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Friday, June 4, 2010

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2 Timothy 3:10-17
Psalm 119:157, 160-161, 165-166, 168
Mark 12:35-37

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staying power

"You, for your part, must remain faithful to what you have learned and believed." —2 Timothy 3:14

Timothy wanted to quit pastoring the church of Ephesus. Paul gave Timothy several reasons for not quitting:

  • the true teaching he had received (2 Tm 3:10),
  • the godly conduct he had witnessed (2 Tm 3:10), and
  • the faithfulness of other Christians in suffering persecution (2 Tm 3:11).

If you feel like quitting a ministry, marriage, church, or commitment, first fill yourself with true teaching. Take care not to be infected with the subtle deceptions of secular humanism, or you will be programmed to quit.

Second, make sure you are surrounded by people repenting of sin and trying to lead holy lives. Faithfulness is caught more than taught, and so is unfaithfulness.

Finally, reach out to those who know the value of redemptive suffering. If you're influenced by self-centered pleasure-seekers, you will refuse to suffer the pain that accompanies faithfulness to your commitments.

Jesus didn't quit when He hung on the cross and died for us on Calvary. That same Jesus lives within us. By His power, we don't have to quit anything except sin. Jesus will provide the truth, inspiration, and courage for us to stay faithful and not quit.

Prayer:  Father, because of my faith in You, may I not be manipulatable.

Promise:  "Though my persecutors and my foes are many, I turn not away from Your decrees." —Ps 119:157

Praise:  Deacon Paul grows large amounts of vegetables in his home garden and donates them to a local food pantry to feed the hungry.

Reference:  (For a related teaching, order our tape Redemptive Suffering on audio AV 75-1 or video V-75.)

Rescript:  †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 29, 2009

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