TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Timothy 3:14-16
God has chosen to make known . . . the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. - Colossians 1:27
TODAY IN THE WORD
Steven Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, researched over 200 years of “success” literature to find common principles for personal success and fulfillment. What he immediately noticed was the “character ethic,” the principle that he says emphasizes who we are matters most in what we do.

Personal change does not happen solely as the result of the integration of good habits into one's life. While important, habits cannot make us into the person we want to be. Today's passage gives us the real “secret” for godliness.

Godly conduct is rooted completely in our identity in Christ. This passage reveals the primary purpose for Paul's letter to Timothy, that “you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household” (v. 15). There is an imperative for personal holiness in the church.

We are called to godliness because we belong to the family, or household, of God. We are the church of the living God, which emphasizes the personal and active presence of God in our lives. We don't serve mute idols. We don't serve an impersonal force. We serve a God who speaks to us and who listens to us. And we are a people who represent the truth. We represent steadfast, eternal realities that do not shift with cultural tides. Our calling is to represent the God we serve to a world that prefers not to acknowledge Him.

We are pressured on every side to forsake this high calling, and we will fail in it if we do not understand “the mystery of godliness.” We cannot depend upon ourselves, our habits, our energies, and our abilities to get the job done. The secret of the Christian life is about our union with Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit within us. The mystery entails what Christ has done and who He is (v. 16). And that also is what matters most. By allowing Him to live His life through us, we have our ultimate “hope of glory” (Col. 1:27).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If we want to be completely united with Christ, we need to confess and repent from deliberate sin. When we persist in deliberate sin, the Bible says that we “grieve the Holy Spirit of God” (Eph. 4:30). Thankfully, our confession and repentance will be met with forgiveness (1 John 1:9). As the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, He also guides us to the truth of forgiveness through the work of Jesus. As He works in our lives, we can expect nothing less than change as dramatic as resurrection (cf. Rom. 8:11).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Timothy 4:1-10
We have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe. - 1 Timothy 4:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
Some rules have changed on many Christian college campuses over the past few decades. There was a time when few Christian colleges permitted students to watch movies, play cards, or leave campus in the evening. Most enforced a stricter dress code. Now many colleges have relaxed these policies, and some lament a creeping moral laxity among Christians. Others celebrate the move away from what they call legalism.

Christians struggle to define the “gray” areas of Christian conduct. We easily commit errors of either permitting too much or too little. Today we read about one of those extremes, the tragic consequences of legalism in the church.

Chapter four begins with a reference to “later times,” but Paul obviously believes these problems have begun in the Ephesian church. False teachers have told believers to avoid marriage and certain foods in order to grow spiritually (v. 3). And that's usually the formula of legalism: restrictions of external behavior without regard for the sins of the heart.

The effects were devastating. When we are tempted to think that legalism is a minor error, we should be warned that it's one of Satan's greatest strategies in the church. The teachers had become desensitized to sin. Those who followed their teaching had and would soon “abandon the faith” (v. 1). Legalism keeps us from many of God's blessings that He intended us to receive with thanksgiving (v. 4). And it fails to ensure greater holiness!

Timothy received instructions from Paul to avoid these errors and keep his hope in Jesus. By Christ and in Christ, we are saved and sanctified. This is the message of Scripture where we find the sum of all “the truths of the faith” (v. 6). We must stick with the message of the Bible, avoiding formulas or rules and restrictions as a method to get us closer to God, instead embracing a living faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul told Timothy to “train yourself to be godly” (v. 7). Getting in shape physically requires motivation, a plan, and discipline. So, too, our spiritual fitness! Paul gives us the motivation in verse 8: training for godliness has rewards for earth and heaven! Now for the plan. Write out what kind of spiritual “exercise” you would like to do. You might include things like systematic Bible reading, prayer, Scripture memory, worship, or service. Now get an accountability partner to ask you regularly if you're getting in shape!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Timothy 4:11-16
We who teach will be judged more strictly. - James 3:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
Knute Rockne, head coach of the Notre Dame football team from 1917 to 1931, once said, “One player practicing sportsmanship is far better than fifty preaching it.” He understood that integrity on the playing field demands a certain behavior, not just nice-sounding words.

