Are you afraid?
Have you received the Spirit?
Where does power come from?
Love cares, comforts, protects, provides and is there for us; yet it’s not coercive and doesn’t hold us from walking away. In freedom, we may think and act as we wish. God’s love is the source of reconciliation when we wander or cut ourselves off.
2 Timothy 1:7
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| for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 |
God gave us a spirit of love in Holy Baptism which unites us with Jesus. Self-control is provided so we don’t deny God’s power, but rather worship Him. The unchanging Word identifies right from wrong and explains how we’re redeemed from punishment we deserve. Our burdens are lifted and fears are removed by the gift of faith in Christ.
Some, misguided by various myths—that we’re born innocent, a personal decision is required for baptism, or by trying hard enough we can perfect our behavior—are probably left wondering if they’ve done enough.
Actually, all people were conceived and born in sin. We’re naturally selfish and can’t free ourselves from entanglement in many ways we fail, related to various types of sin which we might stray into. Chronic abuse takes power and control by distorted entitlement or domineering thoughts and actions. Vows are thoughtlessly broken. Rules which have been set in place for our own good are carelessly ignored. Just one example, the commandment you shall not murder not only means that we shouldn’t hurt or harm another, but also, we should fear and love God so we offer help and support to them in every physical need. We may fail to give of our time as we should. By rejecting help or asserting a closed-ears and hard-heart position, we cancel relationships and isolate ourselves. The unrelenting harsh tone of excessive inconsiderate words hurts people; so does neglecting to say kind things, express thanks, offer assistance, prayer, or comfort. Holding grudges, simmering resentment and unhealthy thoughts are only a few ways which prove how broken we really are. All humankind has inherited sin.
2 Timothy 1:9
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| 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, 2 Timothy 1:9 |
Christ strengthens us when we repetitively receive healthy doses of God’s glory.
Our Good Lord’s merciful gifts of correction and repentance for us come by the faith God grants for forgiveness of sin. Learning about gentleness is among many blessings from our compassionate Creator. Truth is gained by Spirit-guided focus into the full context of the Bible. The author of faith and life reveals Himself as our specific path to perfect love, self-control and forgiveness. God lowered Himself to be born as Son of Man. Jesus literally sweat blood, died, rose from the grave and ascended to heaven to complete for us the rescue we need to be prepared for Resurrection Day. Believing we are forgiven in Christ, we live in God’s peace and joy, knowing that eventually we’ll outlive death when we’re raised up to praise Him forever in paradise where tears are completely wiped away and there will be no more sin.
2 Timothy 3:1-7
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| But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 2 Timothy 3:1-7 |
Jesus’s wounds and sufferings are our sins.
God doesn’t need our good works; yet we definitely need His finished work. Sinners, just like us, violently crucified Jesus at the cross, yet God’s Word assures that He rose and endures forever. Through Baptism we are made one with Christ—unified into His death and resurrection for us. The Holy Spirit, by grace,
- pours forgiveness upon us
- enables belief which trusts Christ’s mercy
- shields the believer who is caught in the line of fire
- outwits the tempter’s false claim that we fully (or partially) could rely on ourselves for salvation
- lovingly covers the baptized with certain hope of a heavenly future
Christ’s body and blood, in/with/under bread and wine served at the Lord’s Table, strengthens and forgives. Our faithful Heavenly Father provides a Church family of believing friends and relatives to
- pray for each other
- shine the Light of Christ in our darkest places so to build each other up
- express Truth we confess together
- remind one another of our Savior’s love for us
Jesus became sin to give us victory over sin, completing us by the faith The Holy Spirit supplies us for cleansing, rescue and wisdom in hearing. No matter what physical/mental/emotional brokenness and difficulty arises, all who are baptized and receive the Word of God are patiently and sufficiently
- covered by grace, forgiven of unhealthy/insufficient thoughts, words and actions
- equipped to thank and praise God; to pray for, encourage, share the Light by telling others of God’s finished work and healthy purpose in Jesus to satisfy all people with hope and a future
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
More on Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy
- Intro
- Study 1
- Study 2
- Study 3
- Study 4
- Conversation 1
- Conversation 2
- Conversation 3
- Conversation 4
- Animated Summary
Prayer of the Day • Lord God heavenly Father, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, Your servant Moses proclaimed the resurrection to the children of Israel to give them hope in the midst of their darkness. As we journey to the darkness of the cross, give us hope to look beyond it to the light of the resurrection; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. (1006) Treasury of Daily Prayer
