27/07/2026
DAILY BREAD (7/27/2026)
2Timothy 1:1-18(7-8) [Bible]
NIV
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,
2 To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.
4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy.
5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.
9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,
10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher.
12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.
14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you - guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
15 You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
16 May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.
17 On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me.
18 May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.
Paul was an apostle of Jesus only by the will of God. The gospel of Jesus’ death and resurrection promises eternal life to all who believe in Jesus. Paul had received this life in Christ Jesus (1). He greeted his spiritual son, Timothy, with grace, mercy, and peace. The apostle prayed constantly for Timothy and longed to see him. He reminded Timothy of the sincere faith in Jesus of his grandmother and mother and now lived in him. Timothy came from a family of believers.
Because Timothy’s grandmother and mother had all believed the gospel, Timothy was reminded to fan into the flame his gift of ministry. God had given Timothy the gift to teach the gospel. Persecution and suffering accompanied teaching the gospel and shepherding God’s people. He was tempted to be ashamed and distance himself from being open about his faith. But God had also given Timothy the Holy Spirit (7,14), who enables his children to overcome fear with power, love, and self-discipline. Jesus destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light. Paul willingly suffered for sharing this gospel. He encouraged Timothy to trust Jesus and suffer for the gospel.
Do not be ashamed of the gospel. Jesus has saved you. Tell someone about Jesus today.
Prayer
Father, thank you for the gospel. Help me not to be afraid but share the gospel with others.
One Word
Suffer for the gospel by God’s power
