23 March • Saturday of the Fifth Week in Lent
2 Timothy 4:1-22
1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up 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 loved his appearing.
9 Do your best to come to me soon. 10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. 12 Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15 Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. 16 At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. 21 Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers.
22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.
Meditation
We live in a world that's constantly evolving. Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher, is quoted as saying “change is the only constant in life.” The only thing that remains constant in this ever changing world is the Word of God.
In 2 Timothy 4:17, Paul declares, "But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength." Regardless of ever-changing circumstances, God remained faithful and empowered Paul to fulfill his purpose and finish his race on earth well.
Imprisoned in Rome yet again, the apostle Paul felt lonely and abandoned. Paul recognised that his earthly life was likely coming to an end soon. The Book of 2 Timothy is essentially Paul’s “last words.” Paul looked past his own circumstances to express concern for the churches and specifically for Timothy. Paul wanted to use his last words to encourage Timothy, and all other believers, to persevere in faith and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul's life was marked by continuous change and uncertainty. Having faced persecution, imprisonment and abandonment, apostle Paul found comfort and refuge in the unchanging presence of the Lord.
Psalm 119:105 declares, “God’s word is a lamp unto our feet, a light on our path.” The truth is that dark times will come and surround us. But as we anchor ourselves in God’s unchanging word, His light will help us navigate through the darkest moments of life. We are constantly bombarded by shifting cultural norms, moral relativism, divides and pressures to conform to the patterns of this world. Our only hope is that God's Word stands firm amidst all chaos.
As we journey through this season of Lent, let us not forget that even as the world around us goes through constant change, God’s word will never change. It is only when we anchor on His word that we can draw strength and hope, knowing that we have an unchanging God as we face this constantly changing world. Let us boldly share the Good News of His Salvation so that others may also experience the never changing love and grace of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word, which never changes and provides us with guidance and truth amidst an ever changing world. Grant us the passion and perseverance to commit to reading, meditating and applying Your word. Enable us through Your Holy Spirit to proclaim the good news so that many may come to know Your love and abundant grace. May Your word be a lamp unto their feet and a light unto their path. In Jesus name, Amen.
Action
Make reading, meditating and applying His Word our priority.
Rev Samuel Gift Stephen
Senior Overseer
Life Centre (Formerly Smyrna Assembly)