Scripture to Read: 2 Timothy 4:5
After reading yesterday’s devotion, we could get incredibly depressed focusing on how bad people are in this world today. But God does not want us to focus on the negative, so He tells us where our focus must be so that we fulfill all He has for us to do. As we read 2 Timothy 4:5, we see that God tells us first of all to “be sober in all things.” God wants us to rest in Him, to stay calm, and to keep our minds renewed through His Truth (read Ephesians 4:23, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Romans 12:1-2, and Philippians 4:8 for help on keeping your mind focused, steady, and renewed). God also tells us to “endure hardship.” God is reminding us that tests and trials should be expected and that we should not be surprised when they hit. We also don't need to be afraid of hard times, but we must rejoice and ask God not to let us miss what He's teaching us as we walk through those hardships (read Matthew 5:11-12, Philippians 4:4, and James 1:2-4 for more help). God continues by commanding us to “do the work of an evangelist.” To do the work of an evangelist means we must strive daily to share the gospel with others. We need to pray Colossians 4:3-6, asking God for opportunities to share Him and His Truth with others. We must also pray Ephesians 6:19-20, realizing it’s His boldness and not our own to be able to proclaim Him boldly.
Challenge & Application
1. What did God teach you today about being sober, enduring hardship and sharing Him with others?
2. How are you walking in the Truths that God has reminded you of today?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!