Day 71 of My 6th Bible Study Journey Part 4
2) Our Daily Bread for 12 March 2026 titled The Cost
of Commitment by Xochitl Dixon
2 Timothy 1:6-14
6 (1Ti 4:14; 1Th 5:19) Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God,
which is in you by the laying on of my hands.
7 (Ro 8:15; Ac 1:8) For God has not given us the spirit of fear,
but of power, and love, and self-control.
8 (Mk 8:38; Eph 3:1) So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord,
nor of me, His prisoner. But share in the sufferings of the gospel
by the power of God,
9 (Ro 16:25; Titus 1:2) who has saved us and called us with a holy calling,
not by our works, but by His own purpose and grace, which was given us
in Christ Jesus before the world began,
10 (Ro 2:7; 16:26) but is now revealed by the appearing of our Saviour,
Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and has brought life
and immortality to light through the gospel,
11 (1Ti 2:7) for which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle,
and a teacher of the Gentiles.
12 (2Ti 1:8; 1Ti 6:20; 1Pe 4:19) For these things I suffer, but I am not
ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is
able to keep that which I have committed to Him until that Day.
13 (1Ti 1:14; Titus 1:9) Follow the pattern of sound teaching
which you have heard from me in the faith and love that is in Christ Jesus.
14 (Ro 8:9; 1Ti 6:20) Guard the treasure that was committed to you through
the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
[6] Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God,
which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
[7] For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love,
and of a sound mind.
[8] Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me
his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel
according to the power of God;
[9] Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to
our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in
Christ Jesus before the world began,
[10] But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ,
who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light
through the gospel:
[11] Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of
the Gentiles.
[12] For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not
ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able
to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
[13] Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in
faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
[14] That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost
which dwelleth in us.
A group of twenty-two Christian leaders traveled half a day to secretly meet
and learn from a pastor who came from another country. If caught, the pastor
would be deported, and the others would spend three years in prison. Eighteen
of the twenty-two had already been imprisoned for their faith in Jesus.
After the pastor handed out fifteen Bibles he'd brought with him, one woman
gave hers to someone else. Like many others, she'd memorised chapters
of Scripture so she would have its wisdom secured in her heart if she were to
go to prison. She later asked the pastor to pray that their church would be
free to gather just like his. Instead, marveling at how they sacrificed,
suffered persecution, and risked imprisonment, he prayed that his church
would be just like theirs.
Believers around the world are persecuted for their faith in Christ, some more
severely than others. And all believers can be tempted to cower when the
stakes of living for Christ are raised. But the Holy Spirit enables us to use
our God-given gifts with "power, love and self-discipline" (2 Timothy 1:7).
God will help us share the gospel with boldness and compassion, wherever He
leads. Because of all He did for us (vv. 9-10), we can embrace the sacrificial
cost of commitment to Christ and preserve "sound teaching, with faith and love
in Christ Jesus" (v. 13).
Reflect & Pray
How have you sacrificed to seek and share Jesus?
Who will you share the gospel with today?
Mighty God, please deepen my commitment to
know You and boldly share You with others.
For further study, read The Power of Prayer in Sharing the Gospel.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 2 - Saved by Grace - Day 5 - Starting Over
2 Cor 5:17
17 (Jn 3:3; Ro 16:7) Therefore, if any man is in Christ,
he is a new creature. Old things have passed away.
Look, all things have become new.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:
old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
"The trouble with turning over a new leaf," Gordon sighed,
"is that once you've done it twice, you're right back where
you started." Gordon, in his mid-fifties, had his job
"canceled" by a company wanting to cut back on retirement payments.
Out of work, with few prospects, he said wistfully,
"I wish I had the chance to start over again."
Many of us would echo Gordon's sentiments. Whether we have lost a job,
gone through a divorce, moved to another part of the country, or
experienced some lesser crisis, we often long for the chance to
begin again, fresh, without the shadow of past mistakes following us.
God's word offers just such an opportunity. Anyone who is in Christ,
Paul says in 2 Cor 5:17, is a "new creation". For the Christian, the past
is truly past - "all things are become new". In the forgiveness
and restoration of God's grace we can leave the past behind,
with all its mistakes, and enter into new life.
And the promise is not just for the newly saved. Those of us who
have been Christians for years need to hear the truth of 2 Cor 5:17 again,
for we accumulated some "new mistakes" since we came to Christ. Anyone who
is in Christ is a new creation; the freedom of forgiveness, of
"starting over" is available to all who call upon the name of the Lord.
We cannot every really "start over" simply by establishing New Year's
resolutions or turning over a new leaf. Only God gives us that opportunity;
his grace allows us to clear away the rubble of the past and begin again.
Everything becomes new in God's loving forgiveness.
Application
a) What "resolutions" have I made in an attempt to "start over"
in some area of struggle or failure in my life? Did my resolutions work?
b) What does 2 Cor 5:17 mean for me at this point in my Christian Life?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Deut 29:9
9 (Dt 4:6; Jos 1:7)Therefore, keep the words of this covenant
and do them, so that you may prosper in all you do.
