A daily death
2 Timothy 2:8-13
8 Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach. 9 And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained. 10 So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen.
11 This is a trustworthy saying:
If we die with him,
we will also live with him.
12 If we endure hardship,
we will reign with him.
If we deny him,
he will deny us.
13 If we are unfaithful,
he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny who he is.
What does it mean to die with him? I believe it means we are to hand over our destiny, ambitions, hopes, dreams and plans to Jesus – to lay them down, to allow them to die.
What then is left?
Life with Jesus! A life that cannot be stolen from us, that can never perish, spoil or fade.
As he writes these words, Paul is not living a glamourous life. He is imprisoned and suffering. The picture of his present life is probably not one that he had envisioned for himself when he was younger.
But he presses on!
His vision not on past ambitions, but on Jesus, his glory and the health of his Church.
He is encouraging Timothy, a younger church leader to do the same, to endure the pain and suffering in the present because it means reigning with Jesus forever.
Lord, this gets to the heart of how I run my life! Who do I put in charge. Is it me? Am I calling the shots?
Or is it you?
If it is me, your word promises future ruin. If it is Jesus, your word promises future glory.
Daily, help me die with you Jesus, so that I might live, truly live with you, forever. Amen.
Written by Andrew Mellor