DCLM Daily Manna 11 December 2021 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Set To Go
TOPIC: Set To Go
TEXT: 2 Timothy 4:9-22
9 Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:
10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
12 And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.
13 The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.
14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:
15 Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.
16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
19 Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.
20 Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.
21 Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.
22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.
KEY VERSE: “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” – (2 Timothy 4:18)
MESSAGE:
Saints do not face death trembling; they approach it with hope, believing they are about to be freed from the troubles in this world. Apostle Paul had the same mindset in his last days at the prison in Rome when he was about to be executed for his unflinching work for the Lord. He was full of high spirits, and was not perturbed but remained strengthened by the Lord.
Paul expresses no bitterness in this last letter before his appointment with the executioner. In his lonely moments, he was able to remember loyal disciples who had worked with him to serve Jesus Christ. He recalls their labour of love as well as those who forsook him in his trying times; included in his reminiscence is Alexander the coppersmith, who Paul handed over to the Lord for the “much evil” he did to the Apostle. God’s judgment would always come upon those who endanger the work He placed in the charge of His saints.
Even in his seemingly dreary state when “no man stood with [him], but all men forsook [him]”, Paul took solace in the study of the word of God. Just as the whole life of Paul challenges us to a life of sacrificial service to Jesus Christ, the closing verses of his letter to Timothy reveal the faithfulness of the Lord to him since his Damascus encounter.
Discipleship is costly but has great eternal rewards. It is very necessary as the Lord advised that every believer should count the cost of following Him and make up his mind to either pay the price in full and be rewarded later or not. Halfhearted service is not acceptable to God. The mindset of every true believer should be as a songwriter puts it, “I am satisfied fully for Jesus to live… I’ll do as He bids me… I’ll be a true soldier, I’ll die at my post”.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
God does not fail those who do not fail Him.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 John 1-5
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.