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Read: 2 Timothy 4:1-8
Listen: 2 Timothy 4

But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. 2 Timothy 4:5

Paul sits in prison. He knows his days are few and that this letter is his last opportunity to teach Timothy. So, Paul writes with urgency and passion. He pleads with Timothy to stay faithful to Jesus and the gospel message. Christianity is only thirty-five years old and easily distorted by people who want to turn it into something else. Yet Christianity has grown enough for the Emperor to blame it for Rome’s disastrous fire. Paul’s greatest concern is Christianity’s future. Will the spread of the message pass with Paul? He charges Timothy with a sacred trust: keep sharing the gospel message no matter what happens or how hard it may be.

Last words carry enormous weight. They offer a glimpse into what matters most to someone. We should pay attention to Paul’s words to Timothy about the priority of the gospel and the importance of this message. It’s still urgent and necessary for us to spread the gospel to the next generation of believers. This week, we will see that our world faces many of the same challenges Timothy and his generation faced. We, too, will find the same charge for our lives and hope for the future. When we fulfill our calling to share the message of Jesus, we find God grants us perseverance, courage and hope for anything we encounter.

TODAY: What would you say if you knew you had a short time left to share your faith with people coming after you? Spend time journaling about your faith in Jesus and why it matters. Consider the essential things about faith you want to pass along to someone else.

JESUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT:

Read 2 Samuel 5-6. Highlight anything that points to Jesus. Consider David’s victory over Jerusalem and the defeat of his enemies.