Daily Devotions

You then, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus; and what you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well. Share in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving in the army gets entangled in everyday affairs; the soldier’s aim is to please the enlisting officer. And in the case of an athlete, no one is crowned without competing according to the rules. It is the farmer who does the work who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in all things. Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David–that is my gospel, for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. The saying is sure: If we have 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. 2 Timothy 2:1-13

A man was brought before a judge for his arraignment.  The judge saw that the man did not have an attorney.  “Sir, do you not have an attorney to represent you?” asked the judge.

“No your honor.  I can’t afford an attorney.”

“Don’t worry, son,” said the judge, “We’ll find an attorney for you.”

“Thank you very much,” said the accused, “And while you’re at it, I could use some really good witnesses too.”

Jesus can use some really good witnesses as well.

He went to the cross alone.  The Bible tells us that there were some who witnessed against Jesus, but their stories were obviously crossed and trumped up.  The stony silence is that Jesus had no witnesses who spoke up on his behalf.  At best, those who would have spoken up for Jesus stood at a distance, at worst they ran away.

But on Easter Sunday night, Jesus entered the room where his friends were hiding and he gave them a new purpose.  “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”  And then again at the beginning of Acts:  “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

1 and 2 Timothy are letters of encouragement to a young church leader, an invitation to excellence and persistence in witnessing to Jesus.  There are warnings that the way will not be easy, there will be suffering and hardship.  There is the reminder that witnesses do not travel alone. 

And there is the promise: If we have 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.

Let us pray:  Dear Lord, we pray that you give us opportunity to commend the faith that is in us today.  Bring people to us who have something to say that we need to hear and in our hearing, may they sense your care.  Bring us opportunities to share what we have with others, and in our sharing, may they know your provision.  Bring us people who have lost hope, that we might provide encouragement, and in our encouragement, may they sense your strength.  Use us as your witnesses.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen. 

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