Sunday, March 8, 2026
Scripture Readings
- Primary Reading: 2 Timothy 3-4
Key Verse
2 Timothy 4:3 — “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;”
Devotional Thought
Paul writes this last letter from a Roman dungeon, knowing his execution is near, and yet he does not spend his final words on himself. He spends them on Timothy, and on us. The charge is plain: “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season.” That is what this passage asks of a reader today — not merely to admire Paul’s courage from a safe distance, but to take up the same work in whatever place God has set us. We are not all evangelists, but we are all witnesses, and the season we live in looks very much like the one Paul described: men “lovers of their own selves,” “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” Paul does not tell Timothy to panic at this. He tells him to continue.
Notice how personal Paul’s instruction is. He names Jannes and Jambres, the magicians who withstood Moses; he names Demas, who “loved this present world” and left; he names Alexander the coppersmith who did him much evil; he names Luke, the only one still with him, and asks for Mark, once a failure, now “profitable for the ministry.” He asks for his cloke left at Troas, and “the books, but especially the parchments.” Even facing death, Paul wants warm clothing and the Scriptures. And he remembers the sick — “Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick” — a small, human detail that reminds us this is no abstract theology but a real man writing real letters in a real winter.
Then comes the summit: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” This is not boasting; it is the quiet testimony of a man who knows his departure is at hand. And it is not for him alone — “not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” That includes you, reading this on a Sunday in early March, with winter not quite gone and spring not quite come. The crown is laid up for all who love Christ’s appearing.
So Paul’s word to us is Timothy’s word: continue. Continue in the Scriptures you have known, which are “able to make thee wise unto salvation.” Continue in sound doctrine when others heap up teachers with itching ears. Continue when friends forsake, as they forsook Paul at his first answer — and take heart, for “the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me.” The same Lord stands with you.
Reflection
- Paul names Demas, who forsook him “having loved this present world.” What present-world love is quietly pulling your heart away from finishing your course?
- Paul asks for “the books, but especially the parchments” even at the end of his life. What place does the written Word hold in your daily habits — and would someone watching you know it?
Prayer
Lord, we thank Thee for Thy servant Paul, who finished his course and kept the faith even in a Roman prison. Grant us the same endurance in these perilous times, when so many have a form of godliness while denying its power. Keep us from loving this present world as Demas did. Make us instant in season and out of season, ready to preach Thy word with longsuffering and doctrine. When friends forsake us, stand with us and strengthen us, as Thou didst stand with him. Bring us at last to that crown of righteousness laid up for all who love Thy appearing, to the glory of Thy name. Amen.