In the Apostle Paul’s second letter to his spiritual son Timothy, he warns him that “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). To be united to Christ is not only to be united in His resurrection glory, but also to experience a taste of His sufferings which precede that glory. As our Lord taught His disciples, “A servant is not greater than his Master” (Jn. 15:20).
And so in the face of present and coming trials, Paul exhorts Timothy to “continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of…” namely, the Holy Scriptures, for they “are able to make you wise for salvation through faith” (2 Tim. 3:14–15).
This is not only true for Timothy, but for all believers. In a world filled with tribulations and troubles, our gracious God has not left us to our own devices, but has equipped us with His very Word as both our sword and shield.
But it is not enough to have His Word—we must pick it up and wield it. As J.C. Ryle once wrote,
“Happy is the man who possesses a Bible. Happier still is he who reads it. And happiest of all is he who not only reads it, but obeys it, and makes it the rule of his faith and practice.”
We must not neglect the very means that God has established to help us and our families persevere in our faith in this fallen world.
And so we invite all of you to join our broader church community this summer in reading through the New Testament together. Whether you love God’s Word and are already meditating upon daily, or if you barely read it and really need help in this area—pick up a reading plan, grab a friend, and turn to the Word in faith—trusting that the Lord will greatly bless it.
For as our Lord Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”