CHRIST OUR STRENGTH Paul’s second epistle to Timothy is a letter of encouragement from a father to his spiritual son. The affection Paul has for Timothy is evident, yet so is his desire to see him strengthened in the Lord. Paul had learned to depend on the grace he received from abiding in Christ to
MAINTAINING YOUR PASSION FOR MINISTRY This is the second letter the apostle Paul wrote to his spiritual son in the Lord, Timothy. Here, we see Paul boldly reminding Timothy, as a father would a son, to take personal responsibility for his own spiritual passion. He reminded Timothy of his calling into the ministry and the
TRUST GOD, USE MONEY Those who are rich in worldly wealth are tempted to trust their money, rather than God. They end up reversing the biblical admonition by trusting money and using God. As a result, many of them will “wander from the true faith and pierce themselves with many sorrows” (1 Tim. 6:10). Money
WHO CAN APPROACH THE THRONE OF GOD? The throne of a human king or judge is elevated by wood or stone and often ornamented by gold and silver to suggest their authority and judgment. But the foundation of the Lord’s throne is “righteousness and justice.” His throne is elevated by His character, which is pure
THE VALUE OF SPIRITUAL TRAINING We are born with a body, yet physical training is necessary to build it up. Similarly, when we are born again, we are made alive spiritually, yet we are called to “work out” what God is “working in” us (see Phil. 2:12-13). Both the physical life and this new spiritual
THE PERSISTENT PRAYER FOR GOD’S PRESENCE The Lord is the God of salvation. Yet it is by placing our faith in His Son, Christ Jesus, that we are able to call Him “my” salvation. In Christ, we that were far away, have now been brought near. Although we may feel at times as the psalmist
JEREMIAH’S SWEET DREAM While Jeremiah slept, the Lord spoke to him in a prophetic dream of the coming Messiah and of a future time of joy and peace for Jerusalem. When he awoke, he remembered every word the Lord had said and he regarded his sleep as being so very sweet that he no doubt
PAUL’S PURPOSE FOR INSTRUCTING BELIEVERS: LOVE Paul’s teaching did not have a goal of increased knowledge, but of increased love. Knowledge is good, but without love, it is nothing (1 Cor. 13:2). The believers in Ephesus loved knowledge so much that their discussions often dissolved into meaningless and endless debates over disputable matters. Paul encouraged
HAVE YOU HEARD GOD’S ENTIRE MESSAGE? God told the prophet Jeremiah to preach the “entire message” that He had given him. God’s purpose was to warn His people of their sins, so that they might repent, not to tickle their ears. God’s instruction to Jeremiah is the same today. Medicine is ineffective absent its active
THE POWER OF GOD’S WORD The Lord spoke to Jeremiah, describing the difference between a false prophet and a true one. He said the false prophets talk about their dreams and tell lies in my name, but the true prophets proclaim my every word. The difference between the two is like the difference between “straw