2 Timothy 2:8-15 (NRSV)
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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 word of God is not chained. In this confident confession we can glimpse the reason Paul keeps going, even though he's at his limit. When we are utterly spent, it can be difficult to find good reasons to endure. Though we have limits, God's word does not. Though we can only go so far, we trust God is not limited by our same human barriers. We trust God to do what God will do and be who God is—the God who makes dead things live again. God's faithfulness is not defined by our limitations. As verse 13 surprisingly concludes: "if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself." Faithfulness is God's defining characteristic, after all.
Prayer
Resurrecting God, you are good, and we are thankful for the gift of new life and renewed energies. May we grow to trust your ways, your actions and the power of your word more and more each day. Amen.