Week 21: 2 Timothy 4:18

Week 21: 2 Timothy 4:18

Week 21

2 Timothy 4:18 “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” 

This is the testimony of God’s servant who had known riots, prison, and persecution for Christ throughout his ministry.  He faced enemies from without and within.  And, in addition, he knew that he soon would face the final sacrifice in a martyr’s death (2 Timothy 4:6).  This final chapter of his final book that he would write contains what amounts to his epitaph.  His faith in what God will do, above and over all things, is this: “The Lord WILL rescue me from every evil deed and will bring me SAFELY to His heavenly kingdom.”

Our precious Shepherd will do no less for us as He did for Paul.  Our Jesus will rescue us from every evil deed.  He will turn every satanic attack into good.  Every flaming arrow shot at us from the enemy’s bow will stick into our shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16).  Every action turned toward us in contradiction to God’s truth and love will by God’s providential power and grace be transformed into goodness for our souls (Romans 8:28).  Every evil deed becomes a stone to pave the way for God to bring us safely into His heavenly kingdom.

How can we not rise in praise to God and express joy in His provision?  Can we not say with the Apostle, “To Him be the glory forever and ever?”  Though we live in the land of the evil one, we live with the praise of our God.  What a miracle; what a magnificent mystery this is!

Sweet Christian friend, the Lord is with you in your sickness, your sorrow, your grief, and your fears.  He is daily abiding with you.  His care for you is a rescue mission; He will rescue you from every evil deed.  He will defend, deflect, and destroy the enemy’s plots against you.  Your Captain is mighty to save!  Will you not in faith yield to Him?  Will you not rest your anxieties upon Him?  Will you not surrender to His protective will and care?  It would be wise to do so!  Lean into your troubles by leaning on the Lord!  And one happy, glorious day the most wonderful miracle will occur for you and to you: the Lord Jesus will rescue you by taking you home to heaven.  You will be “safely” delivered into His heavenly and loving arms FOREVER!  What joy will be ours then!  What peace is ours now!  Sweet friend, rest in Jesus, hope in Jesus, look to Jesus, and walk with Jesus all your days.  The troubled “now” is safe to trod, and the distant future glistens with the hope that cannot fail.

Prayer: Dear sweet Lord, thank you for not abandoning me to my trials and tests of faith.  Thank you for standing with me and being faithful to Your promises.  In every experience of my life, help me to remember You above all the strife and trouble of my life.  And grant to me that I may have faith to know that You are rescuing me in ways I may never understand, and one day You will rescue me by taking me to heaven.  Please help me to live in the sunshine of Your promise and grant that I may live on the solid rock of future grace.

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