Time Out! Devotions

2 Timothy 4:9-18 (NIV)

⁹Do your best to come to me quickly, ¹⁰for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. ¹¹Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. ¹²I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. ¹³When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.

¹⁴Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. ¹⁵You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.

¹⁶At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. ¹⁷But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. ¹⁸The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Friendship brings us some of the greatest joys in life—but also can cause immense pain. If you haven’t experienced rejection or betrayal yet, you probably will someday. The apostle Paul learned to forgive others for their failures and reconcile with them when appropriate. Let’s discover how he dealt with betrayal and abandonment by trusted friends.

Friends Sometimes Fail Us

Despite Paul’s faithfulness to the Lord, his friends failed him. They weren’t reliable when he desperately needed them (2 Timothy 1:15; 4:14-16).

What are some reasons why friends might desert you in times of trouble? They . . .

1. Feel inadequate and/or unsure of how to help.
2. Don’t want to be identified with you in a conflict, for fear they could end up on the losing side.
3. Are jealous and hope to see you fail.
4. Selfishly don’t want to sacrifice their time to support you.
5. Judge you and thus excuse themselves from the responsibility to help you.

Forgiveness Must Prevail

Paul responded to betrayal and abandonment with forgiveness: “At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them” (2 Timothy 4:16, emphasis added). Both Jesus and Stephen said something similar in the final moments of their lives (Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60).

Paul practiced what he preached—the importance of forgiving. Don’t be a fair-weather friend, interested only in what you can get from another person. Be willing to help even those who mistreated you in the past. Waiting for a chance to get them back—to let them down as they did to you—indicates that you have an unforgiving spirit.

The Presence of the Lord Sustains Us

Paul was able to forgive because he knew that God would never leave him: “The Lord stood with me” (2 Timothy 4:17). Although Paul’s friends all left, he knew that the Lord Himself was with him. Christ promises all believers, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

The apostle was able to forgive because he trusted God to empower him: “The Lord . . . strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear” (2 Timothy 4:17). Paul could rely on the presence of God to accomplish his calling—taking the gospel to the world (Philippians 2:13). Chances are, people will persecute you, and some of your friends will abandon you in tough times. But God has promised that all adversity will eventually come to an end (1 Peter 5:10).

He was able to forgive because he was confident that God would deliver him: “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom” (2 Timothy 4:18). The Father may deliver us from hardship or through it (Isaiah 43:1-4). He also rescues us by bringing us home to be with Him. God delivered Paul by allowing Nero to execute him. Four years later, the ruler committed suicide. No one can violate the principles of God and avoid His judgment.

Conclusion: What kind of friend are you? Are you dedicated to those you love? Or do you often disappoint them? Perhaps you are faithful, but your friends consistently fail you when trouble comes. I urge you not to hold it against them. Hurt and rejection are painful but unavoidable parts of life. Healing is always available if you are willing to forgive. And you and I can take comfort in knowing that the most faithful Friend—the Lord Jesus—never leaves our side, even if everyone else deserts us.

(by Dr. Charles Stanley from InTouch.org)

PSALM 92

¹It is wonderful to be grateful and to sing your praises, LORD Most High!

²It is wonderful each morning to tell about your love and at night to announce how faithful you are.

³I enjoy praising your name to the music of harps, ⁴because everything you do makes me happy, and I sing joyful songs.

⁵You do great things, LORD. Your thoughts are too deep ⁶for an ignorant fool to know or understand.

⁷Though the wicked sprout and spread like grass, they will be pulled up by their roots.

⁸But you will rule over all of us forever, ⁹and your hateful enemies will be scattered and then destroyed.

¹⁰You have given me the strength of a wild ox, and you have chosen me to be your very own.

¹¹My eyes have seen, and my ears have heard the doom and destruction of my terrible enemies.

¹²Good people will prosper like palm trees, and they will grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.

¹³They will take root in your house, LORD God, and they will do well.

¹⁴They will be like trees that stay healthy and fruitful, even when they are old.

¹⁵And they will say about you, “The LORD always does right! God is our mighty rock.”

Throughout the Psalms, we are reminded and even commanded to give thanks to the Lord. Thanksgiving Day should never become a substitute for the daily expression of gratitude to God for all that He has done.

