He is Faithful (2 Tim. 2:11-13)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7-30-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  He is faithful

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  2Timothy 2:11-13

 

            Message of the verse:  “11 It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; 12 If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; 13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.”

            In the NKJ version it is worded “this is a faithful saying.”  It has been noted that this was probably a saying that was said in the early Church, and there are other times Paul writes about faithful sayings.  I have read both Warren Wiersbe and John Macarthur concerning these verses and one thinks that some of these verses refer to unbelievers and the rest to believers.  I think that the true meanings of some parts of these verses are for the unbelievers but there are surely some practical challenges to true believers.

            God sees us as dying with Christ on the cross and thus we have new life in Him because of our relationship with Him when we are born again.  Verse 12 says that if we endure with Him we will reign with Him and if we deny Him He will deny us.  As believers we need to show evidences that we are truly His by displaying fruit in are lives.  Jesus Christ cannot deny true believers, although He certainly can be disappointed in them.  Verse 13 speaks of being faithless and again true believers cannot be faithless for it took faith to receive Jesus Christ, and again we could be not truly showing are faith at all times.  The end of verse 13 says that Jesus Christ will always be faithful because He cannot deny Himself.  This is a wonderful truth about the Lord Jesus Christ that a believer can surely get a hold of and have it make a difference in His life. 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  There is much to say about living the Christian life in these verses and I can see in them that I cannot do it on my own, and Jesus Christ has chosen to use me as a believer in Him to be part of His Kingdom doing things on earth that will advance it.  I have responsibility in all of this too, and I also have many promises to abide in, in order to live out the Christian life so that it is pleasing to Him.  He is faithful and He cannot deny Himself is one of those promises.

           

The Word of God did bring convection and refreshment to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I did not pray with Sandy yesterday and it was my fault that it did not get done for I was watching the ball game and did not go in and pray with her when she went to bed.  I want to pray with her today.

 

Memory verse for the week:  1Timothy 6:9

 

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.