       1 Corinthians 4:10-12

10 Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, but you claim to be so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are honored, but we are ridiculed. 11 Even now we go hungry and thirsty, and we don’t have enough clothes to keep warm. We are often beaten and have no home. 12 We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us.

US

The normal Christian life includes so many challenges.  The vagary of the Christian life creates in us a myriad of failures. The Holy Spirit is constantly bringing us back, bringing us back for the Lord is faithful.  He never sleeps and will never forget us.  We are safe in Jesus Christ. 

June 19                       1 Corinthians 4:1-2

1 So look at Apollos and me as mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God’s mysteries. 2 Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful. 

FOLLOW

It is required of us to be faithful.  It isn’t easy and sometimes we stray some but we want to make sure that we are faithful in following Jesus therefore we need to trust that the Lord will keep us. 

June 18                       Jonah 2:9

9 But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the LORD alone.” 

NOTHING

I can contribute exactly nothing to my salvation.  It is by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, my acceptance and belief in the work he has done.  Do I realize that my sin is huge?  My debt is huge?  Only in the work that Jesus did, paying my price on the Cross do I have salvation. Like Paul I recognize that I am the worst of sinners.  Oh, we try to dress it up and get recognized for this or that but the truth is that without Jesus I am simply a poor wretched sinner.  Praise the Lord for His great salvation.