OUR DAILY BREAD : LOCKED IN

[cimi]

January 5
Tuesday


LOCKED IN

READ:
2 Timothy 2:1-10
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Jean-Dominique Bauby's memoir, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, describes his life after a massive stroke left him with a condition called "Locked-In Syndrome." Although he was almost completely paralyzed, Bauby was able to write his book by blinking his left eyelid. An aide would recite a coded alphabet, until Bauby blinked to choose the letter of a word he was dictating. The book required about 200,00 blinks to write. Bauby used the only physical ability left him to communicate with others.

In 2 Timothy we read of Paul experiencing a different kind of "locked-in syndrome." Under house arrest, the apostle learned that his execution might be imminent. With this in view, he told Timothy: "I suffer trouble...even to the point of chains; but the Word of God is not chained" (2 Tim. 2:9). In spite of his isolation, Paul welcomed visitors, wrote letters of encouragement, and rejoiced at the spread of God's Word.

For some of us, circumstances may have isolated us from others. Lying in a hospital bed, serving time in a prison, or being a shut-in can make us feel that we are experiencing our own "locked-in syndrome." If this is true for you, why not prayerfully reflect on some ways you can still reach out to others. __Dennis Fisher
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``````````````````Give me to serve in humble sphere,`````````````
```````````````````````I ask not aught beside!```````````````````
`````````````````````Content to fill a little place,``````````````````
`````````````````````If God be glorified. __Anon.````````````````
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No deed is to small when done for Christ.

*************Today's Bible Reading __ 2 Timothy 2:1-10***********

1 You therefore, my son,
be strong in the grace that
is in Christ Jesus. 2 and the
things that you have heard
from me among many
witnesses, commit these to
faithful men who will be
able to teach others also.

3 You therefore must
endure hardship as a good
soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No
one engaged in warfare
entangles himself with the
affairs of this life, that he
may please him who
enlisted him as a soldier.

5 And also if anyone
competes in athletics, he is
not crowned unless he
competes according to the
rules. 6 The hardworking
farmer must be first to
partake of the crops.

7 Consider what I say, and
may the Lord give you
understanding in all things.

8 Remember that Jesus
Christ, of the seed of David,
was raised from the dead
according to my gospel,

9 for which I suffer trouble
as an evildoer, even to the
point of chains; but the
word of God is not chained.

10 Therefore I endure all
things for the sake of the
elect, that they also may
obtain the salvation which
is in Christ Jesus with
eternal glory.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

As Paul instructs young Timothy, he uses three word pictures to
describe aspects of ministry. The soldier (vv.3-4) must have singular
focus and strong commitment. The athlete (v.5) must be disciplined
and compete within the rules. The farmer (v.6) works hard and
enjoys the fruit of his labor. Each of these word pictures helps to
define Timothy's spiritual service so that, like the soldier, he could
please Christ--the One who had enlisted him to serve (v.4).
__BILL CROWDER

[Lani]

No deed is to small when done for Christ.

So True!!!!!!!!!

It doesn't matter waht we do, it matters that we beleived in Him enought to attempt it in teh first place!

Awesome!!


Peace and Luv in Christ,
Lani