As I am writing this, the words of John Lennon’s “Don’t Let Me Down” from the Let It Be album are stuck in my head. And I think that they are there, mainly because I know that I will let people down, and I have, and I know I have recently. Yesterday, my day off, I was supposed to hang out with someone who wanted to get some “brother” time. I got caught up in my day of rest, I was not feeling well, and ended up laying on the couch. I went to bed at 9:30 last night, because my head was pounding that much. I didn’t live up to my end of things, and I’m sorry. And this doesn’t happen often but I know I am human, and I will let people down, as a husband, father, preacher and friend. I beg your forgiveness!
Yet in all of this, I know there is One who will never let me down. No matter what I am going through, Christ is still on His throne. Jesus is immovably seated at the right hand of the Father in all Power and Authority. I am not, in any way, perfect, but I serve a Christ who is. Loved ones, whether by intent or flaw, we cannot put our faith in humanity, but we can trust in Christ, who lived for us, died for us, rose again, and is seated in Power advocating for us! Put your trust where it belongs.
2 Timothy 2
You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The saying is trustworthy, for:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
If we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
for he cannot deny himself.
Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”
Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
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