Prayer – Lord, I want to serve You by serving others, so
show me what I can do for You. May the bridge that You and I build in our
relationship just be the beginning of other bridges that connect You and me
with others. Prepare me for whatever….
Detroit Gateway Bridge
Will this be a type of gateway to bridging
your relationship with the Lord God?
I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ
Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up
his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is
favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with
good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound
and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for
teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will
reject the truth and chase after myths. But you should keep a clear mind in
every situation. Don't be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling
others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you. 2
Timothy 4:1-5 (Underlined for emphasis.)
Meditate. Consider God’s word and listen to what He is
saying.
Be prepared. In this letter, Paul was giving Timothy some
almost last-minute advice. He goes on to say that his time of death is near. Second
Timothy is thought to have been written in about 66 AD, although several
sources, including the in-line Britannica encyclopedia, list his death as 62-64
AD and Wikipedia, 64/65 AD. At any rate, Paul was around 60 years old when
died. Paul urges Timothy to encourage those he is teaching about the Good News—God’s
forever Kingdom.
We should also be motivated by Paul advice. Who are “your
people” and what is the ministry that God has given you? Everyone has a
gift or talent to use for the Lord—whether it is writing a blog; a daily
devotional; teaching a Sunday school class for children, teens, or adults; leading
a prayer or Bible Study group; driving a bus ministry van; singing in a choir;
playing a musical instrument; sending cards, visiting, sending cards to shut-ins;
assisting other as they learn a new sport like pickleball; just being a friend
to the discouraged or listening to those who are struggling with a loss or some
anxiety issue. Ask God to show you where He wants you to serve Him. God works
through people. Can you be that person? Are you prepared to inspire or serve others?
Verses of Salvation (as noted by Paul near the end of
his life) ~ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have
remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And
the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his
appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7-8
© 2023 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All
rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless
otherwise noted.
New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House
Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
Books by Mickey M.
Hunacek
Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com
Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character
Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories
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