Lesson 30: Enduring in all things
2 Timothy 4:1-22 - www.bible.com/bible/59/2ti.4

1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,
4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 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.
9 Do your best to come to me soon.
10-21 (list of names)
22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.


Paul wrote these words knowing he was about to die a terrible death because he preached the Gospel of Jesus. Read the above verses again – was Paul afraid to die?

We can read more about what Paul had endured in his life (because of trusting Jesus) in 2 Corinthians 11:23-27. Most of us will probably not be asked to bear so much pain and torture for Him, but many of us may be called to die for Him. Would you be able to say with Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” if that moment of death came to you today? God wants us to live every moment of our life as if it might be the last one. He wants us to live so He can say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into My rest” (Matthew 25:21-23).

Paul’s goal in life was not for a good life here on earth; he looked toward that day when he would stand before God and be given his reward from His hand. Paul was using the symbolism of the Olympic Games where the winner received a crown, and he called the crown he would receive from God the crown of righteousness. He was confident that, even though he had not lived a sinless life here on earth, God would give him this crown because God is the righteous judge who would judge his heart for his motives. He had spent his life as a Christian relying on God, and whenever God had reproved or corrected him through His word, Paul could say he had been obedient to do what God had asked him. Paul had learned righteousness and put it into practice.
 *Are you afraid to die? Why or why not? What do you most look forward to when your life on earth is done and our Tender Shepherd carries you to the Home He’s prepared for you (John 14:1-3)?