Episodios

  • February 27th - 2 Timothy 1:12

    February 27th - 2 Timothy 1:12
    Feb 27 2026
    2 Timothy 1:12 I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return. Security is a big issue in our society. Billions of pounds are spent each year in an attempt to keep things safe. Nothing could make it clearer that, sadly, we live with a massive level of insecurity. I’ve only once lived in a house which had its own safe. It was so heavy that we never attempted to move it, but we were very grateful to have it because it was the best place to protect chocolate biscuits when our children were young! We didn’t have anything more valuable to put inside it, and I often imagined with glee the disappointment of anyone who tried to break into it with an oxy-acetylene torch. Paul knew there was no security issue more important than his salvation, and in today’s verse he celebrates God’s total reliability. God was able to keep Paul absolutely safe until Jesus returned or called him to himself. In a world that is full of insecurities, we all need to be sure that our salvation is secure. We can’t just sit back and let God get on with the job of guarding us. We have our part to play as well – two verses later, he tells Timothy to guard carefully the precious truth that has been entrusted to him through the power of the Holy Spirit. We can be confident of God’s ability to keep us safe, but we need to look after the treasure that has been given to us. It's clear from this verse that Paul’s security lay not in certain facts or doctrines but in knowing a person. He had a living and intimate relationship with Jesus and, because he knew what he was like, he could be absolutely confident about the future. I hope with all my heart that you also know Jesus as your Lord and Saviour and that, as a result, you are able to look to the future with complete confidence. Question Are you confident about God’s ability to keep you safe? Prayer Lord Jesus, I thank you that I am able to place my life and future entirely in your hands. Amen
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  • February 26th - 2 Timothy 1:9

    February 26th - 2 Timothy 1:9
    Feb 26 2026
    2 Timothy 1:9 God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time – to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. When Jesus met Saul on the road to Damascus, everything changed. He moved from darkness to light. He experienced the forgiveness of his sins and entered into a new life with God which would never end. His whole life changed direction and he became an enthusiastic champion of the Christian faith, encouraging everyone to discover this salvation for themselves. In this verse, he reminds his young friend Timothy that salvation is not the end of the process. God saves us for a purpose: so we will live a transformed life of holiness. Holiness is the kind of word from which we all naturally shrink. Like Isaiah, we are more than aware of how unholy we are and that our society is anything but holy. However, holiness is God’s intention for us because that is life at its best. Unholiness is like living with hard water. We seem to have spent much of our marriage in chalky areas, and chalk tends to fur up water pipes. It does it very slowly and gradually, but as time passes, the pipes get so clogged up that eventually water can no longer pass through them. If sin is like the chalky deposits which restrict the water flow, holiness is like having totally clear pipes. When we live holy lives, we are able to live life to the full. Seeking to be holy is the same as seeking to be fully alive. That’s why salvation is so important. God has saved us so that we can live a holy life. Paul often reminded his readers that salvation was a gift, and it’s vital that we remember that. Many things we possess are ours because we worked hard for them. Our educational and sporting achievements are always the result of our effort, and our possessions are often the reward for years of work. Salvation is different. It’s entirely a gift. However much effort we put into it, we cannot achieve salvation. All we can do is open our hands and receive the gift. That’s grace – amazing grace. Question How would you describe salvation to somebody who is not a committed Christian? Prayer Loving God, I thank you for the gift of salvation. I pray that you will teach me more each day how to live a holy life. Amen
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  • February 25th - 2 Timothy 1:8

    February 25th - 2 Timothy 1:8
    Feb 25 2026
    2 Timothy 1:8 Never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. This wasn’t the first time that Paul had spoken about the issue of shame. In his letter to the church in Rome, he declared boldly that he was not ashamed of the good news of Christ (Romans 1:16). Paul had been brought up in the strict disciplines of the Jewish faith. He was a Pharisee and had studied under the most respected rabbis of his day. He knew that there were many people who wanted him to feel thoroughly ashamed of his Christian convictions, which they saw as a terrible betrayal of his Jewish roots. On the contrary, he was so proud of his newfound faith that he was more than happy to boast about his salvation and his new life in Christ. He was the very opposite of ashamed! Paul knew, however, that there were many reasons why young Timothy might feel ashamed of telling others about the Lord. Indeed, shame can be an obstacle for all of us. We might hate to be seen as different, or a bit odd. We would rather fit in with the crowd and avoid other people’s sneers and jibes. Paul wanted to do everything he could to encourage Timothy to be bold and confident in his testimony and not to shrink back, however costly it might be. I fully recognise that the rise in religious tension and violence across the world in recent years has caused many people to feel apprehensive about sharing their Christian faith. However, I am quite sure that Paul would tell us to be bold and confident in our witness and to always speak with sensitivity and grace. Question How bold are you in sharing your Christian faith with others? Prayer Lord Jesus, forgive me for those times when I have not spoken about you for fear of what others might think. Help me to be more confident in speaking about you. Amen
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  • February 24th - 2 Timothy 1:7

