2 Timothy - Week 9 - Day

READ 

2 Timothy 1:1-2; 4:22 

1:1 This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I have been sent out to tell others about the life he has promised through faith in Christ Jesus. 2 I am writing to Timothy, my dear son. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace. 4:22 May the Lord be with your spirit. And may his grace be with all of you. 

It is sometimes interesting to compare how books or letters in the Bible begin and end. In this case, notice Paul’s mention of the word “grace,” at the beginning of his letter. Then notice how he repeated it at the end of his letter. Others in his time wanted to live by a list of rules, but Paul was overwhelmed by the grace of God for him. He served Jesus out of love, not to check off accomplishments from a list of rules. 

REFLECT 

How is it with you? Are you motivated by your love for Jesus or by a list of rules? 

RESPOND 

With a friend, notice that Genesis begins in the Garden of Eden and ends in a coffin in Egypt. Exodus begins in Egypt after the death of Joseph when the Israelites became slaves. After beginning with bondage, Exodus ends with the Shekinah glory in the tabernacle. Some books reveal the purpose of their writing later in the text. John’s Gospel is an example of this in John 20:30-31. The entire Gospel is written to accomplish this purpose.