2 Timothy 3:14-17 - Wait and Work for Your Crown

        

With Kari in Mexico.  Live life on adventure!

        Patience.  Endurance.  Steadfastness.  Remaining faithful.  This letter from Paul solemnly urges us to preach the holy Scriptures and to preach that salvation comes by trusting in Christ - God's plan as proclaimed in Scripture.  All Scriptures means all 66 books - the OT and the NT.  All means all; that’s all, all means.

        We know from Scripture that God is just.  He hates evil.  We read time and again that it is a terrible thing for those who have turned their back on God to persevere in their sin.  Terrible indeed to face the just sentence of God, disgraced and humiliated by sinful conduct (Jeremiah 15:9).  There will be deep sorrow for the justice God decrees against those who stubbornly reject God's grace.  God's “angler blazes like a fire that will burn forever” (Jeremiah 15:14).

        But as Paul tells Timothy, that is not your story.  That is not the story of the Saints.  Instead, may we all be repentant of sin.  May we be filled with indignation at sin   And may God’s hand be on us - for courage and patience.

        Let anyone with ears hear God’s call to return to him today.  Then God will restore us so that we can serve Him and expand His people.   Let us all speak good, kind words today.  Influence well in thought and deed and word.

        Here is a word of encouragement for those who persevere today, “They will not conquer you, for I am with you to protect and rescue you.   I, the LORD, have spoken!  Yes, I will certainly keep you safe from these wicked men.  I will rescue you from their cruel hands” (Jeremiah 15:20-21).

        For any of you who have been held captive by fraudsters, control freaks, and counterfeit Christians, let me share with you a word of encouragement.  There is freedom in Christ!  God loves you completely.  Yes, He knows who you are and He knows your sin.  And He knows how crafty the devil and his minions have been to keep you in the dark doing the devil’s deeds.  You need a way out of your mess, your cycle of dysfunction, and your ultimate destination without salvation.  The Good News is that we have a way out, a God-ordained rescue plan.  “For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us” (1 Thessalonians 5:9).

        You do not get salvation from your husband.  Nor from any human effort or achievement.  False teachers are puffed up with pride and religiosity.  They come up with rules like don't eat, don't drink, and don't enjoy God's creation.  By their standards, Jesus and His holy apostles would not qualify for their club.  They don’t love you.  They only want to use you, manipulate you, and violate you.  They are fools (3:9).  Dangerous lying fools.  They won’t get away with it for long.  But they do damage every day.  Expose them.

        Jesus Christ, our God, is the only one who can rescue people from the evil world.  God does love you.  Completely.  Unconditionally.  He created everything.  He created mankind and considers us his prized possessions (James 1:18) - the apple of his eye - His lost sheep.

        Jesus inspired all Scripture.  He teaches us with it.  It’s how He shows us His deep love for us.  God teaches us with Scripture.  And, as I know all too well, He rebukes us with Scripture.  The Holy Spirit uses Scripture to show us what is wrong with our lives and to prepare and equip us.

        Like Paul, let’s urge and encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ today.  Remind each other how deep God’s love is for us.  He wants every person to return to him for forgiveness that only Jesus offers, the reality that God paid the price for our sins on the Cross - and that Jesus is alive and will return on the day of Judgement.  It is on that day when those who believe and preserve will receive God’s prize - a crown of righteousness - that only Jesus can place on our heads.

        God will not force us to trust in Christ.  He draws us in and yearns for us to have a close relationship with HIm.  He’s a loving Father.  Yes, that means He gives us everything we need, including discipline.  But He always allows men and women to reject Him.  And to reject the power that could make us godly (3:5).

        Accept Jesus.  Trust Jesus Christ alone.  And remain faithful to Jesus.  God will give his faithful servants a crown.  The wait is not as long as we may think - and it will be the most humbling and rewarding experience imaginable.  We don't deserve eternal salvation.  We can't earn it.  But we can accept it, and trust God's promise and His timing.

        Dear Jesus, thank you for dying on the Cross for our sins.  Thank you for loving and caring for us.  Thank you for the purpose in this earthly life that you give us, the ministry to love and serve others and to preach your truth.  May we not be afraid to be bold for you today.  Amen.

My grandpa's tombstone.  He died the year I was born.  Looking forward to meeting him again.