The Epistle for today comes from the apostle Paul in 2 Timothy, where he writes about his suffering and not being ashamed to claim that Christ is his God and redeemer to his friend, Timothy. Our devotional reading is adapted from God’s Word for Today: 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus.
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When Paul wrote his Second Letter to Timothy, he was an old man, and he was lying in a prison cell awaiting a martyr’s death. After Paul was gone, would others show the same love for the Gospel and work with the same zeal to have it spread as he had done?
The apostle [Paul] had become more closely attached to Timothy than to any other of his other co-workers. During all the years that Paul had known him, Timothy had given a good account of himself as a sincere and consecrated Christian. The training and the instruction in the Scriptures that he had received from his devout mother, Eunice, and grandmother, Lois, had borne rich fruits in his later life. He had showed that he was not ashamed of his faith and of having been associated with the apostle whom the enemies of the Gospel sought to kill.
All the years that Paul had been a Christian, he had to suffer for the sake of the Gospel, perhaps more than any other person. Now he was a prisoner in Rome for the second time, and it seemed certain that soon he would be led to his death. But Paul was unafraid and did not complain about his hard lot. While in the dark dungeon, he thought of the many good things that he enjoyed as a believer. Why should he fear people or worry about the future since Jesus had redeemed his soul, called him to faith and eternal salvation, and assured him by the Gospel of a glorious resurrection and everlasting life in heaven (Romans 8:18, 38–39)? God had revealed His love and mercy to Paul in a very special way by making him a preacher of the Gospel and the apostle and teacher of the Gentiles. He knew that neither suffering nor death could rob him of these blessings. His faith was firmly grounded on Jesus, and he was certain that the Lord would keep him in the faith unto his end.
Hymn of the Day is “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less” by Walker Williams © 2017 Concordia Publishing House. All Rights Reserved.
Devotional reading adapted from God’s Word for Today: 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, pages 38-40 © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Scripture: ESV®