Paul the
apostle used the examples of a soldier, an athlete and a farmer to
share the manner in which Timothy was to live in this world. Timothy
was to “not entangle” himself “with the affairs of
this world” as a “soldier”, “strive” and
persevere like an athlete in training and “first partake of the
fruits” of his “labor” as a “farmer”.
Timothy was to “consider what” Paul said, and Paul desired
for the Lord to “give” Timothy “understanding in all
things”. In chapter two and verse eight of this final letter
from Paul, he told Timothy to “Remember that Jesus Christ...was
raised from the dead” where we read:
Remember
that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead
according to my gospel:
The verse begins,
“Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David...”
Paul began with the word,
“Remember” which
means “to be mindful of, call to mind, think of and feel for
a person or thing, hold in memory, and keep in mind” “that
Jesus” whose name means “Jehovah is Salvation” “Christ”
or “the anointed one and Messiah” “of the seed” or
“children, offspring, progeny, family, tribe or posterity” “of
David” whose name means “beloved” and is a reference to
“the second and greatest king of Israel”. Timothy was to “be
mindful of and keep the memory” “Jesus Christ” who was
the promised Messiah through the lineage of David, and he was to
“remember” a specific miracle which Jesus performed.
The verse goes on to
say, “...was raised from the dead according to my
gospel:” Paul went on to add,
“was raised” or
“cause to rise, awakened, aroused and recalled” “from
the dead” which means “out
of and away from one that has breathed his last, who is
lifeless, deceased, departed, destitute of and without life,
inanimate and whose soul is in heaven or hell” “according to”
or “down from, throughout, toward and along” “my gospel”
which means “good and glad tidings of salvation through Jesus
Christ”. Paul desired for Timothy to never forget that Jesus was
“raised from the dead” which is “down from and toward”
the “good news” Paul constantly shared.
When we think
on these words of Paul, we may think it simple to “remember”
that “Jesus Christ was raised from the dead”, and the act
of recalling this miracle is sort of easy. However, when we apply
this to every situation we face, we can live as Paul desired in his
previous verse - having “understanding in all things”. The
“gospel” or “good and glad tidings” “according
to” Paul was that “Jesus Christ” actually was
“raised from the dead”, and compared to that act, what
other activity that we face is difficult for Him? No one anywhere has
ever “raised” themselves “from the dead” other
than Jesus, and since this is by far the greatest miracle ever
performed, what do we face from day to day that He cannot handle? The
“good news” for all who will receive Jesus as their personal
Savior is that He is with us to manage “any” situation that may
arise. He rose from the dead, and “remembering” that fact will
help us to never forget that He will be with us in every difficulty
we face, and may the Lord Jesus help us to constantly “call to and
keep in mind” His mighty act.
Next
time Paul tells Timothy how “the word of God is not
bound” even though he suffered
“trouble”, so read
ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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