“But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra, - what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.”
2 Timothy 3:10-11
With the COVID-19 pandemic situation around the world, many are wondering “what’s going on?” What good can possibly come from this pandemic? Beloved, I can assure you the God is still enthroned in heaven. The Lord is still at work in the hearts and lives of people.
We Americans have often been mislead into accepting a “prosperity gospel.” We believe (or act as though we believe) that when God is at work everything is “good.” Conversely when things are difficult there must sin in our lives and God is against us.
Paul encourages Timothy by reminding him of the things that he has been through, both the good and the bad. Timothy had followed Paul’s doctrine, his manner of life, his faith, his longsuffering and love. Timothy knew the man and the Christ that he served. Timothy also saw the hardships, the persecutions, the afflictions, the betrayals, and everything that happened to Paul in his service to our Savior. Timothy learned about life by watching how the Apostle Paul reacted to life.
Beloved, the world is watching how we handle life. As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ we are called to be “different.” Allow others to see Jesus in you, today and every day.
- Pray for Revival
- Pray for People to be saved
- Pray for Churches as they re-open