Be Strong in Grace – 2 Timothy 2

Joy: You’re listening to the Lifting Her Voice podcast, Episode #198.  Today we’ll read 2 Timothy chapter 2 together:  Paul admonishes Timothy to be strong in grace and describes an approved worker.

Welcome to the Lifting Her Voice podcast.  I’m your host, Joy Miller, and I invite you to grab your Bible and join me as we simply read God’s word together.  Some things require discipline and sometimes that’s just not easy to muster by yourself, no matter how badly you want to do it or how much you know you should.  It’s just easier to do it with a friend.  So refill your coffee or tea, get comfortable in your favorite chair and follow along as I read aloud.  I’m so glad you’re here!

Welcome

Watching the snow fall is mesmerizing.  There is a stillness, a peace that is different than anything else in God’s creation.  It tends to make me introspective, but there wasn’t must room for that on the all-girl road trip to see my Uncle Alex in Great Falls, Montana.  

I think we may have overwhelmed him a little.  He’s used to living alone with the cat and then we show up all talking at once.  I’m surprised he didn’t develop a twitch.  

This was a different sort of trip.  Ordinarily, Alex is the self-appointed tour guide and entertainment coordinator.  However, the unseasonably large snow-dump allowed us to only go out a few times.  The rest of the time, we cooked at home and talked and reminisced.  It was one of those visits that we will look back and say, “I’m sure glad we got to do that.”  

Two great joys for me was making the trip with my sister, Linda Kay, and my oldest daughter, Wendy.  My sister doesn’t travel a huge amount and I love being with her when she does.  There is a wonder and an appreciation and she inspires gratitude in me.  The icing on the cake was having Wendy with us.  Ordinarily she would be busy working but the shake-up of Covid on business opened a window that allowed her to hop on that last-minute plane.  She hadn’t seen my uncle for years and it was good for them to re-connect.

Have you got any visits on the books?  Let me know if you’re starting to step out at Lifting Her Voice.com, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

2 Timothy Chapter 2

Be Strong in Grace

You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the commanding officer. Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer ought to be the first to get a share of the crops. Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead and descended from David, according to my gospel, for which I suffer to the point of being bound like a criminal. But the word of God is not bound. This is why I endure all things for the elect: so that they also may obtain salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. This saying is trustworthy:

For if we died with him,

we will also live with him;

if we endure, we will also reign with him;

if we deny him, he will also deny us;

if we are faithless, he remains faithful,

for he cannot deny himself.

An Approved Worker

Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to fight about words. This is useless and leads to the ruin of those who listen. Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth. Avoid irreverent and empty speech, since those who engage in it will produce even more godlessness, and their teaching will spread like gangrene.

Hymenaeus and Philetus are among them. They have departed from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and are ruining the faith of some. Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, bearing this inscription: The Lord knows those who are his, and let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness.

Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also those of wood and clay; some for honorable use and some for dishonorable. So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, because you know that they breed quarrels. The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth. Then they may come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

Closing Thoughts

If each instruction here was numbered, we would have quite a list of practical to-dos.  And don’ts.  Be strong in grace.  Get help.  Play by the rules.  Remember Jesus.  If we died with Him, we will live Him.  If we endure, we will reign with Him.  If we deny Him, He will deny us.  If we are faithless, He remains faithful.  Don’t quarrel about words.  Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved.  Avoid irreverent babble.  Don’t sin.

What a precious reminder that the Lord knows those who are His.  Let’s pray.

Prayer

Father, we want to be useful vessels for You.  Purge us, scrub us clean so that we might be used as Your special instruments, prepared for every good work.  Amen.

Thank you for joining me here today.  I pray God will grow in you what has been planted and watered here.  In this time of unprecedented struggle worldwide, we can look to God for guidance and comfort.  Be sensitive to those in your circle of influence who need a word of encouragement and invite them to join us.  If you like this show, it would be great if you give it a five-star review.  Don’t forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  See you right here tomorrow.  Be well!

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible(r), Copyright (c) 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible(r) and CSB(r) are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.