Here are my thoughts and highlights from II Timothy as I continue my journey through the Bible:

  • Like Paul, I want to worship God with my whole life.
  • "God doesn’t want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible." There’s a challenge. We’re supposed to be both bold and loving.
  • Paul points out that God first wants us to be "saved" and then wants us to engage in "this holy work." In other words, it’s just not about me. He has an agenda to use me to impact the lives of others.
  • Paul said, "I have no regrets." A man I really respect challenged me and a few of my friends to live our lives with no regrets last week. Guess that was pretty good advice.
  • God wants my best effort and my full devotion. "Throw yourself into this work for Christ."
  • "Warn them before God against pious nitpicking, which chips away at the faith." I really hate pious nitpickers.
  • And with that, "Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. God’s servants must not be argumentative."
  • "There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another–showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us."
  • "Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don’t ever quit. Just keep it simple." Love that. Stay focused. Keep it simple.
  • God wants us to finish well. Paul shared, "I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way."