Meditation
Good morning, Reader,
We began this season with Cory Wessman's story of his five-year-old self asking his grandfather, obliquely, what happens to our possessions when we are gone.
We close today with Paul, near the end of his life, writing what amounts to his own last will and testament.
His legacy to us is not one of possessions, but of a life in Christ and of the most valuable letters ever written.
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
The closing argument of "our Eternal Inheritance" is that your testament, in the oldest sense of that word, is far more meaningful and valuable than a legal document. It's the truest account you can give of how your life was lived and for whom.
Our story isn't finished at the end of our lives. It's part of God's magnificent plan. To share it is to pass the baton to the next generation, for them to be encouraged to run their race, as you have run yours.
Today's verses are 2 Timothy 4: 1-8
4
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near.7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Encouragement
Speaking of the giants of the faith, the writer of Hebrews states:
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Hebrews 11:39-40
Andy
God's Word In Your Hand