    February 24th - 2 Timothy 1:7
    Feb 24 2026
    2 Timothy 1:7 God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline. The apostle Paul wanted his young friend Timothy to be the best. There was no question that Timothy was going to have to face enormous challenges. He would be continually confronting opponents to the Christian faith, and he would also have to face up to issues of church organisation and discipline. He had a tough job ahead of him, and Paul knew it was vital that he was neither fearful nor timid. From the references to Timothy in Paul’s first letter to him and in 1 Corinthians 16:10-11, we get the impression that he was quite a sensitive person and probably naturally inclined to be timid. Paul knew that this could be a terrible handicap in his leadership role. The fear of other people or of failure will always greatly restrict a leader’s effectiveness. God doesn’t want fearful and timid leaders but ones who are marked by his power and love and who show self-discipline. The power that a Christian leader needs is not the authoritarian power which orders people about but the gentle, gracious, servant-hearted power which keeps going in the face of overwhelming opposition. It’s the power to keep preaching and caring for people when everyone is unkind and unappreciative. It’s the power to keep loving whatever the circumstances because of the overwhelming love that God has shown us. Love is always at the heart of Christian ministry. Self-discipline or self-mastery would be crucial for Timothy. He needed to be totally in control of his energies and emotions in order to be effective for God. This might sound like something we are able to achieve by huge human effort, but Paul was clear that that never works. The Stoics of Paul’s day believed that they could transform their lives by sheer determination and effort, but Paul knew it to be a work of the Holy Spirit. Self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit which irresistibly grows in the person who allows the Holy Spirit to take control. Question In what specific ways do you need God’s power, love and self-discipline at the moment? Prayer Father God, I thank you that you have given me your Holy Spirit. Help me to allow him to transform every part of my life. Amen
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  • February 23rd - 2 Timothy 1:5-6

    February 23rd - 2 Timothy 1:5-6
    Feb 23 2026
    2 Timothy 1:5-6 “I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.” When I was a boy, one of the great pleasures of Saturday afternoons was that I would light a bonfire with my dad. I came to love the smell of bonfires, probably because it reminded me of those happy moments. The greatest pleasure of all was the process of getting the fire going. Sometimes we struggled, but then by fanning the flames carefully we would have the joy of seeing the fire take hold. Paul used this image to speak of his longing for Timothy’s faith to grow. It wasn’t enough that he had a godly grandmother and mother. He needed to have a strong faith himself, so the flames needed to be carefully fanned. Through the centuries, many people seem to have looked at Christianity as a club, as if all that matters is being a member because then you will have your ticket for heaven. However, the New Testament presents Christian faith as something very different. It depends upon a personal relationship with God. Because it’s a relationship, and no relationship can stand still, it is either getting stronger or weaker. That was very much the apostle Paul’s thinking. He was determined that his young friend Timothy should grow in faith, and that wasn’t going to happen without determination and careful planning. I wonder what you are doing to fan the flames of your faith. We all have a different relationship with God, so I can’t suggest only one way of achieving this, but here are some great ways of fanning the flames: spending time with God has to be number one. Setting aside time to read the Bible, to pray and to reflect is incredibly valuable. Give yourself enough space and time to listen to God. It is also important to spend time with other Christians. Worshipping with them is great, but so too is talking with them. When we go it alone, we can easily assume that we are the only ones with temptations and problems to face, but when we have an honest relationship with Christian brothers and sisters, we soon discover that we are all in it together. Question What are you going to do to fan the flames of your faith over the next month? Prayer Loving God, thank you that love me so much that you want my relationship with you to become stronger. Help me to take steps to make that happen. Amen
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  • February 22nd - 2 Timothy 1:3

