January 3
2 Timothy 2.8-13
8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
11 Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him,
we will also live with him;
12 if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;
13 if we are faithless,
he remains faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.
The book of Hosea puts a picture of the relationship of people with God into the marriage of Hosea and Gomer. Gomer was unfaithful and Hosea kept taking her back. The image of how God already had been dealing with Israel. The way they walked away so many times in the book of Judges and then God would restore them. The way they walked away under the evil kings and then God would restore them with good kings (at least in Judah, Israel in the north kept going evil with kings). And even when the kings were evil, it was not just a lone prophet or priest who was left, as Elijah thought he was alone. There were many who remained faithful with him.
Paul reminds us in 2 Timothy that it is not for us to fear that Christ will leave us. Even as the first conditional statements have balance, the final lines of verse 13 show the way he works still today. He always remains faithful. Even as we have failed, he never fails. He is with us always, just as he promised. He promised to be with us to the end of the age. And then John shows, in Revelation, that at the end of the age, we are then with him forever. He is faithful, always.
As we begin our new year, let us also work at being faithful. Following him each day. Living as people called by Christ, to be his church. Deeper in faith, better followers of Christ each day.
Song – God Is Faithful
Prayer
Lord, you have given us so many gifts in the past year. We thank you for watching over us and guiding us. Thank you for your faithfulness and for promising never to leave us. Now we offer to you what you have given us; use us and our gifts to help others know about you for Jesus’ sake. Amen.