Daily Thoughts From God's Word

The time is coming, Paul writes, when people will hate the truth and will follow after lies; thus, the necessity of continuing to “preach the word” and to “be ready in season and out of season” (4:2).  Several days ago, I wrote about friendship with Onesiphorus and Onesiphorus’ support and service.  True friends are so important to us.  At the end of this letter, Paul mentions Timothy, Luke, and Mark as true friends and ones to be relied upon even in the most dangerous situat

Paul continues to contrast the ungodly with the godly.  He warns about the last days:  “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty” (3:1) and all the ungodliness that will be evident.   He tells Timothy, though, that the young man has followed the apostle’s example.  And Paul exhorts him, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquain

Faithful witnesses and faithful men.  Soldiers willing to endure suffering in order to please those in command over him.  The hard working farmer.  The apostle bound in chains as a criminal and still faithful to preach the gospel.  Those willing to deny themselves.  A worker approved by God.  Holding to the truth.  Pure of heart.  Vessels of silver and gold.  Those displaying kindness and enduring evil while correcting their opponents with gentleness.  So many metaphors and d

In reading Paul’s second epistle to Timothy, I was especially struck by his note regarding Onesiphorus.  Of course, there are other important matters here, even more important matters (the faith handed down through Timothy's family, God’s keeping of the believer until the end, the good soldier and faithful worker motifs, the work of Jesus on the cross, the instruction to flee from sin, warnings against the Godlessness of the last days, the affirmation of God's Word and the ne

Instructions for bondservants.  Harsh words for those who teach heresy:  “If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing” (6:3-4).  And, then, Paul addresses a matter that is a challenge for all of us, i.e., prioritizing temporal things over eternal things and just being content.  Some have heard me relate the story about

How to treat older men and older women?  How to relate to widows and their children and grandchildren?  Provisions for one’s household and other relatives?  How to manage households?  Honor given to the elders of the church?  The role of good works?  Paul addresses all these issues in chapter 5.  We would do well, very well, to pay heed.  There is one section that is interesting, speaking of the godly widow versus the widow who is all about herself:  “She who is truly a widow

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made

Pastors and deacons . . . A reoccurring theme in the Bible is God’s care and provision for his people.  For Abraham, the Lord provided an heir.  To Isaac and Jacob, the Lord restated the covenant promises.  Joseph, mistreated in Egypt, was protected by God and raised to great power and authority.  In the wilderness, even with all their complaining and disloyalty, God kept his people, feeding them, fighting their enemies, and guiding them for 40 years.  On and on the story goe

Paul begins chapter 2:  “I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.  This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2:1-4).  A good reminder that the grace of God extends to all sorts of people, those in high a

Paul’s is an amazing testimony:  “I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent.  But I received mercy” (1:12,13).  And, “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost” (1:15).  This is the man who is now counseling Timothy and the church

The Thessalonians have suffered, but Jesus will return and judge their persecutors, and when he returns, he will also “be glorified in his saints” (1:10).  And so, Paul explains in some detail the events of his coming.  Through it all they are to remember that they are beloved by the Lord, chosen as firstfruits, saved, sanctified by the Spirit and in truth, and those who will obtain the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ (2:13,14).  Knowing these things, i.e. their security in th

Paul was very encouraged with the church in Thessalonica.  The gospel had come to them in power, and they had acknowledged it as the word of God.  Following Paul’s example, they had become an example to believers throughout the region.  They were eagerly awaiting the return of Jesus.  They had suffered and faced opposition with faithfulness.  Timothy had brought back to Paul this good report and he was greatly encouraged.  As they await the Lord, Paul encourages them to conti

Paul strongly encourages the Colossians as to how they are to live:  “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving” (2:6).  Our lives are so intimately connected with Christ that John (chapter 15) was able to describe that relationship as ourselves having been grafted into the true vine, drawing our very life from him.  And here:  “rooted and built

Paul writes here his great piece on the person of Christ:  “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.  And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (1:15-17).  He has created all things, and he holds the universe together by his power.  Wow!  An

Paul constantly writes about our righteousness in Christ.  He testifies, here, that if anyone had any reason to boast in his own righteousness apart from Christ, he did.  Circumcised, a Pharisee of the Pharisees, persecutor of the [heretical; according to him] church, and under the law blameless.  But what does he write?  “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count t