In our passage today we read Paul's admonition to Timothy about integrity in ministry, exhorting him to “watch your life and your doctrine closely” (v. 16). The Ephesian elders who had loved and respected Paul (see Acts 20:17-38) seemed skeptical of young Timothy and unreceptive of the message he had to bring to the church. That's why Paul instructed Timothy to not only preach the Word but to live it. A godly life can be a more persuasive tool in ministry than even the most powerful sermon.

In order to fulfill his call to the ministry, Timothy needed to keep in mind four aspects of effective leadership. The first, as we've mentioned, is the importance of example. Timothy would gain credibility for his teaching to the extent that he practiced what he preached. As Kent Hughes says in his commentary on 1 Timothy, “Godly character creates moral authority.” Second, Timothy was called to remain faithful to Scripture, which was to serve as the content for all his preaching and teaching (v. 13). Unlike the false teachers who had strayed from faithful instruction found in God's Word, Timothy was to speak God's Word to God's people. Third, Timothy had to use his spiritual gift (v. 14). When he needed reminding that he could do the job to which he had been called, he needed only to think back to the time when the elders laid their hands on him.

Receiving a gift isn't enough—it needed to be exercised and nourished, not neglected. That's why Paul's final thoughts challenge Timothy to work hard in his ministry. “Be diligent,” “give yourself wholly,” “watch,” and “persevere” were all words to remind Timothy that ministry doesn't happen simply because one is gifted, but rather because one is committed!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It's not just preachers who need to watch their “life and doctrine.” Parents need to set an example of godly character before their children. Teachers should extend the respect they demand from their students. Employers have to model conscientiousness and integrity for their employees. Also, young people need to consider the example they set before their friends. No matter what your age or life circumstance, your integrity matters to God and others!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Timothy 5:1-2
Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. - Proverbs 12:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
It has often been said that 10 percent of communication is verbal (actual content) and the other 90 percent of communication is nonverbal (tone and body language). Learning to communicate effectively means learning not only how to phrase a message but also how to communicate it nonverbally in one's tone, inflection, posture, and facial expressions.

Timothy had a difficult message to communicate to the Ephesian church. He was young and timid, but he had been commissioned by Paul to exercise authority over those older than him, the elder-teachers of the church. We saw in Paul's instructions in yesterday's reading, that Timothy had to begin to lead by example. But example alone can't get the job done of “command[ing] certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer” (1:3). A confrontation was brewing, and Timothy needed to know what to say and how to say it.

We should note that today's verses don't indicate what Timothy should say as much as how he should say it. First, Timothy should “not rebuke an older man harshly.” Several Greek words can be used for rebuke in the New Testament, many of them meaning to warn, to refute, or to expose. But the Greek word used here is much stronger. It actually comes from the Greek word meaning “to strike at.”

Paul is clearly forbidding any kind of rebuke that is meant to inflict harm or pain. It's not Timothy's responsibility to berate the elders for their spiritual density. He shouldn't speak rash words of anger or hostility. He's not to enter the blame game for what's been happening at Ephesus.

Rather, Timothy needed to “exhort” those elders. This word has a sense of gentle asking, pleading, and encouraging. It is a word indicating that one is looking toward the future, not the past. Timothy needed to get the elders and teachers back on the team, encouraging them back to orthodox belief and teaching. The way that he was to go about this is important.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Remember one of Paul's reasons for writing this letter to Timothy? “I am writing you these instructions so that . . . you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household” (3:15). Today's reading helps us to see that in the church we must continue to show proper respect to those older than us, whether or not we're in a position of leadership. Furthermore, we need to practice charity and love toward all. We're in the same family!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Timothy 5:3-16
If anyone does not provide for his relatives . . . he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. - 1 Timothy 5:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
Of the many health-care concerns today, care for the elderly is among the most important. Life spans have increased dramatically over the past century, and Americans age 85 and older are now the fastest growing segment of the population. As people are expected to live longer, long-term care will be needed for them. Who will provide that kind of care, and how will it be funded?

