2 Timothy 2:1 - Power in Union with Christ!
2 Timothy 2:1 (TEV) As for you, my son, be
strong through the grace that is ours in union with
Christ Jesus.
INTRODUCTION
How can someone be strong in grace? Grace
means undeserved favor. Just as we are saved by
grace (Ephes. 2:8, 9), we should live by grace
(Colossians 2:6). This means trusting completely in
Christ and 'his' power, and not trying to live for
Christ in our strength alone. Receive and utilize
Christ's power. He will give you the strength to do
his work. [Life Application SB]
COMMENTARY PEARL
Today's passage is from Paul's letter to
Timothy. The apostle encourages the young man - and,
by extension, every believer - to face
difficulty as a good soldier. The military term
"soldier" implies that we are in a battle. And in
fact, the combat started before Adam and Eve's
lifetime.
We see the first evidence when almighty
God, who had created all the celestial beings,
nevertheless allowed Satan and other angels (thereafter
known as "demons") to rebel against Him. They
established their own kingdom and waged war with the
Lord.
Later we see this strife extend to all
humankind. In the Garden of Eden, Satan tempted Eve to
violate God's command by eating forbidden fruit. Her
disobedience corrupted mankind's innocence, and ever
since, all human beings have been born with a
nature bent away from the Lord - and with a
profound need for a Savior.
Tempted by Satan in the wilderness, Jesus
modeled how to be victorious in spiritual conflict:
by means of Scripture. God's Word gives us
everything we need to win - from offensive and
defensive weapons (Eph. 6:10-17) to the proper
perspective on our adversaries' real identity: "Our
struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against
the spiritual forces of wickedness in the
heavenly places" (v. 12).
When we see ungodliness in our society,
the Enemy may at times seem to be winning. Yet
we who are saved have assurance that we belong
to Him who is greater - and who will have the
final victory (1 John 4:4; John 16:33). View daily
battles biblically and look to God, who is mightier
than all evil. [In Touch Daily Devotional by
Charles Stanley at www.intouch.org] re 2 Tim. 2:1-4
COMMENTARY
God had only one plan for propagating the
gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth:
word of mouth. One person who experienced God's
favor in Christ Jesus would pass that truth on to
other trustworthy people.
If someone has passed on a heritage of
faith that led you to salvation, then you have
indeed experienced God's favor. Who first opened
the pages of Scripture to you? Who did the Holy
Spirit use to bring you to salvation? Who
discipled you in the truths of the Christian faith?
All of us who have come to a saving knowledge of
Jesus Christ came to faith through the faithful
witness of trustworthy brothers and sisters in
Christ.
It has been said that Christianity is
always just one generation away from extinction. We
have the wonderful privilege of passing on to
the next generation the truth that someone
entrusted to us. God may be calling you to invest time
and truth in a young child, a coworker, a
relative, or someone else's teenager. Trust the Holy
Spirit to give you the heart and wisdom to pass on
your rich heritage of faith to another
trustworthy person.
LORD, thank you for the blessed privilege
of being used by your Holy Spirit in the lives
of others. Prepare the hearts of those to whom
you are calling me to witness. Give me boldness
mingled with love, and let me not miss or shy away
from any opportunity to pass on to others the
great truths that have changed my life. [Praying
Through The Bible By Fuller re 2 Tim. 2:1, 2]
When Simon Peter stepped out of the boat
and attempted to walk on the water to Jesus, he
was afraid. "And beginning to sink he cried out
'Lord, save me!' " (Mt 14:30). Fear makes you sink.
When Jesus healed the paralytic, His
first word was, "Have courage, son," and His
second, "Your sins are forgiven" (Mt 9:2). When
Jesus lifted the guilt, this lifted the fear
which, in turn, lifted the paralysis.
When the disciples fell on their faces at
the top of the Mount of Transfiguration,
terrified because they had heard the voice of God,
Jesus said: "Get up; don't be afraid" (Mt 17:7).
Fear puts you down; faith lifts you up.
The man who brought back the unused
talent said: "I was afraid and went off and hid
your talent in the ground" (Mt 25:25). His life
investment was in a hole in the ground! Fear did it.
Again, it was said of the disciples that
they were gathered "with the doors locked because
of their fear of the Jews" (Jn 20:19). Fear
always puts you behind closed doors; it causes you
to become an ingrown person.
Joseph of Arimathea was "a disciple of
Jesus"but secretly because of his fear of the Jews"
(Jn 19:38). Fear always drives a person
underground.
A man I know says that fear gave him cold
feet. Prior to the Lord delivering him from fear,
his circulation was so bad that he had to wear
socks in bed. "Now," he says, "my circulation is
normal. God took away my fear and gave me warm
feet."
God, I see that fear is indeed costly. It
is so costly that I dare not keep it. But I
cannot easily get rid of it, for it has put its
roots deep within me. Help me tear it up, root and
branch. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. [Every Day With
Jesus Bible with Selwyn Hughes devotional]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC
2 Timothy 2:1 - Power in Jesus!
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2006/20060313-0844.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio:
https://bible.awr.org/the-signs/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug
Batchelor:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
