Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder

Here are some of the 2nd best things about 2nd Timothy

• 2:21 we are supposed to be USEFUL to the master
• 2:24 kind, gentle, patient people bear more influence than grouches
• 3:12 Longanimity is the patient disposition to being persecuted. It is hunting season and Christians are on the menu
• 3:17 We have the BREATH OF GOD and it is to our advantage and benefit
• 4:1 the Bible is sometimes hard. The only thing worse than HAVING the Word of God is NOT HAVING the word of God. Sometimes, I don't like the Bible.
• 4:7 Finish the Race. Fight until you finish. 
• 4:17 The way to have God stand with you at the end is to stand with Him BEFORE the end. At the end the Lord stood by and strengthened Paul.
• 4:18 The Lord is in the rescue business. He brings safely through
• 4:21 come before winter. Honor those in their winter. Be one who comes to their winter.

This is the 2nd Timothy HIGHLIGHT show. 

Join me as we remember the flames, the tears and the bazookas. Let's follow the patterns and people and spiritual progeny in this book. Ask with me, "where are your men?" and hear the call, "You can do BETTER."

Learn about the God that KNOWS THOSE WHO ARE HIS.

Thanks for bewithme.us and Subscribing on your favorite podcast provider. Lord willing, I'll be here tomorrow for Part two of the Best.

Paul closes his letter to Timothy with one of the most evocative, poignant pleas in Biblical literature:  COME BEFORE WINTER. It is literal, and yes, bring my warm cloak. It is also metaphorical: Paul's life is near its' end.  He had run most of his race and little time is left. Join me soon because the time is short.

The winter of Paul's life is full of wonderful faithful people.  He goes to great care to attach those bonds of greetings to Timothy's life. 

Let's honor those in the winter of their life and ministry.  Let's join them soon.  Let's COME BEFORE WINTER.

bewithme.us to subscribe before winter. Apple Podcasts before it is winter. 

Paul is soon to be executed by Nero of the Romans. Meantime, he's imprisoned, cold, abandoned and lonely. Yet he says the Lord will RESCUE him and bring him SAFELY THROUGH.

We do not understand the TIMING of the Lord's rescue.  Apparently, the truth of the rescue applies even after the execution.

We do not understand the MECHANICS of the Lord's rescue. Who can pretend to describe HOW the Lord gives grace; or puts sins behind His back; or how He deals with forces of evil?

We understand ENOUGH: The Lord Rescues. The Lord brings SAFELY THROUGH. 

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The way to have God stand with you at the end is to stand with Him BEFORE the end.
The way to have God stand with you at the end is to stand FOR Him BEFORE the end.

Paul is nearing his very real end. In recollection, lots of bad stuff has happened. Though he found himself "alone" at one of his Roman trials, he recounts, "but the Lord STOOD BY ME and STRENGTHENED me." 

Let's get ready for difficulty ahead; for difficult days ahead.  Let's not really end up alone when superficially we are alone in some challenge. May the good Lord STAND BY YOU and STRENGTHEN you when you need it. Stand with Him by subscribing bewithme.us or write [email protected]

Paul directs Timothy to get three things and bring them to Rome.  You gotta love the reality of what prison in a foreign country was like.  You can't make this stuff up.

1. Bring me my cloak. My PARKA because of real PHYSICAL needs.
2. Bring me my Bible. My PARCHMENTS because of real SPIRITUAL needs.
3. Bring me John/Mark. My PERSON because of real RELATIONAL needs.

It is about a 1000 mile trip to get this stuff to him. Before I receive a "crown of righteousness," I need my COAT.  I love the Bible's detail.

To hear more tomorrow and each morning, subscribe by visiting bewithme.us or email me or get it on Any podcast provider that you favor.

The nice title is Loving His Appearing. The real descriptive title is: Crowning KNUCKLEHEADS with Righteousness.

God is in the Righteousness-Giving business. He's been at it since Abraham was credited with it by faith. It means to be put into right relationship with God. Only God can do this. It is what He came to do: give righteousness. We should LOVE THIS ABOUT GOD. We should "love His appearing."

Of note, Paul and all who love this about His appearing are going to (again) admire that God is giving crowns of righteousness in heaven.  Those who love that God is now bringing Righteousness to Knuckleheads is also crowning knuckleheads with righteousness in heaven.  bewithme.us Apple Podcasts google podcasts 

You are as close to your finish as you have ever been. And, tomorrow you will be even closer to your finish.

Paul shows Timothy how to respond to the above reality:  KEEP FIGHTING. FIGHT THE RIGHT FIGHT. FIGHT UNTIL YOU FINISH. Paul is near his execution. Essentially, he says, "you will never see me again..." The next thing he says we would do well to listen to: FINISH WELL. FINISH LIKE ME. FIGHT TO THE FINISH.

Join me for 7 minutes into a glimpse of a ministry goodbye. If today is not your finish or mine, come back tomorrow at Bewithme.us.

"The only thing worse than having the Word of God is not having the Word of God." MJS©️2023. Just kidding. There is a lot to NOT like in the Bible though: Paul charges Timothy. There is a judge. The teaching is often not suited to my passions. He's the Boss. I am not.

We all have an appetite for teaching that suits us. Better is teaching sourced in Him; sound teaching; Truth with a capital T. Join me today as we put ourselves in front of this Word from heaven.  It is for our benefit and is profitable for everyone who applies it. That is probably worth 7 minutes of your day. Bewithme.us. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts for another 7 minutes tomorrow if He grants us each another one.

Why AVAIL, Access, and Apply the Bible in our lives? 

It claims to be of advantage, help and benefit.  It claims to make the applier of its' truths competent, complete and proficient.  It claims to bring to an end and have fruit. I think I want all those things.

But hold on, there is some reproof along the way: that's the "NO! Stop doing this. You can do better" that a loving parent would say to a child.  Then there is the correction: "OK, now start doing THIS. Go this way."

Christians who put themselves along this path in my view are the BRAVEST, for it is a difficult way. They are also the most advantaged, most benefitted, complete, competent and fruitful.  Worth it. 

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