May 1, 2026; 2 Timothy 2

Daily Dose of Hope May 1, 2026   Scripture: 2 Timothy 2   Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are Lord of all.  How often we forget that.  There are times we even put ourselves in your place.  Forgive us, Lord.  Help us to remember that you are God and we are not.  Help us simply live the way you have called us, serve the way you have called us, and love the way you have called us.  We know that we fall short over and over again.  We need you.  All the time, we need you.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We have been journeying through Paul's letters and we have made great progress.  We are now in our final pastoral letter, 2 Timothy.   Today's reading is 2 Timothy 2.  Besides the outside persecution that the church in Ephesus was experiencing, Paul also addresses another serious issue: in-fighting.  There were quarrels and fights within the Ephesian church, literally translated "word battles", that threatened to unravel the young church.  The church members were battling over doctrinal viewpoints and had formed factions.   Paul encourages Timothy to plead with the Ephesian believers to basically remember who and whose they are, to remember what was most important, and to explain how arguments within the church have the potential to damage the Kingdom.   How often have modern day churches been unraveled over word battles?  It's amazing to me how easily distracted we get.  We forget who we represent and get pulled into doctrinal arguments that really don't matter that much.  We read books, we listen to podcasts, and we think we know a lot.  Others think they know a lot too and we get pulled into debates that really aren't that important.  It's then that it's helpful to remember Paul's admonition in this chapter which is basically, "Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel." Succinct, clear, confident. And we remember again that the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is not a bunch of words or slick interpretations but is about resurrection—the powerful and loving act of God—remaking our world into the place he always intended it to be. We major in the minors as some people say.  Are you currently engaged in any word battles with other believers?  It's time to put them to rest.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki   May 6 – YHWH, The Self-Existent One – Ex 3:14-15, 6:2-3 • Ps 83:18 • Is 42:8 May 7 – Elohim – The Mighty Creator – Gen 1:1, 1:26-27 • Ps 90:2 • Ecc 12:14 May 8 – El Shaddai – Lord God Almighty – Gen 17:1-2, 28:3, 35:11, 43:14, 49:25 • Ps 91:1 May 11 – El Elyon – The Most High God – Gen 14:18-20 • Ps 7:17, 52:2, 78:35 • Dan 4 May 12 – El Olam – The Everlasting God – Gen 21:33 • Is 40:28, 26:4 • Jer 10:10 • Ps 90:1-2