Good Morning MBC. Our Scripture reading today is 2 Timothy 2.
1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
Discipleship is hard work, but God gives grace for the journey (v.1). Our goal must be to become faithful disciples who make disciple-making disciples of Jesus. The second verse is clear that disciple-making in the church should aim at generational discipleship. One disciple teaches another, and on down the line. Yes, this takes commitment and hard work, but, again, the grace of Jesus gives us strength to do it.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 The saying is trustworthy, for:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
for he cannot deny himself.
These verses are such a good reminder that only the gospel is indispensable, not us. We may be bound, beaten, or killed for the sake of the gospel, but that does not stop the gospel. God’s word is not bound or hindered but always accomplishing God’s purpose in the world.
14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19 But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”
Let us strive to be approved workers today by rightly speaking and living out God’s truth. Ungodliness spreads like gangrene, but godliness can spread as well. What are you spreading in the church and community?
20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
There is a great challenge here for those who are “the Lord’s servants.” Verses 24-25 say to be kind and gentle toward others, even our opponents. It might be that God will use our kindness and gentleness, while we continue to speak the truth, to lead the wayward to repentance. It is a privilege to be a vessel that the Lord uses in the lives of others. Choose to be useful vessel.
I hope you have a blessed day!
Pastor Tim
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