Deciding how to care for widows was one of the earliest concerns in the New Testament church (cf. Acts 6:1-7). Throughout Scripture, God reveals His heart of compassion towards needy people, including the orphan and the widow (cf. Ex. 22:22, 23). God wants to see that these people receive their daily necessities, and the burden of responsibility falls not upon the government but the people of God. The church cannot care for everyone, however, and that's why families must understand their obligations to one another.

Our key verse sounds a warning for believers. It's a rallying cry to look first to the needs of our own family in order to “put [our] religion into practice” (v. 4). No doubt there are needs everywhere: refugee families on the evening news, homeless beggars at the corner, and needy children in social services. We cannot and should not be indifferent to these problems. When allocating our money and time to help others, though, we must first make sure we have provided for our own families.

Adult children have a biblical mandate to care for their aging parents, honoring their years of sacrifice for us and in a sense “repaying” them (v. 4). The circle reaches beyond those considered “immediate family.” Verse 16 encourages all women to care for any widow in her family, likely even family by marriage. Families have to do their job of providing for their own. The church can then dedicate itself to helping “those widows who are really in need” (v. 3).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We need wisdom discerning what will be most helpful for our family members in need. It may not be best to bail someone out time and time again from the financial mess caused by foolish and extravagant spending, or to help someone support a destructive habit. We are required to have compassion for our family members and do our best to make sure their needs are met. Caring for our family may not always be glamorous, but we are bringing glory to God through our service.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Timothy 5:3-16
Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. - 1 Timothy 5:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
Since the Protestant Reformation, Christians have embraced many church models. Churches have sometimes emphasized strict adherence to doctrinal principles, sometimes focused on social activism to combat cultural ills, sometimes devoted energy to forms of worship. To find the balance for the church, we must often re-examine the biblical purposes of the church and realign ourselves when necessary.

The church of Jesus Christ is called by God to fulfill many redemptive purposes, including the unapologetic proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Proclaiming the gospel, however, is not just the work of the evangelist. The gospel is announced every day as Christians live out their love for one another (cf. John 13:35). No wonder the care of widows was and should continue to be of great concern to the church. Helping the needy among us visibly demonstrates the love that has transformed us and that forms the basis of our commission from Christ.

In today's text, Paul calls on the church to assume financial responsibility for those widows who are distinguished by certain qualifications. First, the widow should be a believer and member of the church body. She should not be looking to earn her living by any illicit means, but she should actively and visibly live out her faith and trust in God.

Older widows participate not only in receiving help but also in offering help to others. (This is most likely the list of widows referred to in verse 9.) Because Paul has in mind that the purpose of gathering the women is to serve, he notes that older women will be less likely to be distracted by marriage proposals and idle gossip (vv. 11, 13).

God's Word consistently exhorts God's people to care for widows as a way of demonstrating love for Him. Just as God has provided salvation for us when we could do nothing on our own to gain it, we bring glory to Him by meeting the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Consider the truth that God often uses His own people to meet the needs offered up in prayer. Think back to recent prayer requests that you've heard shared in your church. Have financial needs been mentioned? Is there a family crisis requiring childcare? Is someone facing joblessness? As you think about the specific prayer requests, consider whether or not you could meet a need that has been mentioned. Ask God to guide you, and wait expectantly for Him to use you.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Timothy 5:17-25
The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor. - 1 Timothy 5:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the 1970s, Chrysler Corporation made headlines when it had to ask the federal government for loans to keep the company running. But its amazing turnaround was owed largely to Lee Iacocca, the CEO, who rescued the company from near financial ruin. Iacocca is proof of how important leadership is to any enterprise.

The church in Ephesus was suffering tremendously because some of their leaders had abandoned faithfulness to God. Timothy had been appointed by Paul to address these critical leadership issues, not only regarding how he himself must lead but how he should appoint and supervise other leaders. If the leadership of the church impacts matters of salvation and condemnation (4:1, 2, 16), choosing leaders is a heavy burden that should not be approached hastily (v. 22).

Once leaders have been chosen, the church has the right and responsibility to evaluate how they are leading. The staff of the church who serve faithfully deserve both respect and pay (v. 17). Respect is a necessary protection, for these servants are exposed to critical appraisal—they live in ministerial “glass houses.”

