7For the Spirit God gave us d...

7For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

8So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.

- P23

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, writes to Timothy, whom he calls his dearson. Paul remembers Timothy‘s sincere faith and urges him to fan into flamethe gift of God, which is in him. He reminds Timothy that the Spirit God gavebelievers gives them power, love, and self-discipline, and encourages him notto be ashamed of the testimony about the Lord. - P23

Paul writes with urgency and passion to his spiritual son, Timothy. Remembering Timothy’s tears from when they last saw each other, Paul reassures him that he is constantly praying for him and cannot wait to see him again because meeting with Timothy brings Paul joy. - P24

Although he is writing from prison, Paul’s conscience is clear; he knows that he has been a faithful servant of the Lord. He also recognizes the multi-generational blessing of sincere faith in Timothy’s family. - P24

May we value not only the good friends and mentors in our lives but also the long history of those who have been faithful as we ourselves partake in God’s story of redemption and do our part to serve the Lord. - P24

Paul reminds Timothy to passionately and boldly serve God, knowing thatthe Spirit has equipped him with power, love, and self-discipline. Paul urgesTimothy not to be ashamed of being a Christian or of being associatedwith him, who is imprisoned for preaching the gospel.  - P24

Rather than beingafraid of suffering, Timothy is exhorted to join in it with the confidencethat God‘s power is at work.  - P24

Sometimes, we forget that the same God whocalls us to serve Him also equips us with His power, love, and self-discipline.
- P24

When we feel timid or even ashamed of preaching the gospel, let us relyon the power of Christ and boldly and passionately use our gifts to live outour calling. - P24

Dear God, thank you for equipping me with Your power, love, and self-discipline. When I start to feel timid, reinvigorate me to boldly and unashamedly live out my calling as Your faithful servant. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen. - P24

16Then the survivors from all...

16Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.

17If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, they will have no rain.

- P152

20On that day holy to the Lord will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the Lord’s house will be like the sacred bowls in front of the altar.

21Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the Lord Almighty, and all who come to sacrifice will take some of the pots and cook in them. And on that day there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the Lord Almighty.

- P153

All the survivors of the nations that attacked Jerusalem will go up yearly toworship the King and celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. Those who do notwill not receive any rain. Everything in Jerusalem will be holy to the Lord. Therewill no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the Lord Almighty. - P153

Jews and Gentiles will worship the Lord together as the survivors from the nations go up to Jerusalem every year to participate in the Festival of Tabernacles. This festival celebrated the harvest season and commemorated God’s care for His people in the wilderness. The nations that have attacked God’s people are invited to receive the blessing of celebrating together with them. - P154

However, those who ignore God and do not participate will encounter a lack of rain as judgment, negatively impacting their harvests. God invites even former enemies to celebrate with His people, but those who do not miss out on not only God’s blessings but also relationship with the Lord. - P154

May we encourage all to celebrate God’s blessings, ascribing to Him the praise He deserves.
- P154

This passage describes a day when the distinction between the sacred andsecular are no more. Common items are inscribed with the phrase "holy tothe LORD," which was previously reserved only for the high priest‘s turban.
Every cooking pot in Jerusalem and Judah becomes like the consecratedbowls used on the altar of worship. The declaration about Canaanites alsoemphasizes the importance of holiness, referring to merchants who woulddo business in the temple, defiling its sanctity. With no such defilement, thehouse of God becomes a consecrated place once again.  - P154

May our hearts longfor that day, when all will be consecrated before the Lord and His peoplecan worship fully in His holy presence. - P154

Heavenly Father, my heart longs for the day when You will truly make all things new, and Your people can celebrate You continually. May my life today demonstrate that I live in true anticipation as I celebrate Your blessings and offer up my heart to You. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P155

Even more mind-boggling is the idea that we can experience eternal lifewithout sin. Koukl offers a helpful analogy: we can imagine a person whohas always been physically filthy and does not know the refreshment of ahot, soothing shower. We were similarly stained with sin since birth becauseof original sin. However, when we dwell forever with Christ, we will bewithout sin, and our hearts and minds will be perfectly renewed. Wow!
Although it may be hard to imagine, let us reflect on this promise. May thistruth resonate deeply within us and fill our hearts with longing and wonderabout our God who desires us to be eternally with Him. - P155

9The Lord will be king over t...

