Daily Bread

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Strong in the Grace of Jesus

Date: Jul. 28, 2021

Passage

2 Timothy 2:1-13

A Good Soldier of Christ Jesus

2:1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 The saying is trustworthy, for:

  If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
12   if we endure, we will also reign with him;
  if we deny him, he also will deny us;
13   if we are faithless, he remains faithful—

for he cannot deny himself.

Key Verse: 2 Timothy 2:1

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus,

A Christian leader needs the kind of strength that comes from the grace of Jesus and not themselves. Timothy needed this strength to carry on Paul’s ministry of raising disciples and gospel workers. Paul instructed him to pass on his teachings to reliable people who would then teach others. This was not an easy task, by any means! Paul says, “Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” Soldiers have a single-minded focus in obeying their commanders. Athletes play by the rules and know that suffering is part of the game. Farmers must be hardworking and diligent in everything they do. These are the traits that disciples of Jesus must have, and those who suffer for the sake of the gospel will be rewarded.

Are you unsure if you have this kind of strength? Then follow Paul’s advice and remember our Lord Jesus Christ. His suffering brought victory to us all. When our Lord was raised from the dead, it was a sign of his triumph over sin and death. Through his sufferings, we have the hope of eternal life! He is the promised descendant of David who reigns forever as Lord and Messiah. Paul suffered in chains like a criminal so that others might know Christ and the good news of salvation. We, too, must be strong and endure for the sake of the gospel.

Prayer: Prayer: Father, give us the grace to suffer for the sake of the gospel like a good soldier of Christ.

One Word: One Word: Strength comes from grace

We Are Your Sheep, Lord

Psalm 79:1-13

Key Verse: 79:13

But we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
from generation to generation we will recount your praise.

Today's Question

See answer and references