While pastors are accountable to their churches, they should not be subjected to the shame and destruction that can result from idle, isolated accusations. No pastor should be accused apart from a plurality of voices within the church (v. 19). Furthermore, pastors deserve a fair salary. If the ox can eat while he works and the laborer deserves his pay after a long day in the sun, the minister of God's Word should rightfully earn his living from his work of preaching and teaching. This isn't a grudging hand-out or “charity,” but fair compensation for his hard work as a laborer in God's fields.

If respect and pay are due to the faithful servants in the church, public rebuke is owed to those who are unfaithful in their roles of leadership (v. 20). They should know that flagrant violations of the ethics of leadership will not and cannot be tolerated by the church.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Take time this week to pray for your pastoral staff and write them a note of encouragement. Consider how heavy the responsibility must be to care for the people of God. How can you make their burden lighter? You might affirm the strengths you see in their leadership, and we should all be on guard against gossip and complaining about what the pastor does and does not do. You might even want to offer them a small gift of thanks this week as a token of your appreciation for their hard work.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Timothy 6:1-2
[Be] self-controlled and pure . . . so that no one will malign the word of God. - Titus 2:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the past five years more companies have turned to “guerrilla” or “viral” marketing strategies. The concept is simple: try to spread excitement about a particular product by having regular people be seen using the product. From beverages to MP3 players to razors, companies have tried to create “buzz” and increase sales through this technique.

Just as these companies try to market their products by those who use them, so too Christianity is “marketed” by those who believe it. A clear and consistent testimony for Christ is persuasive.

Paul's letter to Timothy is full of teaching about the proper conduct for believers: for men (2:, for women (2:9-15), for leaders (3:1-13), and now for slaves (6:1-2). What's ultimately at stake when it comes to how we conduct ourselves as God's people isn't our reputation but God's. A godly life brings credit and glory to Christ; a hypocritical or impure life invites slander upon the name of Christ.

Some have used this passage to justify American slavery. In light of that abuse of this text, it's important to note several points. First, Roman slavery was unlike the terrible practice of American slavery from the seventeenth to nineteenth centuries. Fifty percent of Roman slaves were freed by the age of thirty. Many slaves were able to own property, and selling oneself into slavery was sometimes a method used to gain Roman citizenship.

Second, the fact that Paul directly addresses slaves would have been shocking in its day. While Roman slaves were rarely treated as badly as many American slaves, they still were marginalized and rarely directly addressed in formal correspondence.

Third, the point that Paul wants to stress in this passage is that our testimony in our relationships can win others to Christ (see 1 Peter 3:1-2). Protecting the name of Jesus Christ means more than even winning personal freedoms.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As believers, we often must surrender our personal rights when the name of Jesus Christ is at stake. Believers should instead forego their “rights” and choose rather to be wronged and cheated (1 Cor. 6:7). When your rights are under assault, pray through Psalm 37; you may want to memorize verses 5 and 6 to remind you that God does not forget us when we suffer from injustice.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Timothy 6:3-10
Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is. - Romans 12:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 1816, Mary Shelley wrote the novel, Frankenstein, the story of an ambitious young scientist who creates a man in his laboratory. His creation is monstrous and turns into a savage killer. His final words reveal his regret: “Farewell, Walton! Seek happiness in tranquility, and avoid ambition, even if it be only the apparently innocent one of distinguishing yourself in science and discoveries.”

Frankenstein reveals what happens to a man with unrestrained ambition and conceit, the same character we see in the false teachers in Ephesus.

Their egotism motivated them to reject sound instruction and godly teaching. Like so many people today, the false teachers decided that the teaching of Christ didn't really suit their desires. It wasn't progressive enough. They could be a little bit more forward-thinking.

Jesus taught that no one could serve both God and money (cf. Matt. 6:24); they taught that godly living was a means to financial success (v. 5). Jesus emphasized that no one could pursue both earthly treasure and eternal treasure; the false teachers insisted that these were complimentary goals. They promoted a bigger bang for your spiritual buck: get Jesus and get rich! They failed to understand the emptiness of selfish ambition, especially compared to the wealth found in “godliness with contentment” (v. 6).

While this false teaching might seem like a slight detour from sound instruction, it was actually a U-turn from faith. The disastrous result: “Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (v. 10).

