Do Not Be Ashamed of the Lord

Night and day I mention you in my prayers. I am always grateful for you, as I pray to the God my ancestors and I have served with a clear conscience.

I remember how you cried, and I want to see you, because this would make me truly happy.

I also remember the genuine faith of your mother Eunice. Your grandmother Lois had the same sort of faith, and I am sure you have it as well.

So I ask you to make full use of the gift God gave you when I placed my hands on you. Use it well.

God's Spirit doesn't make cowards out of us. The Spirit gives us power, love, and self-control.

Don't be ashamed to speak for our Lord. And don't be ashamed of me, just because I am in jail for serving him. Use the power that comes from God and join with me in suffering for telling the good news.

God saved us and chose us to be his holy people. We did nothing to deserve this, but God planned it because he is so kind. Even before time began God planned for Christ Jesus to show kindness to us.

Now Christ Jesus has come to offer us God's gift of undeserved grace. Christ our Savior defeated death and brought us the good news. It shines like a light and offers life that never ends.

This is why I am suffering now. But I am not ashamed! I know the one I have faith in, and I am sure he can guard until the last day what he has trusted me with.

You have been trusted with a wonderful treasure. Guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit, who lives within us.

Then after he arrived in Rome, he searched everywhere until he found me.

I pray that the Lord Jesus will ask God to show mercy to Onesiphorus on the day of judgment. You know how much he helped me in Ephesus.

A Good Soldier of Christ Jesus

Timothy, my child, you must let Christ Jesus make you strong by his gift of undeserved grace.

You have often heard me teach. Now I want you to tell these same things to followers who can be trusted to tell others.

As a good soldier of Christ Jesus you must endure your share of suffering.

Soldiers on duty don't work at outside jobs. They try only to please their commanding officer.

Keep your mind on Jesus Christ! He was from the family of David and was raised from death, just as my good news says.

and so I am willing to put up with anything. Then God's special people will be saved and given eternal glory because they belong to Christ Jesus.

If we are not faithful, he will still be faithful. Christ cannot deny who he is.”

That sort of talk is like a sore that won't heal. And Hymenaeus and Philetus have been talking this way

by teaching that the dead have already been raised to life. This is far from the truth, and it is destroying the faith of some people.

But the foundation God has laid is solid. On it is written, “The Lord knows who his people are. So everyone who worships the Lord must turn away from evil.”

In a large house some dishes are made of gold or silver, while others are made of wood or clay. Some of these are special, and others are not.

This is also how it is with people. The ones who stop doing evil and make themselves pure will become special. Their lives will be holy and pleasing to their Master, and they will be able to do all kinds of good deeds.

Stay away from stupid and senseless arguments. These only lead to trouble,