Reading for today: 2 Kings 19:1-19 and 2 Timothy 2:20-21

“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”  2 Timothy 2:21

We must be diligent to keep ourselves pure and faithful to God in all things.  Then we will be useful in serving Christ.

Reading for today: 2 Kings 18:17-37 and 2 Timothy 2:19

“Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria?” 
2 Kings 18:33

Those nations had trusted in false gods.  Let us look to our true God who has the power to deliver us whatever our circumstances.

Reading for today: 2 Kings 18:1-16 and 2 Timothy 2:16-18

“But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.”
 2 Timothy 2:16

It is important to refer back to the original authority of doctrine: God’s scripture.  Men will add things; churches will add things and quibble over obscure meanings.  You should always seek the scripture as the Bereans did (Acts 17:11), discovering if what men tell you is accurate.  Many churches today have added everything from new rituals to restrictions, even wacky and out-of-control behaviors that just aren’t found in the Bible. Those types of things appeal to our flesh but can spread like cancer.

Reading for today: 2 Kings 17:24-41 and 2 Timothy 2:15

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

People and societies won’t always accept sound doctrine, but you are charged with presenting just that.  Don’t compromise on what the scriptures teach, but also be certain of the proper interpretation, “rightly dividing,” or expounding upon, what is written. God has placed mysteries in scripture, and only through the ministry of the Holy Spirit can we properly
interpret all of scripture.

Reading for today: 2 Kings 17:1-23 and 2 Timothy 2:14

“And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as the kings of Israel who were before him.” 2 Kings 17:2

Unfortunately, this is the defining hope of many people who don’t know Jesus as their Savior.  It is the essence of “karma,” of reincarnation religions, of the current-day Jewish Erev Yom Kippur (the day before the day of atonement).  Our life on this world is one of comparisons: “at least I’m not like those other sinners,” I’m better-behaved than my brother; “if you act nicely you can have some ice cream.”  The reality is that we are all evil, and our best deeds are as “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6).

Reading for today: 2 Kings 16:1-20 and 2 Timothy 2:11-13

“This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him.  If we endure, we shall also reign with Him.  If we deny Him, He also will deny us.  If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” 
2 Timothy 2:11-13

There is no limit to what God provides to His faithful ones, but woe to those who do not believe in Him.  Praise and honor to Him because He is always faithful in His ways to both believers and unbelievers.  He never changes; a most wonderful comfort to us - His faithfulness - as we persevere in this valley of sorrows.

Reading for today: 2 Kings 15:23-38 and 2 Timothy 2:10

“Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”  2 Timothy 2:10

We, like Paul, must endure; but our trials last for just a short time when we look at the eternity that awaits us.  Let us then, like Paul, bring the Word to a dying world that they too can live eternally in glory with Christ.

Reading for today: 2 Kings 15:1-22 and 2 Timothy 2:7-9

“…but the Word of God is not chained.”  2 Timothy 2:9

Jesus Christ is the Word and only in Him are we unchained from the curse of sin and death in this world.  Let us renew ourselves every day through the Word - Jesus - that we may have true freedom in His love every day of our lives on Earth.

Reading for today: 2 Kings 14:23-29 and 2 Timothy 2:6

“The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops.”  2 Timothy 2:6

As we are the first fruits with Christ, we will partake in Christ’s rewards - “the crops” - if we are faithful to be hardworking farmers.  Therefore we must be out sowing, tending, and reaping with the talents He has given us in this world to do the job.

Reading for today: 2 Kings 14:1-22 and 2 Timothy 2:5

“And also, if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.”  2 Timothy 2:5

God does not reward us just because we “win.”  We must run the race with a pure heart and a desire to bring glory to His Holy Name.  We do not honor Him by works done with the wrong attitude, and we get no crown when we do not obey His rules and will for our lives.