    February 22nd - 2 Timothy 1:3
    Feb 22 2026
    2 Timothy 1:3 [The apostle Paul wrote:] “Timothy, I thank God for you – the God I serve with a clear conscience, just as my ancestors did. Night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.” Paul’s second letter to his young friend Timothy is deeply moving. Paul knew that he was close to death and was keen to do everything he could to encourage, strengthen and direct Timothy in his ministry. He knew it was absolutely vital that Timothy had a clear conscience. When we trudge through life with a guilty conscience, it is an oppressive burden to bear. I’m sure Paul’s colourful early life had left him with many sins and failures which weighed heavily on him, and it was out of relief that he could now declare, as a Christian, that he lived with a clear conscience. There is a delightful German proverb which runs: “A good conscience is a soft pillow.” We can sleep soundly when our conscience is clear. No wonder Paul was so keen that Timothy should share his experience of a clear conscience – he could then get on with his ministry without being dragged down by guilt and regret. George Washington, the first president of the USA, got to the heart of the matter when he wrote: “Labour to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, conscience.” The strength of Paul’s relationship with Timothy comes out in these opening sentences of the letter. He is longing to meet up again, recalling Timothy’s tears when they last said goodbye. Paul said that he would be full of joy when they could meet again, and he expressed his depth of relationship with Timothy in prayer. He said that he prayed for Timothy night and day. Prayer was not a formal and occasional activity but a continual stream of loving care and concern. He longed for the best for Timothy, and his prayers revealed his deep commitment to his young friend. Question What are the most effective ways to maintain a clear conscience? Prayer Lord God, help me to walk so closely to you that I will be able to serve you with a clear conscience. Amen
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  • February 21st - Psalm 98:7-9

    February 21st - Psalm 98:7-9
    Feb 21 2026
    Psalm 98:7-9 Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise! Let the earth and all living things join in. Let the rivers clap their hands in glee! Let the hills sing out their songs of joy before the LORD, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with fairness. When we think about praising God, we naturally think of people joining together in chapels, churches and cathedrals around the world every Sunday. It’s inspiring to think of millions of people every week sharing in acts of worship. However, the psalmist doesn’t want us to think that this is the sum total of worship, because he sees the whole of creation involved in praising God. Nothing is left out! Even the sea joins in praising God. The rivers clap their hands in glee! It is beautiful poetic language because he is straining to remind us that absolutely everything is bound to be part of the chorus of praise because God is so great. He wants to blast open every attempt that we make to limit the scale and importance of worship. In our praise, we often think about his greatness as creator and saviour. Here, the psalmist instead declares that this great outburst of praise to God happens because he is coming to be the world’s judge, and we can be certain that he will do his judging work with justice and fairness. There is a very deep craving in all of us for justice. It is always painful to see unfairness in the world. You don’t have to spend long reflecting on the life chances of children brought up in poverty, those who have been forced to flee their homeland or those who have been born in a war zone, to realise that we live in a world where justice and fairness are a distant dream for many people. When we join with creation in praising God we are worshipping a God who loves justice, so it is with excitement that we sing our hymns and songs. We acknowledge that he alone is the one who can set our world free. As we worship him, we are being actively recruited by the living God to work for the justice and fairness that he loves so much. Question In what ways is God calling you to work for justice in your community? Prayer Lord God, I am happy that I join with all creation in singing your praises. I thank you that you are a God of justice and ask you to show me how I can live justly today. Amen
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  • February 20th - Psalm 98:1

    February 20th - Psalm 98:1
    Feb 20 2026
    Psalm 98:1 Sing a new song to the LORD, for he has done wonderful deeds. His right hand has won a mighty victory; his holy arm has shown his saving power! I love the fact that God’s people through thousands of years have enjoyed singing. The psalmist had a very clear reason for encouraging people to sing: God’s salvation. Throughout his dealings with his people, he had shown them his ability to save, supremely when he led them out of slavery in Egypt. After 400 years in that land, God set them free in the most dramatic way. Nothing has changed. Salvation should spur us into singing today. Salvation never changes because God has always been in the business of setting people free from sin, guilt and lifelessness, but the way in which that salvation is experienced will be unique for every individual. I love hearing the testimonies of other Christians, and what always strikes me is that each is a one-off. God comes to us as individuals and meets us in the specific context of our lives, so there is endless variety to the ways in which we encounter him. As a consequence, we always need to be looking for new songs to sing to the Lord. There is nothing necessarily wrong with the old songs, but the creativity of God’s Spirit encourages every generation to look for new ways of addressing their praise to God. The ways in which churches sing to God these days varies enormously. There are some churches that only ever sing hymns led by an organ, and others that only ever sing songs that have been written during the last few years to the accompaniment of a band. We should embrace and enjoy every form of worship because the different styles of hymns and songs reflect the rich diversity of the Church and remind us of the need for every kind of person to celebrate the salvation which God generously offers to us. Question How important is singing in your Christian life? Prayer Lord God, I thank you that you have given me something to sing about. I praise you for your gift of salvation to me. Amen
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