Daily Bread 5-17-17

2 Timothy 2:7-10

7 Consider what I say, and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

10 Therefore I endure all things for the elects sakes, that they may also obtain salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

ref. - Lk 1:32 - He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

1Cor 15:3,4 - For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

Rom 2:16 - In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

2 Cor 1:6 - And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

The Gospel will not change in many no matter what comes their way. Just as the Apostle Paul was afflicted, so do many go through things in their lives but, if they are called of God and filled with his Spirit, the gospel and the message remains the same. In Paul's instance he was watched very closely wherever he went. Many people did not like the message or the gospel he brought as it required them to change. So they watched and waited for him to slip up in their laws and when he did they pounced. They locked him up, stoned him, punished him, cast him out of their cities, and other things to try to get him to change his tune but the gospel still remained the same. In this chapter Paul is writing to Timothy who would eventually carry on the gospel once Paul was gone. He was not only telling Timothy but showing him that he endured all of the things that people threw at him not only to be an example but also for the sakes of them that were persecuting him. He put up with it so that they, when the truth came out and they had seen the light, would realize that he had not been their enemy but was bringing the gospel for them as well. They, too, would one day join together with him to spread this wonderful gospel of truth. Today we see that Paul did not injure them but endured what they had to throw at him, and eventually, just as he had been converted from one of them to a follower of Christ, was hopeful that they to would see the light. You see, many who have been called were once persecutors of them who carried this gospel. We were saved because one day we saw that Jesus Christ was our only answer. And salvation was in Jesus Christ by the message that was given to someone who didn't give up on us but put up with the shenanigans that we pulled. Now, in the Church, there were people who persecuted what Paul was doing and they were handled by the Lord handily. Their stories are in the word of God to prove to us what happens to them who kick against the pricks. Those who know better and still chose to fight authority and backbite were turned over to God and never written of again. they were written as a bad example and only God could help them. If they got help and came back, we will never know as they were never written of again. But for the ones whom God was drawing closer to Christ, Paul suffered many things, and it was for their benefit. Today we must realize that these called men still exist, and the Spirit of God dwells among them. We must also remain with our focus on not what they are going through or have gone through, but we must remain focused on the gospel in which they will endure such things to promote. There will always be persecution and there will always be non believing trouble makers in the world as the world is their home. Many wear the crosses and try to act out that hey are followers of Christ, deceiving many,but with their works they prove otherwise. In our focus we must remember that there are also called men of God, who still have their hands on the plow. And we must also remember that this world is not our home, it is theirs. We are going to a mighty city, a New Jerusalem! A place where tears are dried up and sorrow never comes!! We have been redeemed through a gospel that will never change! We have been redeemed in Jesus Christ!! Have a great day!!!!