2 Timothy 2:1-3 Paul said to Timothy: Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
Comments by Beth Martin:
When reading the above scripture, the words "endure hardness" stood out to me.
Endure - to suffer something difficult, unpleasant or painful, to accept or continue in a situation that is difficult or unpleasant.
Hardness- unyielding, purposeful, adamant, unbending, undaunted.
I believe that we must keep to the path God has shown us no matter how difficult it is for us to do. We are strong in HIS grace.
Endure - to suffer something difficult, unpleasant or painful, to accept or continue in a situation that is difficult or unpleasant.
Hardness- unyielding, purposeful, adamant, unbending, undaunted.
I believe that we must keep to the path God has shown us no matter how difficult it is for us to do. We are strong in HIS grace.
Comments by Pam Padgett:
When Joan was enrolled in home hospice care, a nurse came each week to our home to care for Joan. We enjoyed her visits and she seemed very competent. She was a License Practical Nurse (LPN).
After a couple weeks, a Register Nurse (RN) was also assigned to help care for Joan. During her first visit, this RN announced that she was raised Muslim. She went on to make fun of her husband's mother who didn't want him to marry her because of this. His mother said "Couldn't you find a nice Christian girl?" Joan told this nurse that she (Joan) would feel the same way as her husband's mother, but this nurse didn't seem to grasp what Joan said and went on with what she obviously thought was a funny story about her mother-in-law.
When this nurse left, Joan asked me "What are we going to do about this nurse, given what we're told in 2 John?" I replied "I don't know".
2 John vv.7-11 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
Joan went on to say "I hope we don't have to tell anyone why we don't want her here." I felt the same way. We both knew those of the world and many church people would not understand why we couldn't have this woman in our home and would likely think us wrong and/or strange.
We each prayed about how to deal with this. We didn't want to cause trouble for this nurse. But we knew we couldn't have her in our house because of the scriptures.
So we endured hardness ... persevering in obeying what God has said. I contacted the hospice office and requested that this RN no longer be assigned to care for Joan. It took 2 phone calls and I needed to tell them exactly why we were making this request ... what the Bible says ... before they would consider making a change in assignment.
But no one understood. Joan suggested I contact the hospice chaplain for help in this. He talked with the nursing coordinator, although it was obvious that he didn't really understand what we are told in 2 John and why we couldn't have this nurse in our home.
Finally, another RN was assigned to care for Joan. The new RN, Deborah, has a wonderful spirit. After the first visit, I turned to Joan and said "I believe she is truly born again" and Joan agreed. It was a delight to have Deborah come to our house and we could freely share things of God with her and she with us. She was also very skillful in caring for hospice patients and was a great help to both Joan and me.
***
***
Philppians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
***
Romans 5:8-9 But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
9 Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
***
2 Peter 3:8-9 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning HIS promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
💥💥💥💥💥