6 I am already being poured out like a drink offering. The time has come for me to leave. 7 I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is a crown waiting for me. It is given to those who are right with God. The Lord, who judges fairly, will give it to me on the day he returns. He will not give it only to me. He will also give it to all those who are longing for him to return.

What an amazing testimony – what unwavering faith!

I love that Paul could say with confidence I have done what Christ asked of me.  I want the same testimony over my life where I can say with confidence I have fought the good fight and finished the race.  That takes confidence, faith, perseverance, purity…

Lord, help me to fulfil the destiny on my life like Paul did – full of faith, right to the end!

Written by Ps. Richard Botta

10 But you know all about my teaching. You know how I live and what I live for. You know about my faith and love. You know how patient I am. You know I haven’t given up. 11 You know that I was treated badly. You know that I suffered greatly. You know what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra. You know how badly I have been treated. But the Lord saved me from all of my troubles. 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be treated badly. 13 Evil people and pretenders will go from bad to worse. They will fool others, and others will fool them. 14 But I want you to continue to follow what you have learned. Don’t give up what you are sure of. You know the people you learned it from. 15 You have known the Holy Scriptures ever since you were a little child. They are able to teach you how to be saved by believing in Christ Jesus. 16 God has breathed life into all of Scripture. It is useful for teaching us what is true. It is useful for correcting our mistakes. It is useful for making our lives whole again. It is useful for training us to do what is right. 17 By using Scripture, a man of God can be completely prepared to do every good thing.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”

These words are from verse 16 and 17. Such a great reminder about why the Word is important. There is much in God’s word that we read but do we believe it? In this passage we hear we will be persecuted but that God will be there with us. In other places He explains what love is (1 Corinthians 13) and tells us He loves us (Romans 8:38; Ephesians 3:19) – sometimes we miss putting those things together. The purpose of God’s word is not just about reminding us when we do the right thing or the wrong thing, it’s also about when we think the right thing or wrong thing – thinking that can hold us back, thinking that makes sense to us because of our life experience but is not in line with what God says. It’s useful to check yourself every now and again for unhelpful views of the world and how it works based on what God say and bring them back on track.

Lord help us to value Your Word, to see in it the things You have for us, the truth where we have believed a lie and the inspiration we need to take the next step You have set before us. Help us Lord to believe what You say. Help us also to recognise where we have not got Your truth straight in our heads. Thank You for giving us the gift of Your Word. Amen

Written by Therese Manning 

20 In a large house there are things made out of gold and silver. But there are also things made out of wood and clay. Some have honorable purposes. Others do not. 21 Suppose someone stays away from what is not honorable. Then the Master will be able to use him for honorable purposes. He will be made holy. He will be ready to do any good work. 22 Run away from the evil things that young people long for. Try hard to do what is right. Have faith, love and peace. Do these things together with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Don’t have anything to do with arguing. It is dumb and foolish. You know it only leads to fights. 24 Anyone who serves the Lord must not fight. Instead, he must be kind to everyone. He must be able to teach. He must not hold anything against anyone. 25 He must gently teach those who oppose him. Maybe God will give a change of heart to those who are against you. That will lead them to know the truth. 26 Maybe they will come to their senses. Maybe they will escape the devil’s trap. He has taken them prisoner to do what he wanted.

With the clever imagery of a large household Paul describes the many articles in use – ‘articles of gold and silver for noble purposes’ and ‘wood and clay for ignoble purposes’.

To be an ‘instrument for noble purposes’ we must ‘abstain from wickedness’ {v19} and pursue or strive for the fruit of the Spirit – righteousness, faith, love and peace – and join with other servants who without reservation call on the Lord for help.

Because of the situation Timothy faced in Ephesus Paul warns him not to get involved in arguments; in fact he makes it clear that God’s servant must be kind to everyone, able to teach and not be resentful.

So, with us! Over more than 30 years in ministry in Australia and overseas Joan and I have made the choice to be kind to everyone without exception.

I pray that the Spirit will continue to grow the fruit within my life and that He will help me to be kind to everyone and so avoid ‘arguments’. Help me too to recognise that divisions are a major weapon the devil uses to disrupt the work of the Kingdom within the local church.

Written by Keith Bennett

8 Remember Jesus Christ. He came from David’s family line. He was raised from the dead. That is my good news. 9 I am suffering for it. I have even been put in chains like someone who has committed a crime. But God’s word is not held back by chains. 10 So I put up with everything for the good of God’s chosen people. Then they also can be saved. Christ Jesus saves them. He gives them glory that will last forever. 11 Here is a saying you can trust. If we died with him, we will also live with him. 12 If we don’t give up, we will also rule with him. If we say we don’t know him, he will also say he doesn’t know us. 13 Even if we are not faithful, he will remain faithful. He must be true to himself.

In this last letter to Timothy I see Paul sharing his heart with his “son”, friend and co-worker as never before – writing his own short biography – this is who I am and what I’ve done and why – now passing his mantle to Timothy.

Verse 9 – “The word of God is not chained” what prophetic insight Paul had here – 2,000 years later, we know the truth of Paul’s words.  Even though I know this, do I believe this as Paul did?  Have I chained up God’s word in my life?  “He remains faithful” I know there are times when I haven’t believed this, & yet it is true & unmoveable – I have chained God’s word & not allowed it to give me life and set me free, I haven’t always believed God’s complete faithfulness to me.

Father I am so grateful that in the many times I have been faithless – you have been faithful to me.  How amazing is it that your word is not governed by my circumstances.  Thank you for your faithfulness to me always.  Amen

Written by Suzie Hodgson

15 You know that all the believers in Asia Minor have deserted me. They include Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16 May the Lord show mercy to all who live in the house of Onesiphorus. He often cheered me up. He was not ashamed that I was being held by chains. 17 In fact, it was just the opposite. When he was in Rome, he looked everywhere for me. At last he found me. 18 May Onesiphorus find mercy from the Lord on the day Jesus returns as judge. You know very well how many ways Onesiphorus helped me in Ephesus.

Seeing someone in hospital, writing a letter to someone mourning, texting someone who needs encouragement, praying for the needs of others. These all can seem like small actions. Yet these are the efforts that move the Kingdom forward.

Onesiphorus refreshed Paul when he really needed it, Paul the man who wrote the most letters contained in the New Testament. Onesiphorus moved the Kingdom of God forward through these acts of love and kindness towards Paul.

Phygelus and Hermongenes did nothing good to advance the Gospel by their inaction in supporting Paul.

“Lord, show me the little things to do each day, that can make big differences in the life of a brother or sister, and can change eternity in your Kingdom!” Amen

Written by Andrew Mellor