Happy Hump Day to you! The input of God's wisdom into my mind and heart is such a welcome thing. How about you? Pray with me, "God, I need to hear from you today. Please speak to me personally through your holy word as I read. Amen." Now, let's open our minds and venture into a God-encounter in 2 Timothy 2:1-13. It takes two or three times through it for it to really start sinking in, so go ahead and make that worthwhile effort.
If we died with him, we will also live with him;
If we endure, we will also reign with him. (v. 11-12)
Just prior to giving these promises, he used three word pictures to encourage us to give everything we've got in serving the Lord: Like a soldier, be focused and devoted to your mission. Like an athlete, honor the constraints and boundaries that we must live within to be effective. Like a farmer, be willing to work hard. Then he gives the promise above.
The past tense "died" catches my attention. He doesn't say, "If we die with him...," but rather, "If we died with him...." It reminds me of something he said in another letter of the New Testament: "I have been crucified with Christ. Nevertheless I live" (Galatians 2:20). Jesus is saying to me, "Cut loose of your own expectations and demands of this life. Let your own will, your fallen self, die with me on the cross. Then you will receive a new quality of life in which I will live with you, even within you. You and I will become one in a way you can't fully understand. My resurrection life will be yours. And when you physically die, that spiritual life will carry on beyond the grave."
The word "endure" also stands out in my mind. Much happens in this life as a result of the brokenness in the world and in me that our Enemy uses to try to gradually break down my faith, or just anesthetize it. Sometimes things go very wrong that cause me to question whether serving Jesus is really worth it.
Endurance. Jesus says, "Stick with me. Be strong in my grace. Yes, there are many tests and challenges to be faced before your journey is complete. Endure. Remain faithful. That is, continue to be full of faith. There is a huge payoff day coming! If you past the test, you will reign with me. I will give you a share in my glory and reward you with authority equivalent to your faithfulness. My blessings will flow to you in this life, but never lose sight of the real prize. It lies ahead of you there on the horizon."
Lord, thank you for this mind-stretching, encouraging promise! Me, reign with you? You, living in me? I'm such a weak and often confused human being. But in your grace I become stronger than I ever imagined. Thank you for going through these tests and challenges with me so that I know I'm never alone. I know you will see me through. And I can't wait to experience what you have in store for me! Amen.
Sharing this post with your Facebook friends would be a great way of testifying to Jesus (see the past two posts). Just click the "f" Facebook icon below. And thanks for your thought-provoking comments recently! It's great to know you're reading these posts and God is speaking to you through them.
Thank you, Chris, for the encouragement. It's sometimes hard to endure in this life. This world is so broken and lost. We need to endure not only for our own sake but also for others who may not have the hope we do. I always look forward to reading your posts. You have great insight and you're an excellent writer!
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