Study Early In the Morning Daily Manna

SATURDAY, 28 JANUARY 2023

TEXT: 2 Timothy 1:8-18

8. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.

9. He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,

10. but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

11. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher.

12. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.

13. What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.

14. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

15. You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.

16. May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.

17. On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me.

18. May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.

(New International Version Holy Bible)

TOPIC: GOD WILL ENCOURAGE YOU

Faced with imprisonment which, this time around resulted in his being beheaded, Paul urged Timothy not to be ashamed of the gospel of Christ Jesus and him – a prisoner for Christ Jesus.

In an increasingly godless and anti-Christ world, we should continue to praying for the grace never to be ashamed of Christ Jesus our Lord or of preaching His gospel because it is the only way by which men can be saved.

Anyone saved has no basis for boasting. Rather, he should praise, glorify and worship God because He sovereignly decide to save us through Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. Our salvation merely manifested when Christ came. In the time of his greatest need, the great Apostle Paul was deserted by most, except Onesipherus whom God used to encourage him.

At other times when God knew that Paul needed encouragement, He gave him a vision (Acts 18:9-10) or sent an angel to encourage him (Acts 27:21-25). Certainly, when we need and pray for encouragement, God will give it to us one way or the other.

QUESTION: Do you need encouragement from God?

PRAYER: Please God, encourage me, in Jesus name, Amen.