2 Timothy 2:8-13

2 Timothy 2:8-13
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Christ has died, proving that there is no power able to bind him, and as the Word of God, he goes forward into the world, unbounded by human constraints.  Paul grasped this, and he understood that there was nothing the Roman empire could do to prevent the spread of the Gospel.  Every chain, every soldier, every sword the Romans possessed were powerless against the work of the Holy Spirit, spreading like wildfire from one life to the next.  They would try and stamp it out in one place only to see it rise somewhere else, and everywhere believers stood tall, confidant that the God who overcame death would elevate them to new life in Christ.
  So when you go out into the world today, whatever it is that awaits you, trust in two things. 
  The first is that nothing can stop God's power.  Trust that his grace is sufficient, that his purpose will be achieved, that the Gospel will spread.  Do not see the powers of the world as obstacles to the spreading of the Gospel, but rather recognize them as powerless, holding a place in the world until God returns in glory.
  The second is the comforting fact that God is forever faithful, even if we are faithless.  God's faithfulness is not determined by our sinfulness. When we get distracted and stray, God remains true.  His love is a constant, and we cannot change this.  May we rejoice in the love of God and the grace of our King!