Tag: time to die
Not ashamed, fully convinced!
Scripture reading for July 5th: Ecclesiastes 1-3, Psalm 45, 2nd Timothy 1
2nd Timothy 1: 8-12 “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share in suffering for the Gospel by the power of God, Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, Who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed for I know Whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.”
This would be Paul’s last letter kept for us the Church. Paul was in prison facing certain execution and he wrote passionately and with purpose to his young protégé, Timothy. He encouraged him not to be ashamed of the testimony of Jesus Christ, which had gotten Paul in the place he was. He was also not to be ashamed of Paul, but to be willing to share in suffering for the Gospel. Paul’s reason was God’s great grace given to each believer and Jesus’ holy calling and appointment as a minister of the Gospel. The message of the cross and Jesus Christ alone has the power to bring abolish death and bring life and immortality to light to all who would hear and believe. Paul was also sharing his conviction that Jesus would fulfill His promise to him of life and immortality as well!
Psalm 45:6-7 “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of Your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness beyond Your companions, . .”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the assurances of Scripture and through Your apostles and prophets as they lived by faith and boldly testified of Your great love and promises. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and boldness today to share this message without shame or fear in a culture that is hopeless and lost in the darkness and sin. May Your glorious light shine into this darkness through Your appointed ones!
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven; a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what has been planted.”