Posted on by missionspaul

The final words – His presence.

It is always about His presence.

Life can be lived differently to what the world offers. It can be lived in the truth that God is with us. When we know this then we are anchored in something unshakeable.

“The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.” (2 Timothy 4 v 22)

So what can these final words say to us today?

Our greatest need isn’t for God to change our circumstances or to use us in a situation. Paul knows the deepest need is for God to be present in our very essence. Echoing Jesus’ final words of ‘I will be with you’ Paul’s thoughts are on the presence of the Lord in our lives as being of the most importance. If Timothy is going to make it as a leader in difficult circumstances then the one thing Paul prays for him is the only thing that matters and that is the Lord.

The only thing that matters for your life today is knowing that He is with you.

But then see a slight shift in these last words. Paul knows that Timothy will be reading this letter to the Church. “Grace be with you all.” Paul’s desire is for everyone, Timothy, the leader, the mature and the immature, the faith-filled and the doubter, those marching as saints and those who are hobbling away from sin, to know the unmerited favour of the Lord, grace.

Paul’s final words weren’t just a sign-off. They were visionary words of how life can be lived. With the presence of the Lord then we’re anchored in something unshakeable. When grace surrounds our communities then we can extend to others what we’ve received.

So the last words of 2 Timothy aren’t really an ending. They’re a beginning, an invitation to live blessed and to be a blessing, to experience the Lord’s presence personally and to extend grace to all.

And with that – the New Testament devotions are finished. Every verse written about. Yet I know I’ve only skimmed the service of the treasure that is here in the gospels and the first-century church. I will return often. But now I turn to the Old Testament. Thank you for staying with me. I write for my own soul knowing there are others, like you, reading also. Knowing I am encouraging you in some way is the greatest gift I receive in return.

8 Replies to “The final words – His presence.”

  1. Paul, your words have been enriching, challenging, encouraging, insightful, and yet also strangely in step with my daily experiences (especially the last one). So I say this with particular focus on that aspect, thank you for allowing us walk with you on your epic journey! Richard

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  2. Hi Paul,

    Thank you so much for taking us through the gospels and enlightening us on Paul’s teachings. What a feast we have had. Really looking forward to a dive into the Old Testament with you.

    Thank you for your faithful commitment to sharing The Word of God.I must confess to using your insights on many occasions with my little Bible Group and it has blessed them too. I think of them as ‘wheat words’ which when harvested, feed many!

    We hope you have rested well after your collapse and pray that you will be given extra strength for what is ahead, not forgetting an extra little person in the Hudson.

    Richard sends his love,

    Love Annie x

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