“Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work” (2 Timothy 2:21).

Do a shift here and stop thinking in literal physical terms.  The Word is preparing us to understand something significant which is often not understood.  We, who are not clean, cannot clean ourselves.  We need that which is clean to be cleaned.  Without Christ it is hopeless.  Only by grace are we saved.  He has and will make us clean.  That is the promise of salvation.  The point goes farther in this text as the case is made to not give in to what we feel.  Our feelings can drive us to that which is dishonorable.  The Lord is bringing us to the place where we are always honorable.  Come then and live into the life you have been offered in grace.  Be guided by the goodness of the Lord and not by the fickle ways of this world.  Know that He gives eternal life.

Lord, I see around me so many who are working so hard.  Guide me Lord to not work so hard, but to trust You.  You give the words of everlasting life.  Lead me, Lord, in this way so that I may not try to clean myself on my own, but see that it is You alone who are able to do this.  Guide me Lord in the way of truth and help me to share this truth with others.  You alone have shown me what is true for You alone know.

Lord Jesus, Your name means salvation.  Lead me and keep me from the temptation of leading myself.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of living my life such that I would now and forever be guided by You.  Of course, I cannot make myself clean with filthy hands.  But You cleanse me so that I may help others come to You as I come to You.  In the truth You have revealed once for all, lead me to know that I am in You, now and forever.  Amen.

“Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable” (2 Timothy 2:20).

We each have those parts of who we are that are, in a word, honorable and dishonorable.  We each put on our pants one leg at a time.  Be whom the Lord made you to be, but never lose sight of the reality that You have been created in both His image and the same as those around you.  Kings and paupers are of the same substance  though life takes them along different paths.  Do not be led by anything other than the word of the Lord.

Lord, You know where I stumble and fall.  You know the places where I see myself as special when I am only ordinary.  You also know the times and places where I need to step up and out to use the gifts I have for the sake of those around me.  Guide me Lord to walk humbly with You, but boldly in the faith You have given me.  Guide me into all goodness for Your sake so that I may be faithful.

Jesus, God in the flesh, in walking humbly in our midst, You showed us how to live life.  You, who are the Author of life, walked as just another ordinary person.  In that example, help me to be both bold in faith and humble in demeanor.  Guide me, Lord, according to Your purposes, to do those things You would have me do as You grow in me Your likeness.  Help me to be faithful as You are faithful.  Amen.

“But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”  (2 Timothy 2:19)

The Lord knows you.  The Lord knows all of your days.  The Lord has provided all that you need.  Why do you worry?  It is because of your unbelief.  But He even knows this.  The love of the Lord is such that He will lead you through all doubts and difficulties such that you may be amongst those who overcome the obstacles of this age.  Know that His word and promises are true.

You have given me all that I need.  Your Spirit searches my heart and You know where I have my doubts.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth so that I may now and always live into the promise of faith that You have given me.  Guide me, Lord, so that I see in You the hope which is mine in Your promise.  The wicked one would have me doubt, but You give me every assurance.  Teach me to trust You.

Lord Jesus, You have come to fulfill the law.  In You is all hope, for where I doubt, You are faithful.  Where I fail, You have completed all that is required.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of truth so that now and always I may humbly abide in You and You in me.  In You is all hope, for You have already accomplished salvation for all who believe.  Guide me this day in the way of truth, O Lord.  Amen.

“Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some” (2 Timothy 2:17b-18).

Throughout history and in every generation are those who say this, that, and the other thing.  The wicked one wants the simple truth of the Gospel messed up so that folks don’t know what to believe and end up walking away thinking the truth is nonsense.  The Lord has told us that He is our Savior and that in and through Him we are saved.  The final day will come and then everyone will know the truth. Until then, simply trust in the word of the Lord.

Lord, let me know that, until You come again, I should live by faith.  With pride (the most devious of sins) we are convinced that we are special.  Lord, we are called to be in You.  That’s it.  Help me see through all the nonsense of this world, the tricks and twists that are presented, in order that I may understand the simplicity of the Gospel.  Guide me, Lord, in Your Word of truth now and forever.

Lord Jesus, You have given us the words of eternal life.  You have established our salvation, which is in You.  Help me look to You alone and grant that my spirit discerns quickly when another is speaking something other than the truth.  You alone are the Savior and You have come to save as many as believe.  Guide me, Lord, in Your goodness and mercy to stand firm, understanding that You have revealed the truth once for all.  Amen.

“But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene” (2 Timothy 2:2:16-17a).

The point of using decent and reverent language is to teach us reverence.  The wicked one would have us use irreverent language to teach us irreverence.  Words themselves are powerful.  We are to love our neighbor such that we do not say things that will cause them to stumble.  We are to be guided by putting on the best possible construction.  Do not participate in the spreading of what is ungodly.

Lord, You have come that we may have a new, clean, and upright heart.  You have come that we may learn from You how to be respectful and reverent.  Lead me, O Lord, in living the way of life such that I would now and always be guided by You.  In Your grace and mercy, continue to grow in me the goodness of Your presence and purpose in my life.  Lead me according to that goodness to become like You.

Lord Jesus, You have given me the words of everlasting life.  Let me not defile them with irreverent words that will cause me to not give the best possible foot forward in proclaiming that I am Your follower.  Lead me in Your goodness to see that in You is all hope and an eternal future.  Guide me in that goodness to learn piety and practice my faith both in public and in private.  Amen.

