Day 666: 2 Timothy2- Last Words Of Paul (2)

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.
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.
A Worker Approved by God14 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.”
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.

​Meditation
Paul’s last words recorded in Scripture show the substance of how service to God is strengthened and sustained, it is not by our works. God’s grace strengthens His servants for service. God’s truth sustains His servants in service. God’s unmerited favor given through the finished work of Jesus Christ is fuel for faithful and fruitful service. God’s eternal truth revealed in His Word is the foundation for enduring shepherd leadership.
 
Paul prepares Timothy for enduring service and shepherd leadership through being “strengthened by grace” (1-13). Grace strengthens God’s servants to proclaim the gospel (1-2), suffer for the gospel (3-7), and to endure for the salvation and strength of God’s people (8-13). Christian service for a suffering Savior necessitates we will struggle and suffer ourselves. Circumstances will be frustrating. God’s grace will fuel us as His word moves forward.
 
Secondly, Paul prepares Timothy for enduring service and shepherd leadership by compelling him to stand on God’s truth. Workers for Christ will accurately handle the truth (14-18), be directed by the truth for our good work (19-21), and course correct with the truth (22-26). False teachers will use God’s word for their own gain. Enduring service and leadership demands “rightly handling the word of truth” (15).
 
Christian service and shepherd leadership demand Divine enabling to endure, to maintain our conviction in the face of opposition. God’s grace alone will fuel faithful and fruitful work. Christian service and leadership require a sure foundation. God’s eternal truth will endure forever and is, therefore, the only foundation that will stand through the shifting struggles of our service and shepherd leadership.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Why is it significant that Paul focuses His admonishing for the next generation of leadership on enduring through God’s work and God’s word?
 
-Where do many Christian servants and shepherd leaders look for fuel for their work? How do these places fuel enduring leadership (or not)?
 
-How can you be strengthened by grace and stand more firmly on God’s word? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
1- You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus,