I Never Wanted to Read This Again! - Day 290 Month 10-16 Week 40-3
I Never Wanted to Read this Again!
Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year)
2 Chronicles 3, 4, Job 9, Hosea 13, 2 Timothy 4
When I was in my late teens, I volunteered for several summers at the camp where I had originally made the decision to be a Jesus follower. We called it “the ranch” because it had a theme of horses, and every camper had opportunities to learn about horses and ride them every day. I volunteered in the maintenance department. We had regular staff meetings, and without fail, the camp director, Bruce, would open his Bible to 2 Timothy 4 and read verses 7 and 8 in the King James Version. I think the King James Version seemed to say it more powerfully or something like that.
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 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.” (2 Timothy 4:7, 8 KJV)
Bruce would talk about how, when he stood before God, he wanted to be able to say, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course and I have kept the faith.” He would then apply it to us and explain that he would not want any of us to stand before God and say, “I have not fought a good fight, I didn't finish my course and I didn't keep the faith.” I remember on my last day volunteering there, Bruce used that reference to attempt to guilt all the staff into coming back the following year because he, Bruce, had been told by God that it was God's will that we all come back next year.
It had already been a difficult last couple of weeks for me, and I had seen senior staff members treat younger staff members very poorly and I had to intervene. You might say that my memories have been tainted by those experiences during my last few weeks at the camp. I never returned. I also did not ever want to read that Scripture again.
Well, that has changed. You can’t claim to read the whole Bible without reading that scripture. To read it honestly, you need to take it to heart. I can now say that I want to be able to stand before God and say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7 NASB1995). I no longer hear those words as a way of making me feel guilty or pressuring me into doing what someone else wants. I hear them as an expression of the life I want to live for Jesus. It's not just about the crown of righteousness. Paul says it is “not only to me, but to all those who have loved His appearing.”
What am I talking about? Paul, though some of his writing frustrates me, is all about Jesus. Jesus said to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind. Jesus said to love our neighbour as ourselves. Jesus also commanded His followers to make disciples.
To me, these are part of what it means to fight the good fight, finish the course, and keep the faith. I want to live these things out, not to earn a crown or prove that I am good enough for God, but because of what Jesus has done for me. I want to remain faithful to Him throughout my life.
And I don't want that journey to be just about me. I want to love people and help them discover Jesus. I hope that some of the people I have loved and encouraged will come to know Him and that we will one day be together in His kingdom. I cannot make that decision for anyone else, but I can do my part to love them and share what Jesus means to me.
The crown of righteousness is not something I want to earn through my own efforts. Whatever I receive is because of God's grace. If I am ever given that crown, I want to lay it at the feet of Jesus, who gave so much for me so that I, and all who belong to Him, can live in His kingdom forever.
Have a great day!
Steve
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