2 Timothy 2: 1-13

Jan 11, 2024

A promise is only as good as the person who makes it. If a trusted friend, parent, or spouse makes you a promise, it’s as if it’s already done! However, if you’ve ever tried to sell something to a stranger on Facebook Marketplace, you’ll know that not everyone’s promises are created equal.

When God makes a promise, it’s as solid as it gets. Consider what the Apostle Paul writes to his protegé Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:13 – if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself. God cannot deny who He is. He is the ultimate promise keeper. He is faithful!

Today, know that God’s promises to you are true and trustworthy – He cannot deny who He is!

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Read: 2 Timothy 2: 1-13
1 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 3 Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

11 Here is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with him,we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him.
If we disown him, he will also disown us;
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

Colossians 3:1-17

Jan 10, 2024

The legend of the two wolves goes like this:

An old Cherokee man is teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy.

“It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.” He continued, “The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”

The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”—

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What you feed grows, and what you starve dies. This works with wolves, plants, Tamagotchis, and of course, our inner lives. If you feed your evil desires, they will grow. If you feed your longing for holiness, that grows. What you feed grows, and what you starve dies.

What do you need to feed in your life? What do you need to starve?

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Read Colossians 3:1-17
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Hebrews 7:11-28

Jan 9, 2024

Today’s reading might seem confusing because we’re talking about Levites, priesthood, and a guy named Melchizedek – that’s not your typical dinner-time conversation. However, these ideas in Scripture are important, but they don’t need to be complicated.

In the Old Testament, priests would offer sacrifices to atone for people’s sins. And because everybody sins, these priests were constantly offering sacrifices. Hebrews 7:27 shows us how much better Jesus is! Jesus has accomplished what no human priest could – an eternal atonement! There is no need for continual sacrifices. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross echoes through eternity, and if you have put your faith in who Jesus is and what He did on the cross, you are forgiven! For “He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.”( Hebrews 7:27)

Take time to thank Jesus for what He has accomplished for you on the cross!

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Read: Hebrews 7:11-28

11 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. 13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is declared:

“You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.”

18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:

“The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind:
‘You are a priest forever.’”

22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.

23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

26 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

1 John 1:1-10

Jan 8, 2024

Most of us don’t like to “eat crow.” Admitting we were wrong is difficult and humbling. But each time we do, the results are both freeing and enabling. They build relationships rather than break them.

Confession is a lost art for many Christians. John says: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

I find it interesting that he begins the verse with the word if. That says it’s a maybe for some of us – it’s not a given.

Confession is a way to make war against our sins. When we name them, we do just that. Bringing them to light, asking for forgiveness, and recognizing them breaks their power on us. And the beautiful thing is God forgives….every single time. Which then has us living in freedom and security.

Why not begin today with a confession prayer and experience the forgiveness of our Lord and Savior. Make war on your sins so they don’t make war on you.

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Read: 1 John 1:1-10
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at, and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete.

5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.