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Note to readers: This is an alternate reading from the Three Year Lectionary, and may not match up with the readings your church uses this Sunday.
But as for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing. Do your best to come to me soon. For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (2 Timothy 4:5-18)
At the end of 2 Timothy, we can see Paul wrapping up his final affairs in this life. He knows he’s likely to die soon. There are only a handful of things he wants before the Lord calls him home—which will be by martyrdom.
And what a mix of things it is! Paul thinks first of the people he loves. How he misses Timothy! For at least one of his co-workers in the mission has deserted him and Christ both, or so it seems. Three others are away, probably for better reasons. Luke is with Paul, which is a comfort, but he still urges Timothy to come as well—and to bring Mark, too. Apparently they’ve buried the hatchet, and now Paul is glad to have him serving with him. That’s not the case with Alexander, however, and he warns Timothy against him.
And then the things—Paul doesn’t need much, at the end of his life, but he’d appreciate an extra cloak and the books and parchments he left in Troas. That’s it.
Because Paul’s mind is fixed on what comes next—when he is finally with Jesus, in His kingdom, with the Lord he loves. Paul has no doubt of where he’s going, because Jesus loved him and gave His life for him on the cross—and yes, and rose from the dead so that Paul would have everlasting life. And Jesus did this for us as well. We, too, are sure of what will happen to us—because Jesus has promised, and we believe Him. We will be with Him forever in His kingdom. And what more could we ask?
WE PRAY: Dear Lord, when my last days come, bring me to You! Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
- What matters most to you—people or things?
- What about Jesus—what matters to Him? How can you tell?
- What will be the best part of being with Jesus in His kingdom, do you think?
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