Jun 06 2025

Today's Bible Verse

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

Today's Bible study

In this verse, Paul writes to his acolyte Timothy. He thanks the Lord for letting him take part in the ministry, recalling his old life as a persecutor of the church. The Lord has enabled him—given him strength as another Scripture translation states—to do the work that He called Paul to do. Today, we'll consider how the Lord calls and equips people for His purposes.

If there was anyone who seemed unqualified as a Christian evangelist, it would be Paul. He was known throughout the realm as a persecutor and an executor of Christians; even when he was saved, other Christians were afraid of him. However, the Lord knew what He was doing with Paul. He gave him the right connections and avenues just when Paul needed them so that he would become the greatest missionary of his time.

The Lord met Paul right where he was. He did not expect Paul to become morally perfect before reaching out to Him; He called Paul first—and then He equipped him. The Lord gave him strength—intellectually, physically, and spiritually—to spread the Gospel throughout the nations. In this letter to Timothy, Paul remembers that it was the Lord who enabled him to do all that he did—it was not Paul himself. A stellar work ethic did not create Paul the Apostle; rather, a faithful devotion strengthened by the Lord Himself did.

Wherever God has called you, remember that you are not expected to be faithful in your own strength. It is the Lord who will empower you to accomplish His purposes. It is He who works miracles; our only business is to be faithful, right this moment. Ask the Lord to strengthen you, just as He strengthened Paul. He will be faithful to you and give you the strength to accomplish His purposes for your life.

Today's Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for giving me strength even in what seems like impossible circumstances. Thank you for being with me always; for holding me up when I cannot hold myself. Thank you for your goodness to me, and please help me to continue to lean on you always. In Jesus' name, amen.

Jun 05 2025

Yesterday's Bible Verse

Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.:

Yesterday's Bible study

In this verse, the psalmist asks the Lord to uphold him according to His Word—he wants the Lord to be faithful to the promises He has made. When the Lord has shown Himself faithful, the psalmist will not be ashamed of his hope; what he had hoped for will come to pass. Today, we'll look at what it means to call on the Lord and why we can hope in Him always.

The psalmist knows he needs the Lord to uphold him and sustain his life. He knows there is nothing that he can do to fix himself or change his situation; his hope is entirely in the Lord. Do you have a circumstance in your life that seems like it will never change, or where you feel helpless? When you think about it, you can begin to pray something like, uphold me according to your Word.

We can trust that the Lord will be true to the promises that are in His Word. No circumstance is too big for Him to show His power; nothing is impossible for Him. This means we don't have any reasons to be anxious or worry about what we are facing; instead, we can be in constant and confident communion with the Lord at all times. We can call out to Him, just as the psalmist did, and trust that He will satisfy us.

Finally, we can be assured that when our hope is based on God's Word, it will come to pass. We know that we have been set free from sin. We know that we will spend eternity with the Lord. We know that the Lord loves us deeply. We know that Jesus will return again for His people. All these promises are guarantees for our hope. They remind us that we will not be ashamed, but instead see His Word come to pass and be fulfilled.

Yesterday's Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for being my everlasting source of hope. There is none like you, and I love knowing you. Thank you for your goodness to me; thank you for peace that surpasses all understanding. Please help me to continue hoping in you, knowing that you are always faithful. In Jesus' name, amen.

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