As I mentioned, I have just finished a personal study of 1
and 2 Timothy. The following, from the study guide Walking in Power, Love, and
Discipline by Kay Arthur, David Lawson and Bob Vereen, is a great composite of
how God equips His people:
“God has given us all that we need to do all that He created
us to accomplish while here on planet Earth. He has given us grace, mercy, and
peace. He has given us power to suffer, love for our enemies, and self-control
for those times when it seems we’re going to be overwhelmed and not in control
of our own emotions. He has given us confidence that He is able to keep safely
that which we have entrusted to Him. He gives us strength in our times of
weakness and understanding in all things. He is not restricted by our
limitations, is not moved from faithfulness by our failures, and is not unaware
that we belong to Him. He delivers, equips, judges...and rewards. He
compensates our enemies according to their deeds, stands by us when no one else
will, and uses us to speak when no one wants to hear. He will deliver us from
every evil deed, bring us safely to His heavenly kingdom, and when this life is
over, He will welcome us into our permanent, eternal dwelling place to live
with Him forever!
God has given us His Word and instructed us not to be ashamed
of it but to suffer for it, to retain its standard, to guard it from all manner
of evil, to entrust it to faithful men, to handle it accurately in our studies,
to continue in it every day of our lives, and to preach it when it’s convenient
and when it’s not. His Word gives us wisdom that leads to salvation and is
profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness so
that we might be adequate, equipped for every good work.
Paul knew this. Paul shared this with us. No wonder Paul
could stand at the end of his life and declare with certainty: ‘I have fought
the good fight, I have finished the course, and I have kept the faith.’
What do you know about Him and what He’s given you? What
will you say at the end of your life?”
Arthur, Lawson and Vereen
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