PT-4 "Introduction to 2 Timothy 2:8-13"

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 1/23/2025 8:52 AM

 

My Worship Time                                              Focus:  PT-4 “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 begin with a story from John MacArthur’s commentary which includes a song.

 

            “During World War II, eleven missionaries were martyred on the island of Panay in the Philippines.  One of these was Dr. Francis Rose, who had penned these poignant and challenging words in what is commonly called “The Martyr’s Hymn”:

 

 

All human progress up to God

Has stained the stairs of time with blood;

For every gain for Christendom

Is bought by someone’s martyrdom.

 

For us he poured the crimson cup,

And bade us take and drink it up.

Himself he poured to set us free,

Help us, O Christ, to drink with Thee.

 

Ten thousand saints come thronging home,

Form lion’s den and catacomb.

The fire and sword and beasts defiled;

For Christ, their King, they gladly died.

 

With eye of faith we see today

That cross-led column wind its way

Up life’s repeated Cavalry.

We rise, O Christ, to follow Thee!

 

            “Until Christ returns, the bold proclamation of the gospel will continue to stir up the animosity and opposition of the spiritually blind, Christ-rejection world.  In the farewell discourse mentioned above, Jesus told the disciples, ‘In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world’ (John 16:33).  Later in the present letter, Paul would remind Timothy that ‘all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted’ (2 Tim. 3:12).  Satan makes certain that persecution accompanies faithfulness to Christ.”

 

            In my study of 2 Timothy, and also parts of 1 John, and even in Colossians I seem to run into these truths about persecution and martyrdom.  I realize that around the world that there is much persecution going on as I look at the different wars that are going on, especially the one that is going on in the Middle East with Israel.  It is not hard to see that those who are fighting against Israel are followers of Satan even if they do not realize it.  Remember what God told Abram in Genesis 12:1-3 1 Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; 2  And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; 3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed."  It was here that God called Abram who would become Abraham to leave where he had been living for all of his life and then go to what will be called the Holy Land, the land that He would give to Abraham’s descendents.  God said that He would bless Abram and make his name great and that would make him a blessing.  There are a number of “religions” that come from Abraham, including Christianity. God then tells Abram that I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed."  You want the answer as to why Israel, who is surrounded by her enemies is winning these wars?  Well the answer is in the highlighted portion above.  God goes on to tell Abram “And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed."  Stop and think what the world today would be without the children of Israel.  Two things I will mention and one of them is the Bible that I read, study, and love each day.  The other is Jesus Christ, my Savior and Lord, for He came from the people of Israel, from Abraham all the way to Mary and Joseph.

 

            With that I will stop and Lord willing will finish this introduction to 2 Timothy 2 8-13 in my next SD. 

 

Spiritual meaning for my life today:  God is in control is what I see as I look back at history.  I am thankful that God did not just create the earth and then let it alone, but continues to control the events that are happening on planet earth and for that I am thankful.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Not to get stressed out when I look at the things that are going on here on planet earth.

 

1/23/2025 9:20 AM