This challenges our perspective on Scripture's teachings: do we, like the false teachers in Ephesus, stand above Scripture, judging for ourselves which parts of its teaching we embrace or reject? Or do we allow Scripture to stand above us, submitting fully to all of its teaching?
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Our passage today is especially convicting for us in the United States where selfish ambition and striving for financial success is admired and rewarded. Consider today how eager you are to get rich. Have you compromised financial integrity in the workplace? Have you cheated God from generous and cheerful giving of your tithes and offerings? Seek to hold onto your money with an open hand, realizing it is God who gives it to you and expects you to use it in His service for His glory.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Timothy 6:11-16
Fight the good fight of the faith. - 1 Timothy 6:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 1858, Dudley Tyng was 33 when he preached to a crowd of 5,000 men. “I would rather this right arm were amputated at the trunk that I should come short of my duty to you in delivering God's message,” he told them. Tragically, two weeks later, because of a farm accident, his arm had to be amputated from the shoulder. His last words were, “Stand up for Jesus, father, and tell my brethren of the ministry to stand up for Jesus.” They were the inspiration for the hymn, “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus”: “Stand up, stand up for Jesus/ Ye soldiers of the cross; / Lift high His royal banner, / It must not suffer loss.”

These words echo the concluding charge to Timothy in this letter. Paul has addressed Timothy as a soldier of Jesus Christ. He wanted him to fight hard, to fight long, and to fight well until the very end. He reminded Timothy that God is watching and God will reward.

The Christian fight begins with flight: “Flee from all this” (v. 11). Timothy needed to flee from the pursuit of money and from anything else that could offend his conscience. He must flee from the temptation to compromise on sound doctrine. It was urgent he run quickly from the allure of self-promotion that had entangled so many other leaders in Ephesus.

Not only did Timothy need to flee from these temptations, he needed to pursue what is good. We see several virtues in this passage. First, righteousness calls us to conform our life to the Scriptures. Second, godliness comes from intimate union with Christ. Next, sound faith is the content of trustworthy belief. Additionally, Timothy should seek to love God and others. He should also desire endurance through trials and opposition, keeping his eyes focused on the future hope and reward in Christ. And finally, Timothy needed to embrace the gentleness that was necessary to correct what was wrong in Ephesus.

These virtues would center his vision and keep him on target in his ministry.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We're all called to “fight the good fight of the faith.” Sometimes we focus too much on how we get started on the race, the time of our conversion. But what really counts is not how we begin but how we finish the race “at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 14). What an amazing promise of hope we find in Jude 24-25: “To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority!”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Timothy 6:17-21
Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. - 1 Timothy 6:20
TODAY IN THE WORD
The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, killed 343 New York City firefighters. As survivors fled down the stairs of the towers, escaping the smoke and flames, the firefighters ran up the stairs to what would be their death. They did their job of seeking to rescue anyone they could help—and it cost them their lives.

Timothy was sent on a rescue mission to the church of Ephesus. False teaching threatened its collapse. His mission was to safeguard what had been entrusted to his care (v. 20). He needed to protect the truths of the faith, the church, and his personal ministry.

First, to protect truth, he had to confront false teaching, some of which included distortions of belief regarding prosperity. Paul reiterates that being a Christian doesn't mean one will automatically prosper financially. The prosperity gospel, which teaches that God always materially blesses all His people, is wrong. The Bible in no way promises wealth to believers. It is equally distorted to teach that having money is sinful. Notice that Paul doesn't insist that the rich Ephesians should give all their money away. He does, however, remind them to seek heavenly treasure by giving generously and using their money to perform good deeds (vv. 18-19).

Second, the mission to protect the church required reminding the believers in Ephesus of the clear teachings of Scripture. How easily our consciences can become seared and our minds become corrupt, as had already happened to some of the elders in Ephesus. They no longer knew right from wrong, placing the Ephesian church in danger.

Finally, Timothy must protect his own personal ministry and the spiritual gifts conferred on him. These must be protected from the negative influences—both ideas and practices—all around him.

