SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 1/22/2025 9:48 AM
My Worship Time Focus: PT-3 “Introduction to 2 Timothy 2:8-13”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: 2 Timothy
2:8-13
Message of the verses: “8 Remember Jesus Christ,
risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel, 9 for which I
suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned. 10
For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so
that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and
with it eternal glory. 11 It is a trustworthy statement: For if we 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.”
I continue with the introduction to these verses and
remind all believers that faithful service to the Lord has always been
costly. Now the writer of the book of
Hebrews writes about this in the 11th chapter of his letter, a
chapter that is full of sorrow, but tells of triumph through Christ even though
He had not yet come to planet earth yet.
The author writes that some were tortured, not accepting their release,
in order that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced
mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they
were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went around in
sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom
the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and
holes in the ground” (Heb. 11:35-38). This is a very sad portion of Scripture and
yet in this section of Scripture one can see the battle between Satan and God
and in the end all of those talked about in this section of God’s Word are now
all in heaven and so that means that God wins and Satan looses as he always
will lose according to the Word of God. This battle still goes on in the world
today, especially in Israel as seen since the 7th of October of
2023, and even though there is a peace treaty now I can guarantee that it will
be broken and more wars will have to be fought as the Word of God writes about
in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. In the end Satan along with the Antichrist
and the false prophet will be sent to hell along with all of the unbelieving survivors
of the Tribulation period and Jesus Christ will reign with His saints on planet
earth for 1000 years. At the end of that
time Satan will be let out for a short time to begin another war and the
results will be the same as he and those who are not believers in the Millennium
will go into the fire in hell. That is
not all of the story, something that I really did not intend to write, but it
seems to fit here. At the end of that
1000 years there will be a trial by God on all unbelievers, believers will not
be involved in this trial. It is my
belief that the Bible teaches that everyone of these unbelievers will have a
chance to tell the Lord what they believe their good deeds were, but the truth
is that none of these unbelievers will have ever trusted the only way to get
into God’s heaven and that is they never admitted that they were sinners in
need of a Savior and put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation,
and so all will then go into hell for eternity.
After that the entire universe will be destroyed and there will be a new
heaven and a new earth where believers will serve the Lord for all
eternity. You can read about this by
reading the last three chapters of the book of Revelation. Now back to are study in 2 Timothy.
Now
speaking of those in Hebrews 11 which we just read about it is true that those
godly men and women could have echoed Paul’s words: “I do not consider my life of any account as
dear to myself, in order that I may finish my course, and the ministry which I
received from the Lord” (Acts 20:24).
John MacArthur writes “Throughout the history of the
church, the cost of discipleship has continued to be high. Millions upon millions have severely suffered
for the cause of Christ, including those who have laid down their lives. Many believers have been maligned and
deserted by unbelieving spouses, a desertion that is particularly had on wives
who are left with children to support. Often there is rejection and ostracism
by family, friends, or business associates who are offended by the gospel. Even in the church, ‘those who desire to make
a good showing in the flesh’ recent true godliness. They substitute humanly
achievable standards, in order ‘that they may not be persecuted for the cross
of Christ’ (Gal. 6:12). Believers who are self-centered and self-willed find
God standards to be onerous and often make life difficult for believers who
seek, in the Spirit’s power, to live up to them.”
Lord
willing we will look at a story that MacArthur writes about that took place in
World War II as we begin tomorrows SD.
Spiritual
meaning for my life today: I am learning from my devotions in the
morning and in the evening about suffering for the cause of Christ, and it has
been on my mind a lot lately and it is my desire to understand this more fully
from what the Bible teaches about it. I
know that there has been a battle between good and evil ever since the third
chapter of Genesis when mankind fell into sin.
I know who will win as I wrote about it in today’s SD and I desire to do
what Paul writes to Timothy in his very last letter and that is to “Stand
Strong!”
My
Steps of Faith for Today: 2Ti 2:1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ
Jesus.”
1/22/2025 10:28 AM
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