“When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.  Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds” (2 Timothy 4:13-14).

How human and ordinary Paul is.  “Bring my cloak.”  We each have needs and sometimes we forget how blessed we are.  In our day we would have someone run to Walmart and get us a jacket.  Paul needs something that is not so readily available.  Be thankful for your circumstances and know that in the Lord there is nothing but hope and an eternal future.  He does provide.

Lord, guide me in the way of goodness.  Help me understand that in You is all hope.  You have so abundantly provided for our every need.  Paul was not complaining that He owned only one jacket.  We, who have so much abundance, are still not satisfied.  That is because only in You can we be satisfied.  Lead me, Lord, to see that in You is all hope and an eternal future.

Lord Jesus, You have provided grace upon grace and mercy upon mercy.  I need to be cloaked in Your goodness.  Help me, O Lord, to see through the nonsense of this age so that I may walk humbly with what You provide.  Guide me into the goodness which is mine in You.  Lead me to see that You have already provided for what I need.  Lead me in Your provision with thanksgiving.  Amen. 

“Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.  Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus” (2 Timothy 4:11-12).

Do see how connected the early church fathers were — Luke, Paul, and Mark.  As they wrote what would become Scripture, they worked together closely.  See how Scripture is written to different communities, but also tells the same story.  Be guided by the goodness and mercy of the Father and know that He wants His word to dwell richly in you.  Be a part of the ongoing ministry of the Lord.

Lord, You know that I am constantly tugged by conflicting ideas in the world.  Here You show that Your people work together under the direction of Your Holy Spirit.  Guide me, Lord, in the way You know I need to go.  Lead me according to Your purpose that I would now and always be led by You.  Help me, Lord, to see that in You is all goodness.  Help me to see that You bring people together to fulfill Your will.

Come, Holy Spirit, and in the love of God and the grace of Christ, lead me as a part of Your team.  Guide me that I may now and always be led by You above the noise of this world.  Help me to see that in God is all hope and a glorious future.  Bring me together with others who love You, lord, that I may serve You according to Your eternal purpose. In You I have my being and apart from You I am nothing.  Amen.

“Do your best to come to me soon.  For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia” (2 Timothy 4:8-9).

The tug-of-war between this world and living in the promise of Christ is real.  We live it each day.  Each day ask yourself where your priorities are.  Ask whether you will live as one who trusts the Lord above all things.  This very real question is the basis of living into the life of Christ which He gives through faith and by grace.  Come then and set your heart on the true wealth.

Lord, You know the struggle I have each day to live according to Your goodness and mercy.  Lead me this day Lord to live in the faith You have given me.  Help me to say, ”Not my will, but thine be done.”  Guide me according to all that is good and right so that I would forever hold fast to the truth which You have revealed once for all.  Lead me, O Lord, now and always in order that I may walk with You.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead the way and be the example of obedience.  Guide me, Lord, where You know I need to be led.  Help me to overcome the temptations which shall come my way knowing that only in You is there hope and an eternal future worth living.  Help me when the time comes to leave this world behind and cling to You forevermore.  In You alone Lord do I have hope for every tomorrow.  Amen.

“Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).

A crown is that which is given you.  No king ever deserved to be king, they were crowned king.  We are given the righteousness of Christ by His merit.  Live under the yolk of gentle Christ, for He gives His righteousness to those who believe.  Know that in Him is all hope and an eternal future.  Be guided in the goodness of Christ our Savior to walk humbly and joyfully in His salvation.

Lord teach me to love You and to look forward to Your glorious appearing.  Guide me in all goodness so that I would forever be in Your arms of love.  You have granted these things by Your merit and called us all into the righteousness that You give by grace.  Help me never to lose sight of the goodness You have given me by faith.  Keep my eyes looking to You always.

Lord Jesus, You have come into this world with the invitation that as many as believe would not perish but have everlasting life.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth in order that I would look forward in love to the crown of righteousness which You will give to all who love the Father.  Guide me in this upward way today and every day so that I might live into this life You are giving me.  Be with me now and always beloved Lord.  Amen.   

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

Can you say what Paul said?  The goal of your faith should be to be able to say the same thing.  We must fight against the forces of wickedness in this world.  We must continue running to win the prize.  We must keep the faith.  These are not poetic words only, but the truth of how we are to life this life of faith that we have been given.  Come then and live into the promised life which is yours in Christ.

Lord, You know where I struggle and stop fighting, stop walking, and stop living by faith.  Grant that I would have the fortitude to hold fast and strengthen what faith remains.  Grant that I would look to You and see that my faith is in You and that You will lift it up in me so that I may hold fast and continue the fight and run the race.  Keep my eyes upon You, O Lord, in order that I would remain faithful.

Lord Jesus, You know what it is to press forward in this crazy rebellious world.  Hold me fast to You so that I would not seek what I think is right, but follow You always, the One who is Right.  You are the Truth.  In You alone is the good way of life.  Guide me now and always, Lord Jesus, to seek You and be strengthened for the battle of the day.  Your Word is a light to my path and a lamp to my feet.  Let them ever keep on the path and press on in running the race.  Amen.