9 Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them,
that ye may prosper in all that ye do.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are ill or injured
Psalm 103:1-5
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits,
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) who forgives all your iniquities,
who heals all your diseases,
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) who satisfies your mouth with good things,
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: And all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities;
Who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction;
Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things;
So that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
of Commitment by Xochitl Dixon
2 Timothy 1:6-14
6 (1Ti 4:14; 1Th 5:19) Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God,
which is in you by the laying on of my hands.
7 (Ro 8:15; Ac 1:8) For God has not given us the spirit of fear,
but of power, and love, and self-control.
8 (Mk 8:38; Eph 3:1) So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord,
nor of me, His prisoner. But share in the sufferings of the gospel
by the power of God,
9 (Ro 16:25; Titus 1:2) who has saved us and called us with a holy calling,
not by our works, but by His own purpose and grace, which was given us
in Christ Jesus before the world began,
10 (Ro 2:7; 16:26) but is now revealed by the appearing of our Saviour,
Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and has brought life
and immortality to light through the gospel,
11 (1Ti 2:7) for which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle,
and a teacher of the Gentiles.
12 (2Ti 1:8; 1Ti 6:20; 1Pe 4:19) For these things I suffer, but I am not
ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is
able to keep that which I have committed to Him until that Day.
13 (1Ti 1:14; Titus 1:9) Follow the pattern of sound teaching
which you have heard from me in the faith and love that is in Christ Jesus.
14 (Ro 8:9; 1Ti 6:20) Guard the treasure that was committed to you through
the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
[6] Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God,
which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
[7] For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love,
and of a sound mind.
[8] Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me
his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel
according to the power of God;
[9] Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to
our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in
Christ Jesus before the world began,
[10] But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ,
who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light
through the gospel:
[11] Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of
the Gentiles.
[12] For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not
ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able
to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
[13] Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in
faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
[14] That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost
which dwelleth in us.
A group of twenty-two Christian leaders traveled half a day to secretly meet
and learn from a pastor who came from another country. If caught, the pastor
would be deported, and the others would spend three years in prison. Eighteen
of the twenty-two had already been imprisoned for their faith in Jesus.
After the pastor handed out fifteen Bibles he'd brought with him, one woman
gave hers to someone else. Like many others, she'd memorised chapters
of Scripture so she would have its wisdom secured in her heart if she were to
go to prison. She later asked the pastor to pray that their church would be
free to gather just like his. Instead, marveling at how they sacrificed,
suffered persecution, and risked imprisonment, he prayed that his church
would be just like theirs.
Believers around the world are persecuted for their faith in Christ, some more
severely than others. And all believers can be tempted to cower when the
stakes of living for Christ are raised. But the Holy Spirit enables us to use
our God-given gifts with "power, love and self-discipline" (2 Timothy 1:7).
God will help us share the gospel with boldness and compassion, wherever He
leads. Because of all He did for us (vv. 9-10), we can embrace the sacrificial
cost of commitment to Christ and preserve "sound teaching, with faith and love
in Christ Jesus" (v. 13).
Reflect & Pray
How have you sacrificed to seek and share Jesus?
Who will you share the gospel with today?
Mighty God, please deepen my commitment to
know You and boldly share You with others.
For further study, read The Power of Prayer in Sharing the Gospel.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 2 - Saved by Grace - Day 5 - Starting Over
2 Cor 5:17
17 (Jn 3:3; Ro 16:7) Therefore, if any man is in Christ,
he is a new creature. Old things have passed away.
Look, all things have become new.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:
old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
"The trouble with turning over a new leaf," Gordon sighed,
"is that once you've done it twice, you're right back where
you started." Gordon, in his mid-fifties, had his job
"canceled" by a company wanting to cut back on retirement payments.
Out of work, with few prospects, he said wistfully,
"I wish I had the chance to start over again."
Many of us would echo Gordon's sentiments. Whether we have lost a job,
gone through a divorce, moved to another part of the country, or
experienced some lesser crisis, we often long for the chance to
begin again, fresh, without the shadow of past mistakes following us.
God's word offers just such an opportunity. Anyone who is in Christ,
Paul says in 2 Cor 5:17, is a "new creation". For the Christian, the past
is truly past - "all things are become new". In the forgiveness
and restoration of God's grace we can leave the past behind,
with all its mistakes, and enter into new life.
And the promise is not just for the newly saved. Those of us who
have been Christians for years need to hear the truth of 2 Cor 5:17 again,
for we accumulated some "new mistakes" since we came to Christ. Anyone who
is in Christ is a new creation; the freedom of forgiveness, of
"starting over" is available to all who call upon the name of the Lord.
We cannot every really "start over" simply by establishing New Year's
resolutions or turning over a new leaf. Only God gives us that opportunity;
his grace allows us to clear away the rubble of the past and begin again.
Everything becomes new in God's loving forgiveness.
Application
a) What "resolutions" have I made in an attempt to "start over"
in some area of struggle or failure in my life? Did my resolutions work?
b) What does 2 Cor 5:17 mean for me at this point in my Christian Life?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Deut 29:9
9 (Dt 4:6; Jos 1:7)Therefore, keep the words of this covenant
and do them, so that you may prosper in all you do.
9 Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them,
that ye may prosper in all that ye do.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are ill or injured
Psalm 103:1-5
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits,
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) who forgives all your iniquities,
who heals all your diseases,
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) who satisfies your mouth with good things,
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: And all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities;
Who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction;
Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things;
So that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.