Disciples Follow Jesus' Path of Going with a Cross
2 Timothy 1
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,
2 To Timothy, my dear son:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Thanksgiving
3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
Appeal for Loyalty to Paul and the Gospel
6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
We COME with Jesus to His cross – and hear that we have one of our own to bear (last week). So now, as disciples of Jesus, we GO through life picking up our cross DAILY – one described by Jesus as self-denial, losing one’s life and following Him.
Standing on the words of Apostle Paul to his mentee-in-Jesus Timothy, we rejoice that we can do this not with a spirit of timidity, but [with] a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7). Read 2 Timothy 1:1-14 and picture how this mentoring spirit of Paul could exist in your life through mentors and mentees.
John 11:16
Then Thomas said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
Pondering Point
Last week we heard Jesus invite the disciples to come with Him as he went to face the devil – and with that an arrest, beating, and death on a cross.
Though a different context here, we see Thomas encouraging the other disciples to willingly face death in order to accompany Jesus. Thomas knew that they we returning to hostile territory.
This territory was under the influence of those who wanted Jesus gone – as well as His followers. Their hearts were in the right place. Even though they would run away the night of Jesus’ arrest, these same disciples would later give their lives literally for the sake of Jesus.
Prayer
Father God, Lord, may I be ready to rise to any occasion You place me in that I may glorify You with my life. In His name I pray. Amen.
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
The worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it untruthful. (Mark 4:19) You're saying that wealth is by nature “deceitful”? A personified con artist? That it has a suffocating effect on the soil of my heart, choking out the life of the kingdom?
~ J.M. Comer, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, p. 178