Monday, June 23, 2025

New Testament Reading Plan: 2 Timothy 4

The promise in Romans 1:16-17 reminds us that God has the power to save and change us through his Gospel. Our hearts will sing as we center our lives on the Good News and have faith in God’s saving grace.

Romans 1:16-17
¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes - the Jew first and also the Gentile. ¹⁷ This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life."

I used to call the Bible my “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.” I approached it like a good friend giving me advice. I did my best to follow all the rules, but this legalistic approach was exhausting because it put all the burden on me. Yet the progressive approach had me running around fighting for social injustice, trying to reconcile traditional Christian beliefs with a contemporary lifestyle. Neither approach is necessarily bad, they just don’t focus on who Jesus is. Both rely on good behavior rather than living from the power of Jesus.

We don’t have to live from a place of selfish affirmations, unbridled ambitions, and spinning plates. And we don’t have to strive under our own strength; we can lean into his. In the name of God’s love, it’s time to say goodbye to counterfeit saviors!

We have a God who has a good plan, is all knowing, and all powerful. He is the Father who created us, on purpose, for a purpose. The Gospels remind us that Jesus meets us right where we are, but he never leaves us there. He has a transformative power like no other.

The “things of this life” will fail us, but we can look to the Gospel and remember who God is. He is faithful, merciful, loving, and powerful. He is near us always, giving us his Spirit to guide us and comfort us. The Gospel isn’t something that we outgrow, because we never stop needing who God is. It constantly transforms us through the power of his Spirit, living within us.

As you let go and trust God, you can rejoice in his Word. Your heart will open and the words will become a beautiful love letter written just for you. Once this happens, how can you not reveal this love to others? It simply cannot be contained!

Questions:
How can you live from God’s grace today? Who can you share the Gospel message with?

Next Steps:
Ask God where he may be calling you to transformation? Try looking into serving at your campus or one nearby. The South Toledo Campus is looking for DreamTeam members to add another service on Sundays!

Prayer:
Lord, you are holy indeed, more than I can even comprehend. You have made transformations in my life that I would never have imagined or hoped for. Your ways are better than my ways, and I thank you! Continue to lead and guide me as I live my life for you and lean into your strength. Lord, watch over my church, my community, and my family and invite me to join you there. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Series Theme Verse:

2 Corinthians 1:20
For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.

This post was written by Julie Estep, a Perrysburg attendee and regular contributor to the Daily LivingItOut.