Mar 29 2021

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Most Bible scholars believe that the Second Epistle of Paul to Timothy (2 Timothy) is likely the last letter the Apostle Paul wrote before his death. Timothy was a young pastor at the beginning of his ministry. Paul was at a place where he was looking back and evaluating his life.

When Paul says, "there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day," he is looking forward to the day when he stands before God.

Paul was not perfect—he was human, after all. But his heart's desire was to finish the faith race serving God with everything he had. He wanted to encourage Timothy to spend his life investing in the mission of spreading the Gospel.

Everyone who has ever lived will one day stand before God and give an account of how they lived their life. Our lives leave a legacy that will have an impact on our family, friends, and future generations. Whether we face good or bad times, we can make it our goal to honor God no matter what.

Paul's life wasn't easy. He endured trials, torture, and imprisonment for sharing the Gospel. But in the end, he knew that when he stood before the Lord, He would say, "Well done, good and faithful servant enter thou into the joy of thy lord." (Matthew 25:23 KJV)

Heavenly Father, only you can strengthen my walk with you. My desire is for my actions to reflect that you are the priority of my heart. As I go about my daily life, help me live a victorious life that points others to you. I long to spend eternity worshipping you, my Lord and Savior. In Jesus's name, amen.

Mar 28 2021

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. :

Seeing an individual we do not want to see can make our hearts race and take our breath away. If we managed not to make eye contact, we hope the person didn't see us. We escape from the situation as quickly as we can. During these moments, discomfort runs rampant in our minds.

Most people try to avoid conflict, while some seemingly feed off it. In this afternoon's verse in Proverbs, King Solomon offers wisdom for those moments when our words can either stir up strife or encourage peace with others.

Solomon helps us understand the power of our reactions. A soft or gentle response defuses a hostile situation. However, grievous or harsh words encourage conflict.

As followers of Jesus, we should exercise a level of emotional restraint that sets us apart from the world. When we choose a godly life, we give up the right to say and do whatever we want. Our will, actions, and motives must be surrendered to God, and then we allow the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us.

Even though we may be slow to respond, when needed, we are quick to apologize. If someone snaps at us with angry words, rather than biting the person's head off, we take a step back and ask God to give us the response that will bring peace.

We all face conflicts—sometimes on a daily basis. Learning how to handle these conflicts in a way that glorifies God isn't as big a challenge if we depend on His strength and wisdom.

Dear God, I desperately need your help in controlling my reactions to others. I want to honor you in how I respond to every situation I encounter. Remind me to stop, pause, and pray before I say something that doesn't bring you glory. No matter what, let your love and kindness flow from my heart. In Jesus's name, amen.


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