2 Timothy 2 Today w/ Lena's Journalin' too

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God Bless You Today, Lena B

2 Timothy 2
A Good Soldier of Christ Jesus
1Timothy, my dear son, be strong with the special favor God gives you in Christ Jesus. 2You have heard me teach many things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Teach these great truths to trustworthy people who are able to pass them on to others.
3Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4And as Christ's soldier, do not let yourself become tied up in the affairs of this life, for then you cannot satisfy the one who has enlisted you in his army. 5Follow the Lord's rules for doing his work, just as an athlete either follows the rules or is disqualified and wins no prize. 6Hardworking farmers are the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor. 7Think about what I am saying. The Lord will give you understanding in all these things.
8Never forget that Jesus Christ was a man born into King David's family and that he was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach. 9And 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 I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen.
11This is a true 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 himself.
An Approved Worker
14Remind everyone of these things, and command them in God's name to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them. 15Work hard so God can approve you. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. 16Avoid godless, foolish discussions that lead to more and more ungodliness. 17This kind of talk spreads like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are examples of this. 18They have left the path of truth, preaching the lie that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; and they have undermined the faith of some.
19But God's truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," F2 and "Those who claim they belong to the Lord must turn away from all wickedness." F3
20In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. 21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a utensil God can use for his purpose. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.
22 Run from anything that stimulates youthful lust. Follow anything that makes you want to do right. Pursue faith and love and peace, and enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.
23Again I say, don't get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. 24The Lord's servants must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone. They must be able to teach effectively and be patient with difficult people. 25They should gently teach those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people's hearts, and they will believe the truth. 26Then they will come to their senses and escape from the Devil's trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.
FOOTNOTES:
F2: Num 16:5.
F3: See Isa 52:11.


Lena’s Journalin’ Today to 2 Timothy 2

Grace is an awesome gift given to us by God. We do not necessarily deserve this special help, but He gives it to us anyway. Grace is sent to us to help us, as we decide to change and become as He is and has asked us to be. It is help to the response to the call of God to obedience to His words to us.
We can abuse grace. We can take advantage of it, and it can run out for us. Yet there is this never ending stream for those who use it with appreciation.
I believe the scripture, I can do all things (that God asks of me) through Christ who strengthens me…is a key to grace. Grace enables me to do what on my own I’m not able to do in obedient action to Christ as Lord of me. Grace is special favor, special help to be able to do what God has already asked of me.
DO NOT let yourself become tied up (bound, in bondage, unable to have any time for anything else, addicted, unable to be freed up from anything) in the affairs (adultery call) of this life (while here on earth, for earth life is only for the knowing of Him and the making of Him known that some may be saved and spend all the rest of eternity in a glorious state with and in Him)
If we are bound to this world and its ways, as if we were in a marriage relationship, to what the world calls, good, right, worthy of the giving of life to, we will not be able to do the will of God!
Ever feel like doing the will of God or considering doing it, is a struggle? That is a helpful hint for us. We may need to become untangled with what the world’s call to us has been.
Endure suffering? How would it make you feel if you disconnected from what you know, have regularly participated with, and the things you really like of the world? Could it be your souls would act like a weaned child? That child screams and cries to have what they’ve come to know and have depended on, not realizing they can live and actually grow better going on to something new.
What are you doing? Has anyone been able to ask this type of question to you? Do you want them to help lead you on to growth? Do you follow rules? Who’s rules do you like to follow? Your own, or someone else’s? It depends, right?
Following rules, especially someone else’s takes willful determination, discipline and decision. I decide to and I decide not to move off if what I’ve decided. It does not ever just happen for me, all the ducks in a row, easy road. No, I have to pave it through discipline for it to be easy at all, and it may never be easy for me, but those who come after my obedience to the rules will benefit and feel the ease of driving down a road I paved with my life’s decisions.
Is this your heart before your Lord ? I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen.
Do you know what Jesus did for us?
Do you realize what He saved us in and to?
If we belong to Him, truly belong to Him, we allow Him to own us, this is what that looks like. "The Lord knows those who are his," and "Those who claim they belong to the Lord must turn away from all wickedness."
Own, means belong.
All means all. Even any resemblance. All.
We pursue all holiness with humility. That means it is up to the definition of another, not left to our own self justification or self definition, where we decide our standards are. We lift high His standard and we don’t stop till we reach it! We do not give ourselves the luxury of defining our own standards.
Ever have your child say to you something like- That isn’t too bad???? It is not wise to say that to God. We give up the anointing when we speak that way to Him.
If you keep yourself pure, you will be a utensil God can use for his purpose. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.
Run from anything that stimulates youthful lust. Follow anything that makes you want to do right. Pursue faith and love and peace, and enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.
It’s tragic that a Christian would spend their lives in the fellowship of evil and evil influencers. We decide to separate ourselves out, obviously no one can make us do that, we choose a holy undefiled unspotted life, or not. It is totally up to us.
God knows, we cannot trick Him, by saying with mere words that we love Him the most when we serve other things.
How does one become a captive to evil? They give a very small place to it. They do it without intention not to. They do not willfully close doors.
I was at a local help center, in our community yesterday. I looked up and saw on the wall…”Please support keeping our youth off of drugs, buy this license plate!” Do you know we caused our kids to be on drugs? We gave place to that. Any place at all, whether a social diddy or an alcohol problem, gave that place. We were a whole generation of free to do as we please-d-ers, we’re free to do whatever, no one can tell us what to do, we’re independent…Guess what? We’re totally bound, totally dependant on substances now over that protest!
What might seem safe to one generation is no where near safe for another. It is out of hand and those who were lied to, believed the wrong voice, and said, “its not bad..” opened the door!
Close the DOOR!
Decide for a holy life, a life separated from all of that social garbage. It is NOT of God.
Who told you it was ok? Or cool? Or acceptable socially, or culturally ok?
They lied!
We perish for what we do not know. Time for the light to shine, look and see, wake up, arise and shine, Truth is here for the taking to all who desire to walk in her ways.
The truth God’s way, as defined by the standard of His word, will set people free!