June 19 | 2 Timothy 2:20-26

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DAILY READING

2 Timothy 2:20-26

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REFLECTION

What You Put in, You Get Out

by David Thompson

Timothy was a prodigy of Paul. He accompanied Paul on a number missionary trips and Paul trusted him to disciple a new church. Timothy came from good parents. Eunice, his mother, and Lois, his grandmother, helped to raise him in the Jewish faith. After conversion, he followed Paul, converted new converts, discipled these converts and assisted Paul in many ways, including supporting him when he was in a Roman prison.

Today's passage starts out with Paul admonishing Timothy in being the best he could be. He did this by showing Timothy articles of gold, silver, wood and clay. He encouraged Timothy to be the best article he could be. No matter what you are made of, he taught Timothy to be the best he could be and to refrain from sin that dirties the relationship with Christ. Verse 22 states "Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."

This reminds me of a story my wife told me many years ago. She was a service desk operator at Kmart. On breaks, especially lunch or supper break, she and most of the other workers who were on break would go to a small "break room." My wife grew up in a Christian home and never was introduced to coarse language and hateful speech. She would sit quietly in the break room and listen to the other workers swear and talk negatively about their husbands, their lives and the work place. She never stooped to speak like what she heard, but she admits that the words became a part of her thought processes. Verse 24 states, "And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful." Now Carla never spoke to the ladies on break, but she did start to separate herself from the situation and eat elsewhere. This made an impression on others and before too long the break room was a much better place.

Now Carla could have been combative and stated that the lounge was an evil place, but like verse 25-26 says, "Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will." She didn't speak directly to the "offense," but was known for being a Christian. Some, perhaps most people cleaned up their talk and in so doing helped them see the error of their ways.

PRAYER

Lord, help us to flee from bad influences and idle talk. It can be destructive and cause not only us to stumble, but others to be emboldened by our silence. Help us to be a good influence on others and help them come to their senses. Amen.

June 18 | Hosea 2:5-7; 14-16

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DAILY READING

Hosea 2:5-7; 14-16

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REFLECTION

He Loves You Too Much to Let You Go!

by Mary Kate Hipp

What a beautiful picture of the Lord's extravagant love for us. In the beginning of Hosea chapter 2, we read a statement of divorce (Hos 2:2 "For she is not my wife and I am not her husband"). Verses 5-7 then go on to explain all of the reasons why Hosea (husband) should leave Gomer (wife) and how she has not recognized God as her Lord and master. In the ancient near east, divorce was not particularly common and was full of great shame. If caught in adultery, the punishment was death. When we read the beginning of chapter 2 we should read that Gomer is a dishonorable woman and (according to ancient near eastern culture) should be severely punished.

But then we come to the latter half of Hosea chapter 2 and the Lord is displaying extravagant mercy, grace, and love. As Hosea is to do with Gomer, so the Lord is to us when we go astray: He restores us, He calls us beloved, He extends grace. We even read the inverse of the divorce statement in verse 16 ("You will call me your husband").

This excerpt from Hosea reminds me of the story of the Prodigal's Son. We see the same extravagant love of the Father displayed here. One of God's children has gone astray, has worshiped idols, has decided life is better without God--but the Father loves them too much to let them go.

In the play for Vacation Bible School this year, one of the characters does not understand the point of following God and another character stops her and boldly proclaims: "Right now God is chasing after you. You might be trying to run away from Him, but He loves you too much to let you go. You are His treasure."

And isn't that true for every single one of us?

We all at one point or another have run away from God, some of us are currently running away from God. Yet He chases us anyways. He pursues us anyways because we are His treasure. He simply loves you too much to let you go.

Friends, rest in this promise today: God is chasing after you because you are His treasure, He loves you too much to let you go.

PRAYER

God, help us today to remember that truth: You love us too much to let us go. Amen.

June 17 | Romans 8:8-17

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DAILY READING

Romans 8:8-17

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REFLECTION

The Spirit Chooses You

by Pr. Dave Mann

I would like to start with one foot in the Bible text from yesterday – the parable of the lost son.  The returning prodigal, after he had come to senses, resigned himself and prepared his speech to be considered an ordinary hired hand for his father’s estate (Luke 15:19).  However, upon the son’s return, the father did not even give the son the opportunity to finish his prepared repentant speech (Luke 15:21-22).  The Father was so pleased to have the wayward son in his home again that he did not let him get to the part in his speech about being a hired servant, and not to be treated as a son.

The prodigal son and any of us who have sinned have indeed disqualified ourselves from receiving a blessing from God our Father.  However, our heavenly Father himself, has chosen to override our disqualification and to declare us “adopted as sons,” children of God with full spiritual status. “Adoption to sonship” is the original language of the New Testament, and is the legal term to designate the person to whom is given full inheritance.  Receiving this “adoption to sonship” is not based on the heir’s merit or deserving.  Its legitimacy is entirely based on the decision of the father. 

The Apostle Paul, in today’s text, masterfully lays out the basis for this declaration of becoming an heir in the kingdom of God.  In the ten verses of today’s passage, Paul mentions “the Spirit” eleven times.  Our status as an heir of the kingdom is based on what God has done for us in the Spirit, not what we have earned.

Though your actions may indeed merit severe punishment, even death, the Spirit chooses to make you authentic children of God.  This is not based on your feelings, your history, the accusations of the Enemy, or the gossiping of others.  If you have been baptized, you have the Spirit (Acts 2:38-39).  This is God’s decision, not yours.

Read these declarations aloud.  This is what Jesus, our Advocate and defense attorney (1 John 2:1), proclaims about us.

• You are in the realm of the Spirit.

• The Spirit of God lives in you.

• The Spirit gives life.

• The Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you.

• The Spirit who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies.

• Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

• The Spirit you received does not make you slaves so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 

The Spirit of God has claimed you.

PRAYER

Lord God, thank you that you do not listen to our ill-prepared speeches, but rather you receive only to the portion of our prayers that emanate from the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  Keep on convincing us of the beauty and trustworthiness of the work of your Spirit in our hearts.  Keep on with your good work until, by your grace, we are sanctified, truly trusting in what you have done for us in Jesus’ name, Amen.