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

No matter the call you have in life, this is sage advice.  Live as one who serves the Lord where your actions are approved by Him: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”  Do not do things for sordid gain, but in order to grow in the likeness of Christ, for His glory, and the good of His kingdom.  You need never be ashamed of doing things the way the Lord would have you do them.  He is good and gracious and has already given you all the grace you need.

Lord, help me to realize that if I seek to please myself or other men I will never be satisfied.  Guide me in the way of goodness and mercy such that I may seek to please You alone.  Help me understand that in You is all hope and the future You have made my heart long for.  Guide me in Your love so that I may live into the hope You give, knowing that what I do is pleasing to You.

Lord Jesus, You taught us that You did nothing that was not directed by the Father.  Help me learn from You that I too would walk in the goodness You give and the mercy which is mine such that all I do is serving the Father.  Teach me how to do these things through the grace and mercy that You give.  Guide me now and always in the wisdom of being ethical and moral in all times and places.  Amen.

“Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers” (2 Timothy 2:14).

How many fight over small things that, although important to some, are not the essence of what Christ establishes in grace.  Come then and do not be quarrelsome as some are.  You win some, you lose some.  Only the Lord is always right.  Those who believe in Him are saved.  Trust the Lord and let the rest fall behind.  Do not be ruined, nor ruin your hearers, but walk in the light.

Lord, You know those things that do no good.  Help me, Lord, to live into the life of faith You have given me.  Guide me in Your goodness so that I would not bog down with less important things but live each day in the fullness of Your grace.  Help me to remember these things as I walk through the day.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy always.

Lord Jesus, You know how difficult it is to navigate in this wicked age.  There are many who lay traps and play word games.  Help me to be humble but alert and neither fall for the traps, nor lay them myself.  Teach me, Lord, to be gracious as You are gracious.  Teach me to see the traps of the modern scribes and pharisees.  Guide me to learn from You what it means to be always faithful.  Amen.

“If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful – for he cannot deny himself” (2 Timothy 2:11b-13).

Look carefully at what is being said.  It is all about relationship.  The Lord is calling us into Himself and we have great needs that only He can fulfill.  Walk then with the Lord and discover how good and gracious He is.  He will give us His faithfulness and teach us how to be like Him.  In Him is all life and through Him, He gives us that life.  Come then and rejoice as you walk with the Lord.

Lord, You know where I am, where I need to be, and where I do not endure and do not have faith.  Guide me, Lord, such that I would humbly walk with You always as You take away those things which are in the way.  Lead me, Lord, in faith and life and help me to always look to You as the One who will provide for all that needs to be done.  May I walk boldly in the truth of Your presence in my life.

Lord Jesus, help me so that no matter the circumstances, I would never deny You.  Guide me in the goodness of Your name and the power of the grace You have given me.  Through all things, lead me to not deny what You have shared with me, nor be unfaithful to the call You have given me.  Guide me this day and every day as I walk with You, dear Lord, in the truth of the salvation You have given me.  Amen.

“Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.  The saying is trustworthy” (2 Timothy 2:10-11a)

Endure for the sake of your brothers and sisters who have also been called in the grace of Christ.  Know that in Him there is hope and an eternal future.  The Lord has called you according to His purpose and in Him You will find all goodness and mercy.  The Lord is trustworthy and He will bring you to be with Him that where He is you may also be.  You have the promise; now live in the hope.

Lord, You have promised eternal life for those who believe.  Guide me, dear Lord, in the way of everlasting life.  Teach me all that I need to know.  In Your goodness, lead me to witness in my life the truth of the Gospel which You have given me.  Guide me to know that in You is all hope and an eternal future.  Through Your grace I can do all things as You strengthen me.

Lord Jesus, You have come so that all who believe might have new life and have it abundantly.  Lead me in the way of everlasting life in order that I would now and forever be guided by You and strengthened in the way You have established once for all.  Teach me the way I need to go, Lord, and then give me the strength to accomplish all that You have given me to do.  In You I see the abundance of life.  Lead me to incorporate the fruits of the Spirit into the life before me.  Amen.

“Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!”  (2 Timothy 2:8-9)

What we are doing here is not just some narrative of a storyteller.  If that were so, then why bother.  The message of the Gospel is the Good News of God given once for all.  Do not be deceived, nor let what God has given you be taken from you.  Live the life He has given you and walk in His way of faith hope and love.  What adversity comes our way will come.  Jesus told us that we will suffer for the Gospel.  But the Word of God will never be overcome, so live into the life which comes through the Word made flesh.

Dear Lord, You know how hard it is to live in this world.  There are so many obstacles that get in the way of our sanctification.  Lead me, Lord, according to Your goodness in order that I may humbly walk in the truth of Your Word.  Guide me, Lord, to persevere with suffering if that is required.  Let me never forget the hope You give, that because Christ lives, I too shall live.  Guide me in the fulness of the truth You have revealed and help me stand firm in faith.

Lord Jesus, because You died on the cross for us and were resurrected, help me know that the hope within me that You have given is blessed assurance of salvation.  Paul said that he would know one thing and that is You, and You crucified.  That and the truth that You have risen from the dead.  O Lord, the mystery is great, but the truth is before me, and You have placed it in me.  Help me live into that truth so that now and forever I would humbly walk with You.  Amen.