Corona Devo 1782
Our daughter lost her voice yesterday, but only between the hours of noon and 3 PM.
There is so much sickness going around, and between school and sports and studies: she's run down, and so falling ill doesn't seem too far fetched...but losing your voice for only three hours?
She was fine by supper time.
It doesn't make sense.
Unless you knew our prayers...and God's Scriptures today.
Our kids teach a Bible study once a week before or after school at their respective public schools. The call to share God's Word and make disciples is for all of us, and we are blessed that they rise to that occasion (and command).
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” ~Matthew 28:19-20
Jesus spoke these words to His disciples...to go and make disciples, and Jesus speaks the same words to us.
This is our calling. But (probably for pastors once in a while), and definitely for teens doing it each week...sometimes you'd like help in teaching people to obey everything Jesus has commanded.
Some of the verses that I studied this morning comforted and amazed me because of how intimately God knows us.
Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus. (2) You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others. ~II Timothy 2:1-2
Our kids like teaching the Bible, but our kids would also love (for other kids) to help teaching the Bible.
It is a prayer of our family that we might teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.
God did that this week.
The night before our high school group, I (softly) asked my son if he had "reviewed the lesson that daddy wrote"? (I hadn't seen him practice or prep anything yet.)
But much to my surprise, he said matter of factly that another student from their high school Christian club was leading the lesson this week.
And that was that.
And that was an answer to prayer and the embodiment of what Paul had instructed Timothy to do, and what Jesus instructs us to do.
Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others. ~II Timothy 2:2
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Similarly, and one day later, our daughter had prepped and practiced to lead the middle school afterschool Bible study. She was ready...until about lunchtime, when her "voice got cracky, and then just started cutting out", she said.
As they approached the end of the school day and Bible study time, one of her friends commented on her voice and said, "Would you like me to lead the study for you?"
Our daughter hesitated, not wanting to put the girl out, but it was true that she had no voice. Her friend insisted, and afterschool, she and another trustworthy student taught these truths and passed them on to others (II Timothy 2:2).
Praise the Lord for His Word, and His awareness (and answers!) to our prayers!
Sidenote: Lest we ever think that what God is doing is limited to our story...this was not (just) about us praying for other student leaders, and nor was it (just) about our daughter's voice going silent. This was also about a prayer of the young woman who led the meeting for the first time. She shared this text with our daughter later that night:
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Teaching these (Biblical) truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others is one outstanding piece of advice that the apostle Paul gave to Timothy. But Paul wasn't done.
Thank goodness.
Paul's unabashed amazement with the miracle of Jesus and his thrill in the privilege of telling others about Jesus is worth reading and applying to our own faith-walks.
Friends, let us never forget the basics of our faith...which are not basic, but are truly miraculous.
Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach. ~II Timothy 2:8
This is the good news that WE preach! This is amazing news. May it never "get old" to us that our Savior was raised from the dead.
It never got old for Paul, and he was energized and encouraged by the freedom, the hope, the forgiveness and the miracle that Jesus brings into each of our lives. Paul shared the hope and story of Jesus with everyone...so that they could then teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others (II Timothy 2:2).
But Paul's passion for preaching Jesus often got him in trouble...and by "trouble", I mean persecution, abuse, and imprisonment.
But guess what? That didn't slow Paul down (at all) in speaking about our Savior.
And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained. (10) So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen. ~II Timothy 2:9-10
Isn't Paul's fire for sharing and teaching and preaching about Jesus spectacular? I just love it, and I love the Bible because it teaches us about it: word for word.
And now you have heard me teach these things... Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others (II Timothy 2:2).
Pass it on! Please preach this Good News, and pass it on to others who will (in turn) be able to pass it on to others.
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Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus. (2) You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others...
(8) Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach. (9) And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained. (10) So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen. ~II Timothy 2:1-2, 8-10
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