Because our culture is largely characterized by ingratitude, we need to work at developing a grateful heart. Even in prayer, we can become self-centered and drift from one petition to another without a word of praise to God. Giving thanks refocuses our attention onto the Lord as we remember His love and faithfulness and praise Him for who He is and what He has done.

Thanksgiving refreshes our souls as we spend time with God, concentrating on His goodness and grace. Anxiety is replaced with peace, and despondency with joy. If you wake up each morning and thank the Lord for deliverance from the power of sin, provision for all your needs, and guidance for the day ahead, what is left to cause worry or discouragement?

Gratitude to God for His faithfulness in the past increases faith and strengthens trust in Him for the future. Remember how He carried you in times of pain, helped you in periods of weakness, and supplied all your needs. You can trust Him with whatever lies ahead.

To establish a habit of thanksgiving, recall God’s lovingkindness in the morning, and recount His faithfulness at night. Thank Him for blessings—and also for the deep work He is doing in you through difficulties. As you start to see situations from His perspective, your gratitude and trust will grow.

(by Dr. Charles Stanley from the November 2009 issue of In Touch devotional magazine)

Rebecca Ingram Powell

Author and Certified Speaker

Key Verse:

“Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him” (Hebrews 9:28)

Devotion:

It was a Lutheran girl, Linda, who started the whole thing. “You’ve never heard of Lent?” she asked us incredulously. We were gathered for an interfaith Bible study in our dorm. The room was packed with curious Protestants. “Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts until Easter,” she explained. “You’re supposed to give up something—something you like—until Easter.” Practically in unison, we asked her why.

“Well,” she said gently, “I give up something I like to remember that Christ gave up everything for me.”

The room was silent as we each considered Linda’s words. Moments later the decision was made to practice Lent that year, most of us choosing to fast from chocolate!

I had never taken Easter more seriously. As a typical, middle-class American I had been deprived of little. Now I was depriving myself of something seemingly insignificant. After all, chocolate is a “creature comfort.” Some of you may disagree, but it is truly not necessary for survival! However, in the weeks following my decision, my thoughts were turned toward the Easter story—Christ’s suffering, crucifixion, death, and ultimate resurrection–every day. Because of Linda’s testimony, I realized my sacrifice was little, but I knew it would count. I believed God would honor my heart’s desire to experience Easter in a deeper way.

The Old Testament concept of sacrifice was expressed in the practice of presenting an offering to the Lord. The “first fruits” of the harvest were given out of gratitude to the Lord. This was a way of recognizing and honoring God’s faithfulness in providing for every need. In addition, an animal sacrifice was made once a year as atonement for sins. This was necessary because under Old Testament law, there was no forgiveness of sins without the shedding of blood. We don’t make animal sacrifices anymore because of Jesus Christ. As New Testament believers, we understand that because of His death on the cross and His resurrection three days later, “Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him” (Hebrews 9:28). Does your heart sing to hear those words? Or have years of the “old, old story” bred a familiarity in you that no longer fully perceives the truth of His sacrifice?

In the hustle and bustle of lives grounded in 21^st century convenience, it’s hard to be still and hear the tread of Christ’s sandaled feet on the dusty roads of Jerusalem. My pastor once remarked that if a day to the Lord is like a thousand years to us, then Jesus Christ died and rose again a mere two days ago! Where’s the excitement? Where is our sense of urgency to tell our friends, family, and neighbors that a sacrifice has been made once and for all?

If it has been a long time since you considered the power of Easter, I invite you to join me in giving up something for Lent. It might seem a bit silly, but if by this act you are brought to the cross each day, then how foolish can it be? If it causes you to think on Christ and His passion for you, if it causes a renewed passion in your own life for Him, then I believe it’s a good idea.

As we concluded our first Lenten season, several of us girls walked from the dorm to church together on Easter morning. It was a beautiful day. The sun shone brilliantly on our campus. Everything was in bloom and seemed to shout with dazzling colors, “He is risen!” We sang hymns as we trekked to church, somber in worship yet joyful in praise. Our hearts were full with a fresh knowledge of Christ, and indeed, as we walked down that paved road in our Sunday pumps, we seemed to hear the sandaled footsteps of our newly risen Lord among us.

