July 24 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

2 Timothy 2:1-19:

¹Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
²And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
³Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
⁴No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
⁵And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
⁶The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
⁷Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
⁸Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
⁹Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
¹⁰Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
¹¹It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
¹²If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
¹³If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
¹⁴Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
¹⁵Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
¹⁶But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
¹⁷And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
¹⁸Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
¹⁹Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Devotional

How terribly people can deceive themselves, thinking they are the children of God, when they are not. The Jews said to Jesus, "We have one Father, even God." But Jesus had to tell them, "Ye are of your father, the devil." People also can deceive others. They may make others believe that they are children of God, when they are not. Thus they may lead others astray by their hypocritical ways. But they cannot deceive God. He knows what is in man. He searcheth the hearts. He knows them that are his.

Those that are his are those that are bought with a price. They are redeemed, "not with corruptible things as silver and gold . . . , but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." Being bought at such a high price, surely they should glorify God in their body and in their spirit, which are God's. Yea, "let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." The Lord has bought them with the very purpose, that they should glorify him. He will see to it that the price has not been paid in vain. The foundation of God standeth sure. The good Shepherd knows his sheep, and they know him. He said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." They are forever safe in his care and keeping.

Prayer

Our Father, we thank Thee that we may call Thee Father. We thank Thee that Thou hast given us the assurance that we, with body and soul, both in life and in death, belong to our faithful Saviour Jesus Christ. Help us to remember with what great price we were bought and therefore help us to glorify Thee with our whole life in thought, word and deed. May we bear faithful witness to the truth as it is in Christ Jesus, that others through us may learn to know the way of salvation through him, and with us glorify his name. Hear us we pray for his sake. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: Jo. 8:41, 44; Matt. 23:15; 24:24; Jo. 2:25; Jer. 17:10; 1 Pet. 1:18f; 1 Cor. 6:20; Jo. 10:14, 27, 28.

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