“Grace be with you,” Timothy. Paul knew he needed God's miraculous help for the mission!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
A pastor's job is to remind his congregation to “take hold of the life that is truly life” (v. 19). Our focus on eternity is so easily distracted by the problems and pleasures of today. Reflect on the fact that Jesus Christ is coming back to earth. If you need help keeping your focus on this reality, write this down and review it throughout the day: “So that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming” (1 John 2:28).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Timothy 1:1-5
I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me. - Acts 20:24
TODAY IN THE WORD
Chaim Potok, author of The Chosen, captures what it means to live well: “Human beings do not live forever. . . . We live less than the time that it takes to blink an eye, if we measure our lives against eternity. . . . A blink of an eye in itself is nothing. But the eye that blinks, that is something. A span of life is nothing. But the man who lives that span, he is something.”

Second Timothy paints an incredible picture of the confidence we can have on the eve of our death when we have lived well. Paul had that kind of confidence. At the time that 2 Timothy was written, Paul was imprisoned for a second time in Rome (1:8 ) and was awaiting execution (4:6). Many of his closest friends and ministry partners had deserted him. His prison chamber was cold and dismal (4:13). Despite his bleak circumstances, Paul's joy and hope in Christ were not dimmed as he considered the “promise of life that is in Christ Jesus” (v. 1). Death awaited him, but it was not the end. Life in Christ is a promise for eternity.

So with this joy for the future, Paul began his letter with expressions of thanks, specifically thanking God for Timothy. Paul was obviously comforted by the friendship that he enjoyed with Timothy. He was thankful to know that while others had deserted him, Timothy remained faithful both to Paul and to the ministry. The tears Timothy had shed at their last parting assured Paul of the warmth and loyalty he felt for the apostle.

Yet Paul was not only comforted by Timothy's loyalty but also by his sincere faith (v. 5). When so many around him had shipwrecked their faith, Paul might easily have begun questioning his efforts as an apostle. But Timothy was a “success story,” a reminder that sincere faith could indeed survive, and that Paul's ministry efforts had taken root, been blessed by God, and had in fact borne fruit.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Timothy was an incredible man of God. And notice how much importance Paul places on the influence Timothy's grandmother and mother had over him. They had taught him the Scriptures from infancy.

If you're a parent or grandparent, consider how you can sow the seeds of God's Word in your children. It's never too early to begin! You just might be raising a Timothy for the next generation of the church.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Timothy 1:6-12
Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed. - 2 Timothy 1:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
An eager young preacher from Zimbabwe declared: “I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit's power. I'm a disciple of His! I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. . . . I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus.”

That young preacher captured the spiritual fortitude that Paul displays in 2 Timothy, the same courage to which he is calling Timothy. And courage is most definitely needed for Christian discipleship, especially when we consider all that Paul suffered. The call to suffer for Christ isn't a call to physical self-abuse, but a reminder of the value of the gospel of Jesus Christ (v. 8 ). It's a message worthy to be proclaimed, no matter the cost.

This was the last letter that Paul composed, and he made sure the gospel message was retold. It's ultimately a message all about God. Our God reaches out to sinners like ourselves for two reasons: because of His grace and because of His sovereign purposes (v. 9). His plan of salvation was never “Plan B” after a failed experiment with humanity. It was His plan all along, “from the beginning of time.” It reveals not only His mercy to save but His grace to call. He gives us not just salvation but a call to the “holy life” (v. 9). Salvation is just the beginning of the race, and we still have a great many miles to run. We have the goal of the holy life always set before us: we have before us the dual purposes both of sanctification and of service.

Thank God that we've been given the Holy Spirit, whose resources are courage, power, love, and self-discipline for the Christian life (vv. 6, 7). We are not alone in the race. We serve a faithful God who won't ever fail us, even in our darkest moments (v. 12).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Spiritual maturity isn't a measure of what we know but who we know. It's a measure of the close and intimate relationship that we have with Jesus Christ. Spiritual fruitfulness can never happen apart from connection to Christ. Read John 15 to learn more about the ways you can stay connected to Christ. Commit yourself to creating habits that enhance your union with Christ. Then consider this promise of Jesus: “This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit” (John 15:8 ).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Timothy 1:13-18
Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you . . . with the help of the Holy Spirit. - 2 Timothy 1:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
John Calvin, Protestant reformer in the sixteenth century, suffered personal loss for the sake of the gospel. While working in Geneva, Switzerland, he opposed many of the prevailing views of the reformers there, resulting in his expulsion from Geneva. Unfortunately, longtime friends and ministry partners became his enemies and accusers.

