2 Timothy 2:8-15 (NRSV)
Read 2 Timothy 2:8-15 on biblegateway.com
Verse 8Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David-that is my gospel, Verse 9for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. Verse 10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. Verse 11The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; Verse 12if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; Verse 13if we are faithless, he remains faithful- for he cannot deny himself.
Verse 14Remind them of this, and warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening. Verse 15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth.
Devotion
The Rev. Dr. Warren Quanbeck, my advisor at Luther Seminary, told me with an uncharacteristic smile: “David, you will always be an eccentric in the church.” He was prophetic. Thankfully, for decades I have served congregations who served on the edges of the church, where no one else would serve. Far from the heartland of North American Lutheranism, I felt unworthy. That was both accurate and good. Leaning on the everlasting arms of Jesus, I became curious how Jesus heals broken communities. Thus, turning toward, while others turned away, I became open to Christ’s potential and power. Closed to my own power, and I became open to the potential in others, for which I give God thanks and praise.
Prayer
O Word of God unchained, you are faithful when we are faulty. Lead us with grateful hearts to receive all of your gifts without giving them back, that, such as we are, your will and your ways may prevail through and among us. Amen.
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