LAST WORDS

Image result for CLIP ART SHOWING PAUL, THE APOSTLEI have never been privy to a man or woman last words murmured at death, yet surely we all have some concluding thoughts in finishing this phase of our lives.  I reread 2 Timothy written by Paul who is now in a Roman prison about the year 66 or 67 AD possibly a couple of years before the Emperor, Nero, has him beheaded.  Paul has been a faithful mentor to Timothy who is pastoring the church at Ephesus.  This last letter is written to encourage Timothy to stand strong in the faith that he has been "entrusted" and to give him warnings of the false teachings that may try to infiltrate the body of Christ at Ephesus.

Several rich concluding thoughts from Paul:

1.  God gives you the spirit of power, love, and self-discipline, NOT fear.
2. I am not ashamed of this gospel, I KNOW in WHOM I have believed and He is able to guard what I have entrusted Him.
3. God's solid foundation stands firm for God knows those who are His.
4.  "Keep your head in all situations, endure hardship..."
5. Preach the Word, be prepared in season and out of season: correct....with patience and instruction.
6.  All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteous.
7.   Only Luke is with him in prison, BUT "God stood at my side and gave me strength" to fulfill his assignment to the Gentiles that they might be saved.
8.  "The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom.  To Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen."  

Last words from a stalwart man of God, a missionary, teacher, and mentor who was faithful to the message of the gospel to which he had been entrusted by the Holy Spirit. What a privilege to mull over his last words.  Oh dear Lord, when my time comes, may I be found faithful and finish well to Your glory.  Forever learning.  In process.  #IHAVETHREESONS.  

  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THOSE SEEING CAN BECOME BLIND

Image
John 9 is the story of the healing of the blind beggar.  Not only is it a marvelous story of the miraculous healing of the man as he is given his sight, but a sad story of the religious of whom Jesus said, "For judgment, I have come into this world, so that the blind will see, and those who see will become blind ." The religious have seen the miracle, even though it has taken place on a Sabbath, and they interview the man and his parents for their stories and understanding. I find it so thrilling that the healed man speaks so articulately and logically with the religious in their "interview" with him.  His statement, " Now that is remarkable!  You don't know where HE comes from, yet HE opened my eyes.  We know that God does not listen to sinners.  He listens to the godly man who does His will.  Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing." What truth he has spoken to the religious wh
Read more

REHEARSALS

Image
  I wonder how much time do I give to rehearsing God's goodness and how He has intervened in my life to "save" me from myself?  How alike the Israelites I can be, complaining about what goes wrong, how it affects me, and what I lack.  As a Christ follower, I have the Indwelling Holy Spirit to give me remembrance NOT of my complaining and grumbling, but of a recall of God's faithfulness to me.  It is recorded in Psalms 78 and 106 that " They forgot what He had done, the wonder He had shown them", "They did not remember His power--the day He redeemed them from the oppressor...", "They did not remember Your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.", "But they soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His counsel.", and "They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt...". Contrast with me, God's remembrance: Ps. 106:44-46, "But He took note of their distress
Read more

ORDER AND DESIGN

Image
    I do not have OCD, but I do confess that I like order in my home.  Now that I am retired, I am not so much into spotless, but "picked up" and "kinda" clean. (Do not open drawers and closets!) I might go to more trouble when I know I am having company, but otherwise, I remove the clutter that seems to reproduce on its own.   When I began the reading in Genesis in January, I was again taken with the with the orderliness and design of God in creation, and have seen Him use Moses and Aaron to ORDERLY marshal the Israelites to move out of Egypt. How do you move some 600+ males and that is not even wives and children? Animals also?  They have been one year+ out of Egypt, and have been camped at Mt. Sinai where God has given them laws for their spiritual and physical welfare.  God gives Moses the design of the Tabernacle and Moses is able to bring together the workers to complete the Tabernacle.   The clip art at the top is the positioning of the 12 Tribes and the
Read more