Corona Devo 1784
The Bible is built of verses and sayings that we can trust. And the Bible as a document is trustworthy, and worthy of our trust.
We might be familiar with a number of trustworthy sayings in the Bible, such as:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ~John 3:16
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.... ~Psalm 23:1
But I came across a new (to me) trustworthy saying today, and it is worth reading. It is worth trusting. It is worth embracing and living out.
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This is a trustworthy saying:
If we die with him, we will also live with him.
(12) If we endure hardship, we will reign with him.
If we deny him, he will deny us.
(13) If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is. ~2 Timothy 2:11-13
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This is a trustworthy saying: If we die with him, we will also live with him. ~2 Timothy 2:11
If we will die to our own will, and die to our fleshly desires (food, sex, money, knowledge, status, etc.), then we will live with God.
It seems to be a paradox (die with him/live with him.) and to the world, following Jesus (and not ourselves) is a paradox, but if we will die with him, then we will come to know and experience what it means to also live with him.
Let's put to death whatever is controlling us (has our worship) besides God.
We have the opportunity (and His invitation) to live with him. Have we experienced life with Jesus lately?
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self control (Galatians 5:22-23). In a word: peace: that's what it means to live with him.
Life can be sun-shiney or a torrential downpour, but if we die with him (die to Him), then we will also live with him ( 2 Timothy 2:11) in all of life's seasons.
P.S. This verse applies to us today, but it is also a Truth and promise for our tomorrow (after death) too.
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If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. ~ 2 Timothy 2:12
Did someone say that life would be easy? ...That life should be easy?
No. No one did. And if they did, they were lying. Life is not easy.
Did someone say that we will have hardship and trials and pain and suffering in this life...but that they have overcome all of that, and that they are with us during those hard things and times?
Yes. Someone did say that: and His name is Jesus.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” ~John 16:33
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If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. ~ 2 Timothy 2:12
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (25) For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. ~Matthew 16:24-25
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If we deny him, he will deny us. ~2 Timothy 2:12
It scares me to write this: If we deny him, he will deny us (2 Timothy 2:12).
Wow, (Some may say in response to this verse)...where is the "loving God" we speak of?
Oh...(don't be fooled), He is here. God is omniscient, all-present, all-knowing, and He is here. And He knows us and He loves us. So much so, that, indeed: even the hairs of your head are all numbered.
But we can never forget that we are not dealing with a friend, a family member, a business associate, or an earthly king: God is holy and almighty, and deserving of our allegiance.
He loves us, but He leaves the decision of our dependence on Him up to us. Acknowledge Him, and be acknowledged by Him. But if we deny him, he will deny us (2 Timothy 2:12).
But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. (31) Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. (32) So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, (33) but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. ~Matthew 10:30-33
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If we deny him, he will deny us. ~2 Timothy 2:12
Jesus would deny us? It's shocking to imagine, and wild to wonder about. But mustn't He feel the same about us?
The Savior of the world hung on a cross for our sins...and yet when people hurt, wander, mourn, or question life: we won't say where our hope comes from. We sit silently (and safely) aside while people flounder with a lack-of-purpose and faith. We deny him.
If we deny him, he will deny us. ~2 Timothy 2:12
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If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is. ~2 Timothy 2:13
He will not give up on us. Even if we are unfaithful...he remains faithful. He won't give up on us, or on the hope that we will come back or come home to Him. He can't. For he cannot deny who he is (2 Timothy 2:13).
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Our Lord is amazing. He is special. He is faithful.
He is worth it.
He is worth dying (to ourselves). If we die with him, we will also live with him. ~2 Timothy 2:11
He is worth living for. If we die with him, we will also live with him. ~2 Timothy 2:11
He is worth enduring hardships for. If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. ~2 Timothy 2:12
He is worth staying faithful to (and not denying). If we deny him, he will deny us. If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is. ~2 Timothy 2:12-13
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