Great Plains Daily Devotional for 10/7/2020

2 Timothy 1:1-14 

From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, to promote the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus.

To Timothy, my dear child.

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

I’m grateful to God, whom I serve with a good conscience as my ancestors did. I constantly remember you in my prayers day and night. When I remember your tears, I long to see you so that I can be filled with happiness. I’m reminded of your authentic faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice. I’m sure that this faith is also inside you. Because of this, I’m reminding you to revive God’s gift that is in you through the laying on of my hands. God didn’t give us a spirit that is timid but one that is powerful, loving, and self-controlled.

So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about the Lord or of me, his prisoner. Instead, share the suffering for the good news, depending on God’s power. God is the one who saved and called us with a holy calling. This wasn’t based on what we have done, but it was based on his own purpose and grace that he gave us in Christ Jesus before time began. Now his grace is revealed through the appearance of our savior, Christ Jesus. He destroyed death and brought life and immortality into clear focus through the good news. I was appointed a messenger, apostle, and teacher of this good news. This is also why I’m suffering the way I do, but I’m not ashamed. I know the one in whom I’ve placed my trust. I’m convinced that God is powerful enough to protect what he has placed in my trust until that day. Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you heard from me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Protect this good thing that has been placed in your trust through the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

I love football season! Sunday, Monday, Thursday and all day Saturday! I’m faithful to my Auburn Tigers and Chicago Bears, yet I will watch other teams play. I proudly wear the colors to support my teams. Saturday mornings I post on Facebook “Wake-up, it’s Game Day!!” Grab one of my Auburn coffee mugs filled with my “Grounds and Hounds” Coffee and watch College Game Day and football all day and night. I’m not ashamed to let others know of my dedication for my teams.

We love our teams! We get excited! There is an Auburn fan who attends the same church as me in Topeka, and on Sunday’s we greet each other with “War Eagle.” My dedication and love for Auburn University is authentic and I am not ashamed win or lose.

On a more serious note, our Scripture calls us to an authentic faith without being ashamed of Jesus Christ and the power of His Holy Spirit in our lives. Why can’t we get as excited about worship, service, giving, prayer and study, as we do about our sports teams? WE CAN! All we have to do is prepare ourselves for worship just as we do for a football game (or other sporting event). Worship and our spiritual disciplines are about anticipation and expectation. We anticipate being present in corporate worship – we expect a new experience with God! Our worship is time for us to play our hearts out. Sing joyfully. Pray earnestly. Give generously. Serve with others. Study until our minds are open and receiving the Word. We are on God’s team – so let’s get excited and act like it come Sunday! “Wake-up, it’s Worship Day!”

Prayer for Reflection

Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20
Psalm 19
Phillipians 3:4b-14
Matthew 21:33-46