Opening Prayer
Lord, confirm our ways in Your Word. Amen.
Text: Second Timothy 1:6-12
Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
Devotion
Just as John the Baptizer saw death ahead of him, when from prison he sent his disciples to Jesus, so Paul wrote this letter to Timothy with his end in sight. But he faces death with victorious confidence. What great things Christ has brought us! How fortunate are we who live in His Church! O that the Spirit this Church Year may kindle anew the gracious gifts of God that are given to us! Let faith become fresh and strong, let love become ardent, and let us willingly and gladly suffer hardship with the people of God! Confess your Savior boldly. He Himself shall grant you spirit and grace to do it. Yes, He has already given it to you in your Baptism. You have the spirit of power and love if you will really make use of it, and if you do it, then the fire in your soul blazes. You are not a slave, but you are a child in God’s household, a great mystery. Do good without ceasing. The fountain of love and power will not go dry. There are eternal riches with your heavenly Father. Or are we not also saved and called with a holy calling? Didn’t Jesus die and doesn’t He live for us? Aren’t we baptized into Him? Don’t we hear His Gospel and receive His Supper? Should we save ourselves again with our works, when we are already saved by God’s grace in Christ? Let us not by unbelief destroy what God has done, deny what God has said, and disregard our heavenly call! The death in our flesh that wants to paralyze us is overcome by our Baptism into Christ’s death and resurrection. For we are united with Him in His death and in His victory over death. By death we are delivered over and are members of our living Savior forever. Therefore the devil has no power over us and cannot subdue our courage.
Hear how Paul says it: “Christ has abolished death, abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” But what Paul has, we also have to the degree we need it to conquer over the flesh and defy the devil, when he wants to strike terror in us through corruption and hopelessness. And you, Christian friend, you know in whom you have believed, and you know He is secure to build upon (2Ti 1:12). Haven’t you entrusted yourself to Him with heart, life, and all? Haven’t you put your soul and salvation in His hands? I know my Savior lives. I know that there would be nothing for me, but Him who chose me, saved me, and called me, and that there is nothing for me, but Him who keeps me. And I know indeed that not the devil and not death, but my Savior owns me and lives in me. Truly, He shall hold me close to Himself in faith and love, through whatever sufferings He wants me to endure, and though I lose everything in the world!
Closing Prayer
Teach us, Lord, to immerse our soul in Your eternal grace. Grant us to live a life of love. Grant us to confess You with fervent hearts and to win disciples for You all around. O dear Lord God, let our faith be true and living, so that it proves itself in love and in victory over the fruits of the flesh and all the power of sin. Amen.
Hymn
God’s Son has taught the way
That we should follow ever
In word and deed always,
And keep from no one ever;
Let all awake and rise
From false security
And let their light so shine
That all may know and see.
Up, Zion, it is time
Lukewarmness to be ceasing;
Let all with heart and mind
Our Jesus be confessing,
Undaunted by the woe,
That in this world must be,
For joy when we shall see
Jesus eternally!
Brorson: Den gamle Adams Sind L 120:10-11 tr. DeGarmeaux;
tune: O Gott, du frommer Gott (ELH 470); alternate hymn: O that the Lord would guide my ways ELH 441:1-2