The pain of betrayal is one of life's deepest wounds. In today's reading, we hear the pain that Paul endured when everyone deserted him (v. 15). Perhaps they deserted him at the time of his trial (4:16). With this pain in his recent past, no wonder Paul takes great joy in Timothy's loyalty (see June 20) and the loyalty of Onesiphorus.

Some might imagine Paul the apostle as impervious to the pain of broken relationships, as if only the mission itself mattered. Although Paul was focused on the goal of the proclamation and preservation of the gospel, he clearly felt sorrow at the loss of these friends and coworkers. Timothy had also been called to the mission: “keep the pattern of sound teaching,” and “guard the good deposit.” It's not likely the elders in Ephesus were excited and eager for the rebuke Paul had commanded Timothy to bring (cf. 1 Tim. 1:3). Nevertheless, they stayed focused on their mission despite the blow to their personal likeability within the church.

And though the mission was clear and Paul never wavered from it, the betrayal he suffered stung bitterly. This passage doesn't make clear to what extent Paul became discouraged, but it does indicate his gratitude for his friends like Onesiphorus who had “refreshed” Paul (v. 16). Onesiphorus visited Paul in prison on several occasions, not just bringing him what he might have needed materially but cheering him up. Onesiphorus had traveled the long journey from Ephesus to Rome and searched for Paul. He didn't fear incriminating himself by showing loyalty to an incarcerated criminal, and Paul would never forget his brave and loyal friendship.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
No one can live the Christian life in isolation. Even the apostle Paul relied upon the encouragement and strength he gained from his brothers and sisters in Christ. Are you seeking and finding the fellowship you need to fight the good fight of the faith? Seek to be connected to people in your church beyond worshiping together on Sunday so that you are blessed with sincere friendships like those that Paul shared with Timothy and Onesiphorus.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Timothy 2:1-7
You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. - 2 Timothy 2:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
Got milk? About 95 percent of Americans recognize this marketing slogan from the ad campaign touting milk's health benefits. Over 200 celebrities, including many sports heroes, have been featured in ads sporting a milk mustache. Dairy farmers want adults and kids to know that milk makes you strong!

Got grace? That's the secret of spiritual strength found in today's key verse: “Be strong in grace.” Such instruction sounds simple, but these words convey the paradoxical nature of the Christian life—it requires God's grace and human effort. Without question, God's grace is preeminent. We are saved and called by His grace (1:9). If God hadn't first reached out to us, we never would have been able to reach back. But God's work doesn't erase our responsibility to live in Christ. That's the “be strong” part of verse one. Life in grace is both a gift to receive and a command to follow.

Paul explains to Timothy how to be strong in grace by using three different metaphors. First, he tells Timothy to be a strong soldier for Christ (v. 3). Soldiers expect bad food, bad weather, and danger itself. They are ready to suffer, and they expect to sacrifice. We, too, should expect that the Christian life requires sacrifice because we're living not to please ourselves but our commanding officer, Jesus Christ (v. 4).

We must also be strong like the Greek Olympian who “competes according to the rules” (v. 5). Historically, in the ancient Greek Olympic games, in order to participate in the games, these athletes had to complete a ten-month training period and sign an oath that they had done so. We need an athlete's endurance and stamina for the race set before us (cf. Heb. 12:1). When we feel like quitting, we can remember our eternal rewards and continue to the finish.

Finally, pastors specifically should be like the hardworking farmer (v. 6). The farmer is able to enjoy produce from his fields. As pastors work hard, they deserve a share of their labors.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Have you been surprised by hardship and suffering in your life? Have you often been angry at God for allowing it? Ask God for the strength of the soldier. Do you feel exhausted by the race you're running in the Christian life? Do you feel like slowing down or quitting? Ask God for the stamina of the athlete. Are you serving Christ faithfully and wondering when you'll see the harvest? Ask God for the faithfulness of the farmer.