9The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name. - P148

The Lord will be king over the whole earth. There will be one Lord, and Hisname will be the only name. The land will become a plain, and Jerusalem willbe raised and inhabited, never again to be destroyed. Its enemies will suffera plague. Panic will cause them to turn on each other. Judah will collect thewealth of the nations, lobi - P149

From the beginning of time, there have been kings who vied for power, seeking the worship of man. Today, we are also surrounded by idols such as financial wealth, political power, and ever-changing technology that threaten to lord over our lives. Yet, one day, all will be exposed as utterly inadequate substitutes to the true Lord and King. - P150

All disputes will be settled, and all nations at peace as all recognize God as king over the whole earth. His name will be fully entrenched as the name above all names. Therefore, let us give to Him the worship that He is due each day. Let us surrender to Him anew, asking Him to be king over all areas of our lives including our hearts, values, and relationships.
- P150

Not only will God take His place as the one true Lord, but He will alsomake clear that we are His people. The whole land will be turned into a flatplain, but Jerusalem will be raised up, exalted in both place andpurpose.
- P150

God‘s people will remain as secure as the covenant that God has madewith us, signed by the blood of Jesus and sealed by the Holy Spirit. Mean-while, those that conspire against God‘s people will face judgment for theiractions.  - P150

We rest secure without any fear because we know that God is incontrol. We are in awe of His sovereignly orchestrated plan. May we liveheartily for Him, knowing our assured status as His blessed children. - P150

Dear Lord, You are the one true King. Help me to fight against the counterfeit gods in my life so that I may worship You alone. May I joyfully obey Your commands as I live in constant awe of the truth that I am a child of God. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen. - P151

1A day of the Lord is coming,...

1A day of the Lord is coming, Jerusalem, when your possessions will be plundered and divided up within your very walls.

2I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city.

3Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle.

4On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south.

- P144

5You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.

- P145

A day of the Lord is coming when He will gather all the nations against Jerusa-lem. The city will be captured, and half the population exiled. Then the Lordwill go out and fight. His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, splitting it intwo. A valley will form, by which the people will flee. - P145

The phrase, "day of the Lord," calls to mind God’s judgment against sinners, and indeed, Jerusalem will experience a horrific time as their possessions are plundered and divided up within the city itself. All will appear hopeless. Yet, God promises that He will arrive as a divine warrior who will strike down the nations that oppose Jerusalem. - P146

He Himself will go out and fight, and in His power, He will ensure a path for His remnant to escape. In our own lives, we face the consequences when we sin against Him, but God also calls us to repent and return to Him. - P146

We can be confident, knowing that His power is also imbued with love, and we can trust Him to guide us through the difficult times. - P146

These verses appear to foretell the new heaven and new earth while alsocalling to mind the beginning of creation. On a unique day that is knownonly to God, there will be no distinction between day and night, and theland will be teeming with living water - P146

. As God‘s people, we have a perfecteternal hope knowing that, one day, we will dwell forever in a land without
blemish.  - P146

Because of Jesus‘ death and resurrection, we know that we willdelight in the new Eden without end. Therefore, we can endure presentsuffering in this life as we eagerly await future glory. The hope of futureheaven empowers us to live faithfully in this present life. - P146

Dear God, when I ponder Your holiness, I shudder at how much I fall short. Then, I consider Your love, and my heart is overwhelmed by Your commitment to me. Help me to remain faithful to You both in the present and the future. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P147

1˝On that day a fountain will...

1"On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity. - P140

8In the whole land," declares the Lord, "two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one-third will be left in it.

9This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’"

- P141

A fountain will be opened to cleanse the people from sin and impurity. Idolsand false prophets will be removed from the land. A prophet will be woundedin his own home. The Lord‘s sword will strike the shepherd, and the sheep willbe scattered. A remnant will be refined and call on the Lord. - P141

After speaking about a man who will be pierced and killed, God promises to cleanse His people from their sins and impurity, and this is accomplished through the work of Jesus. God also promises to remove idols and false prophets from the land; they will no longer be remembered. This promise continues to be fulfilled for His people today. - P142

When we worship Christ and consider Him to be the ultimate source of truth, idols and false prophecies no longer hold their appeal. Promises of health, wealth, and personal glory can be tempting at times, but let us reject these false gods and refuse to remember them. - P142

Let us focus our worship on the true God who cleanses and purifies us. - P142

The passage continues to use the metaphor of shepherd and sheep. WhenGod‘s shepherd is struck down, the people will scatter. Most will abandonGod, but a smaller remnant will be refined and tested. They will call onthe Lord, and He will answer them. God will acknowledge them as Hispeople, and they will be committed to worshiping Him. Periods of testingand refinement can be a challenging and even painful process.  - P142

However,
like refined silver and gold, we become a purer version of ourselves. Let usnot resist this process but embrace the sanctification of becoming more likeJesus. May we remain faithful and endure with perseverance just as Jesusendured and persevered out of His faithfulness to us. - P142

We can respond to our spiritual uncleanliness just as we might respondto mold. We can ignore our habitual sins and let them grow. Or we cancover up our sins, pretending to ourselves and others that they do not exist.
However, just like mold, sin continues to grow in the darkness. We maytry to fix our sins by ourselves, but a wicked heart thrives under a lack ofaccountability. Let us instead seek what truly makes us clean by calling forhelp from our Savior Jesus Christ. With prayer, God‘s Word, and the helpof God‘s people, we can be restored to a healthy state once again. - P143

Dear Lord, You are the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for His sheep. Just as sheep respond to their shepherd’s voice, may I be attentive to You and follow You wherever You lead me. In Your name I pray, amen. - P143