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come” (2 Timothy 4:6).

There are times when you feel the world pressing in.  But your feelings are just that, feelings.  The Lord is still Lord of all and His promise to you is forever.  Come then and live in the promise of the Lord.  Be guided by His mercy and grace.  Yes, you will feel the pressure of this world, but be led by the truth of the One who fulfills His word and not by your feelings.  The Lord knows your times and will be with you.

Lord, You know there are times when I feel like Paul.  The world presses in and I feel like I am being poured out.  In those times, let me look to You and see that You too have been willingly poured out for our sake.  Guide me, O Lord, in order that I may know the fulness of the hope You give through grace.  Guide me in Your goodness to see past these times and live into the eternal life You promise.

Lord Jesus, You went to the cross to free us from sin and death.  The suffering You endured is beyond anyone’s ability to know.  We each suffer in our own way – as You said we would – so help all who suffer to look to You and see the hope that You give.  In You is all hope and nothing is able to separate us from that hope.  Guide me, Lord, in the hope which is mine in and through You.  Amen.

“As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5).

Each person has a call and a ministry.  Ministry is not just for the ordained.  Walk in the ministry the Lord has given You.  Walk in your baptism, which was the Lord’s first call to you.  Know that you have been called and placed in a ministry by the One who is the author and finisher of your faith.  Be guided by Him and not tossed about by the winds of this world or its lies.

Lord, Help me clearly see those things You have given me to do.  Let me know that You are a God of purpose and that You have given me calling in this life as I prepare for the life to come.  Guide me now and always, Lord, so that I may walk humbly with You, my Savior, doing what You give me to do.  Keep my mind clear in order that I may walk in truth, understanding and wisdom as You lead me.

Lord Jesus, how can I compare the cost to myself when I look at You.  You bore the brunt of the suffering for our sake.  Lead me, Lord, the way You know I need to go.  Guide me according to Your principles.  In and through all things, help me to see that You, Lord, are the One who makes all ministry possible.  In the call You have given me and in the ministry which is mine, lead me always!  Amen.

“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

The tug-of-war has been around from the beginning.  The truth of the Gospel is objective truth.  There are parts we like, sure, but those other parts about dying to self and suffering we do not like.  We would rather be told lies that make us feel good rather than hear the truth which will set us free and make us good.  This is the state of the rebellious mind.  Be led by the Lord and the truth and not by this world and its lies.

Lord, You know where I am conflicted and need to fight against this world’s temptations.  Lead me in the way of truth and, no matter the cost, help me stay on the path of truth.  You have given me Your Word.  Help me keep Your Word in my heart.  Do not let me seek just what I want but help me hold fast to what I need.  I need You Lord and only in You is there hope for a good life now and  eternity later.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for the truth, for You are truth.  You have called me into You that I may know truth.  Let me not chase after the fables of this age, but walk, no matter the cost, in the way of Your goodness.  Guide me this day, Lord, and keep me from those temptations that are all around me.  Let my ears not itch but humbly hear the Good News of You.  Amen.

“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:1-2).

Listen to these words.  Somehow, if we say something that another does not want to hear, we are claimed to be hating them.  One who speaks lies, hates.  Speak truth and whether another likes what you are saying is not your problem.  Speak truth, for there is only One who is our judge.  So speak as to please Him above all others in this world.  Be ready to always speak the truth of the salvation which is in Christ alone.

Lord, You alone are the Savior of the world.  There are those who do not want to hear the message of truth.  Guide me, Lord, to live in the truth You have revealed.  Help me to always be ready to speak the truth You have given me.  Grant that I would be bold, patient, gentle and true to You when I share Your Word.  You know what needs to happen in every circumstance.  Guide me to be ready to act for and by Your Word.

Lord Jesus, You have come so that all who believe would not perish but have everlasting life.  Guide me, O Lord, into the everlasting life You give me through grace.  Make me always ready to share the life You have given me in order that others may join in this life.  You who are my savior and judge, correct me daily so that I may be ready, willing, and joyfully, in blessed assurance, look forward to the day when You will judge me.  Amen.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

We know that all Scripture speaks of Christ (John 5:39).  Here we hear that all Scripture is profitable.  Those who tell you Scripture is useless defy God.  Is this not what Scripture is about?  Does it not teach us truth?  Do not listen to those who hate the Lord, but to the Word which is from the Lord.  By being a diligent student of the word, you will learn and be prepared for the good work the Lord intends in your life.

Lord, help me to profit by applying these principles to my life.  You have guided me in truth, now lead me in action.  You know where I need to implement these things in my life.  You even know where things are not as they should be.  In all things, complete me for Your purpose so that I would do Your will on earth as it is done in heaven.  Put my heart and mind where it needs to be for these things to happen.

Lord Jesus, send Your Spirit into my heart and search me.  Where I am deficient in Your Word, fill me.  Where I need a lesson applied, remind me of what You have said.  Where I need to act, send me so that I may do what is pleasing in the Father’s sight.  You are the author of my faith.  Write Your word upon my heart in order that I would profit by Your Word, a profit which is Yours, in my doing what is pleasing to You.  Amen.