Chapter 1
By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you. 2 Timothy 1:14 – This “good deposit” is the teaching and work of the Gospel that we have been given. Paul is encouraging Timothy to keep the teachings about Jesus that he has been taught pure and unchanged by false teachings. Paul is also telling him to keep up the work of sharing those teachings he has heard with those who need to hear it. By relying on the Holy Spirit Timothy could do all that, and so can we as we trust in the Holy Spirit inside of us. We too have a world that is desperately trying to get us to change what we believe about Jesus and the Bible. We also have people all around us needing to hear the pure teachings we’ve heard about Jesus. Let’s take to heart the direction Paul gave. With the power of the Holy Spirit, be sure to not let false teachings mix with what you’ve learned about Jesus and keep sharing what you’ve learned with those who need to learn. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 478
As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 2 Timothy 1:4 – Paul is writing to Timothy who was his apprentice, friend, ministry colleague, and brother in Christ. Paul acknowledges that Timothy is saddened by Paul’s imprisonment for the gospel and is seeking to encourage him. Yet what we read in this chapter is how Timothy was also an encouragement to Paul. For despite the struggles of ministry and despite Paul being imprisoned, Timothy remained steadfast in his calling and remained a support for Paul. Which, as we see in the end part of the chapter, wasn’t always the case with Paul’s companions. Many turned from Paul and many stepped away from the work of the gospel, and this was disheartening for Paul. Yet Timothy’s faith and support remained, and this was an encouragement to Paul. Let’s not dismiss then the impact our steadfast faithfulness to the Lord will have on other believers. For others will see our walk, our pastors will see our walk, our families will see our walk, and it will encourage them in their walk. For like Paul, we too see people around us stepping away from the faith, and we too may not always get the spiritual support we expect to get. So when it does come our way and we do see another believer living faithfully, what an encouragement that is to our walk. Be then that encouragement for other believers. Remain steady in the struggle and be willing to offer support when you can to your brother or sister. Never underestimate the impact your steady faithfulness to the Lord can have on the faith life of others. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2490
Chapter 2
Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 2 Timothy 2:8-9 – I love how this passage shows the power of God’s Word! See we may be brought down and held back, but God’s Word will always prevail over what’s trying to bring it down. Our limitations don’t apply to God. Our fears aren’t an issue for God. What holds us back never holds God back. So what’s beautiful about that for us? That the one we serve and are drawing close to is powerful enough to break through whatever is holding us back and down as well. God’s Word will always prevail. Begin leaning into His Word all the more when you are feeling pressed down. That’s where you can find the strength and freedom from the pressure you’re needing. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 479
Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 2:3 – Don’t step into this ministry expecting everything to be peaceful and easy. This is what Paul is reminding Timothy. Jesus suffered for faithfully following the Father’s will. Paul is suffering while following the footsteps of Jesus. Paul then makes sure Timothy knows that if he is following Paul’s example, who is following Jesus’ example, suffering will come. And in that suffering to handle it like a good solider would. This would mean serving to please your captain and being willing to fight the hard battles bravely. Like a good solider, Timothy knew signing up to serve may equal uncomfortable seasons and heavy hardships, but he served anyways. Let’s serve Jesus like this too. Sadly we often see believers backing out of following Jesus when the battle begins to be tough. Let’s realize that if we’re following Jesus, difficulties like He faced most likely will be ahead. Like a good soldier, let’s serve when life is good and serve when life is heavy. For we serve a God who is worth following even into the fight for. And we know that He always goes before us into every battle. If Jesus is as good as He says He is and as faithful as scripture says He is, then He is worth living, fighting, and giving everything for. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2491
Chapter 3
…having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 2 Timothy 3:5 – First off, please read verses 1-9 to get the full grasp of what Paul is saying. We see him warning Timothy of the type of people that he will most certainly come in contact with. The list of characteristics of these people is long and ugly, but look at the last characteristic Paul gave. Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. He is saying that there will be people who claim to be Christians, but have not allowed Jesus to change their life and they just keep choosing to go their own way. Maybe you’ve ran into some “Christians” like that. What does Paul say to do? Avoid those people. Timothy had an important mission to spread the gospel message. Having deep friendships with Christians who were refusing to follow God wasn’t going to help him with his mission. Same for you. While you may have been friends with them for so long and sought their advice for years, if they aren’t following God and allowing God to work in them, then a relationship change needs to take place. Lean into people who are following God so you can be encouraged to carry on with your mission of spreading Jesus’ love. If your “Christian friend” won’t help you that way, they aren’t your friend. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 480
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:14-15 – Once again Paul is writing to Timothy about the levels of persecution that are to come at Timothy for choosing this path of serving Jesus. Paul encourages Timothy that when the struggle hits and the wrong-doing people surround him to tear him away from the truth, to lean on the truth of scripture that he from childhood had been taught. Here we see what a blessing it can be to have grown up in a family and home where the Bible is read and God is taught. Often in ministry life I hear people almost saddened that they don’t have a crazy conversation story because they’ve “been in church since they were born.” They feel almost less-than because they don’t have the rough past and the amazing turning around story, but notice what a blessing this life of Timothy was. Timothy grew up in a loving family who taught him scripture and about the Lord all his life. Paul reminds Timothy that those years of teaching will make him wise and ready for all that is to come in this faith life. Today then, if your story isn’t one of massive change from a prodigal life of running away from God, know your life is still a blessing and a tool for the work of the Lord. Whether it’s a powerful conversion story or a powerful knowledge of God’s goodness from a childhood home that taught scripture, either are wonderful tools to be used for the Lord. Whatever your story is, it’s useful for the mission. The question is will you use if for Jesus? I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2492
Chapter 4
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, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 – This passage is pretty clear in itself. Times will come when people will rather listen to a pastor who says what they want him to say than what they need to hear. So let’s ask the question why is that? Because the truth is hard to hear sometimes. If you’ve been going a direction and you’re told that direction has been wrong, it’s tempting to just listen to someone who will tell you you’re actually going in the right direction. What’s the problem with that? You’re still going the wrong direction. Challenge yourself to not just turn away from teachers and pastors who say things that line up with scripture but contradict the way you live. Realize those are the leaders you need in your life; not just the ones that will speak pleasing things into your story. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 481
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. 2 Timothy 4:17 – Clearly Paul still had faithful brothers and sisters in his life at this time, for he was writing this letter to one such faithful brother. We see even in this passage that there were still other followers of Jesus who remained a support for Paul. Yet, Paul outlines by name different individuals who walked away from him and even walked away from following the Lord. It can be so disheartening to see people walk away from us and we can be left in such a place of isolation in the mission as a result. We can feel as if no one is there to walk with us and support us. Note though the reality for Paul. It seemed and felt like he was alone, but that was certainly not the case. First, the Lord stood by him and strengthened him in his work. Second, he had people like Timothy and Mark, and other disciples who were praying and supporting him, even if that support came from afar. If then your situation currently feels like that of Paul here, isolated from support, know that’s not your reality. You have the Lord standing by you being that firm foundation you need. You also have a sea of other believers in this world that are united in the same mission you’re called to that long to support you. Also be willing to see the support that is currently in your life, even if it is coming from unlikely places. Our enemy wants to convince us we are alone in this mission and fight, but we certainly are not alone. Know if you are reading this today and are feeling alone and in need of support, reach out or leave a note in the comments so the other believers that read this can be praying for you. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2493
Daily DEVO 