My prayer for today:

“Dear Father, I am longing to experience a fresh knowledge of You this Easter. You have given up everything for me in offering your Son as payment for my sins. Show me if there is something I can offer You–something I like–that would cause me to bow more deeply at Your throne this season. In the Name of the One who loves me so, Christ Jesus, Amen.”

Application steps:

Now go for it! Could you give up chocolate, sodas, or (gasp!) cigarettes for the next six weeks?

How about giving up gossiping or a negative attitude?

Ask the Lord to show you how; He will!

Reflection points:

Christ died for me.

Ponder the memory of the moment you first realized that Jesus died for you. If that moment is right now, rejoice!

How eager am I to share this life-changing news with others?

Power verses:

2 Samuel 24:24b, “I’m not going to offer God, my God, sacrifices that are no sacrifice.” (Message)

Romans 12:1, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?” (NLT)

John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (NLT)

Luke 24:6a, “He isn’t here! He has risen from the dead!” (NLT)

Luke 24:46, 47, “And he said, ‘Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah must suffer and die and rise again from the dead on the third day. With my authority, take this message of repentance to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: There is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to me.’” (NLT)

Additional resources:

Radically Obedient, Radically Blessed by Lysa TerKeurst
http://www.gospelcom.net/p31/resources/radical.html

P31 Woman Magazine by Proverbs 31 Ministries
http://www.gospelcom.net/p31/resources/newsletter.html

There are many people in this world that wish they would never go through
any trials or tribulations and wish life was just a breeze and a delight.
Thankfully, God in His infinite wisdom knows that for us to have character
and development in life, we must go through certain situations to be
strengthened and equipped to continue through life in a successful way just
as God wishes. If you are going through tough times in life, be encouraged
and know that God is simply strengthening and equipping you for something
far greater than these temporary pains that are necessary for your growth
and development.

I hope you are encouraged by today’s message.

THE REEF

Don’t worry if you have problems!

Which is easy to say until you are in the midst of a really big one, I
know. But the only people I am aware of who don’t have troubles are
gathered in little neighborhoods. Most communities have at least one. We
call them cemeteries. If you’re breathing, you have difficulties. It’s the
way of life. And believe it or not, most of your problems may actually be
good for you! Let me explain.

Maybe you have seen the Great Barrier Reef, stretching some 1,800 miles
from New Guinea to Australia. Tour guides regularly take visitors to view
the reef.

On one tour, the guide was asked an interesting question. “I notice that
the lagoon side of the reef looks pale and lifeless, while the ocean side
is vibrant and colorful,” a traveler observed. “Why is this?”

The guide gave an interesting answer: “The coral around the lagoon side is
in still water, with no challenge for its survival. It dies early. The
coral on the ocean side is constantly being tested by wind, waves, storms
– surges of power. It has to fight for survival every day of its life. As
it is challenged and tested, it changes and adapts. It grows healthy. It
grows strong. And it reproduces.” Then he added this telling note: “That’s
the way it is with every living organism.”

That is how it is with people! Challenged and tested, we come alive! Like
coral pounded by the sea, we grow. Physical demands can cause us to grow
stronger. Mental and emotional stress can produce tough-mindedness and
resiliency. Spiritual testing can produce strength of character and faithfulness.

So, you have problems — no problem! Just tell yourself, “There I grow again!”

Author Unknown

Read and meditate on these scriptures:

James 1:2-5 “Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way,
let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your
endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance
is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.
If you need wisdom—if you want to know what God wants you to do—ask Him,
and He will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking.”

Proverbs 3:5-8 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on
your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will direct
your paths. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the
Lord and turn your back on evil. Then you will gain renewed health and
vitality.”

Psalm 90:12-16 “Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow
in wisdom. O Lord, come back to us! How long will you delay? Take pity on
your servants! Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, so we
may sing for Joy to the end of our lives. Give us gladness in proportion
to our former misery! Replace the evil years with good. Let us see your
miracles again; let our children see your glory at work.”

Psalm 118:5-9 “In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered
me and rescued me. The Lord is for me, so I will not be afraid. What can
mere mortals do to me? Yes, the Lord is for me; He will help me. I will
look in triumph at those who hate me. It is better to trust the Lord than
to put confidence in people. It is better to trust the Lord than to put
confidence in princes.”

In Christ’s Service,

Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry