Daily Bible Reading (Wednesday, October 4th)

3

2 Timothy 2 (ESV)

 

A Good Soldier of Christ Jesus

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men,[a] who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 The saying is trustworthy, for:

If we have 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.

A Worker Approved by God

14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God[b] not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,[c] a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19 But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”

20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable,[d] he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord's servant[e] must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

Footnotes:

  1. 2 Timothy 2:2 The Greek word anthropoi can refer to both men and women, depending on the context
  2. 2 Timothy 2:14 Some manuscripts the Lord
  3. 2 Timothy 2:15 That is, one approved after being tested
  4. 2 Timothy 2:21 Greek from these things
  5. 2 Timothy 2:24 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface

3 Comments

"What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also" I am very thankful that from the start of my Christian life there have been faithful men who invested in me, helping me to grow spiritually and equipping me to serve the Lord. This has helped me to understand the responsibility I have to pass on what has been invested in me to others. Also, I have come to see that this is the Lord's plan for multiplying the ministry and maximizing my impact for Him in the world. I am so thankful that from the beginning of my walk with Christ I was taught this important principle and I am humbled by the way the ministry has multiplied through the years.

Hallelujah Dee. This is my prayer every time as well, "that God may perhaps grant them repentance" especially when we're out passing out tracts and witnessing. "That they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will." Father I confess any sin that may be hindering us from witnessing your knowledge of the truth in such times as these for true repentance and faith to manifest.

Verse 25 says that God may perhaps grant them repentance. So since God is the one who grants us repentance, how can we give up on praying for our lost family, neighbors and friends? My 96 year old stepfather did not come to belief and trust in the Lord until he was 96 years old. I had prayed for God to grant him repentance, and He did. Thank you Father for your mercy.

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