Welcome to this week’s episode, a special rerun from our Speaking of Life archive. We hope you find its timeless message as meaningful today as it was when it was first shared.
Watch video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGvDBBS5Oz4
Program Transcript
Speaking of Life Script 4048 | Know Who You’re Talking With
Greg Williams
Have you ever been involved in a mistaken identity? Several years back when I was working for Youth for Christ, I was in Denver, Colorado for ministry training. Some younger staff friends and I went into a specialty shop to pick up a few personal items. The shop owner happened to be minding the cash register.
This shop owner was a tall lean, athletic, gentleman who was a bit older than me. I mentally flipped through my contacts and I came up with the name Alexander English who had played his National Basketball Association career with the Denver Nuggets. I inquired if he was Alex and he politely said no, I am Walter Davis. I begged his forgiveness.
This was a deja vu experience for me because I met Walter when I was high school age. My teammates and I attended a college exhibition game in Asheville, North Carolina when Walter was playing for the University of North Carolina. He did not play that day due to a high ankle sprain. He was sitting up in the bleachers by himself and when we spotted him, we went over and got his autograph and chatted for a while.
I reminded Walter about this occasion, and he remembered that day.
Knowing who you are talking with is important. Have you ever considered how true this is when we are engaging in prayer? Our prayers will be shaped by who we believe we are praying to. Jesus certainly wanted his disciples to know that when they pray, they are praying to his Father, and our Father. Jesus called him Abba Father, which indicates a deep and intimate relationship – an unbreakable bond Jesus shared with his Father. Before he taught them how to pray, he wanted to establish who they were praying to. The Psalms also engage in numerous reminders of who God is as it relates to praying. Listen to this link between prayer and the character and heart of the one they are praying to.
1 Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion,
and to you shall vows be performed.
2 O you who hear prayer,
to you shall all flesh come.
3 When iniquities prevail against me,
you atone for our transgressions.
4 Blessed is the one you choose and bring near,
to dwell in your courts!
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
the holiness of your temple!
5 By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness,
O God of our salvation,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas;
Psalm 65:1-5 (ESV)
The Psalm doesn’t end there. It goes another eight verses extolling who this God is who answers prayer. And there are many other Psalms that do the same. When it comes to prayer, the psalmists obviously see the importance of being reminded of the identity of who they are praying to.
What about you and me? We are told to pray unceasingly. Do we also seek unceasingly to know the Father who has been revealed in Jesus Christ? Do we call out to the one who hears our prayers, atones for our transgressions, and satisfies us with his goodness? Let’s pray that we do! It will make all the difference in prayer when we know who we’re talking with.
I’m Greg Williams, Speaking of Life.
Program Transcript
Speaking of Life Script 4048 | Know Who You’re Talking With
Greg Williams
Have you ever been involved in a mistaken identity? Several years back when I was working for Youth for Christ, I was in Denver, Colorado for ministry training. Some younger staff friends and I went into a specialty shop to pick up a few personal items. The shop owner happened to be minding the cash register.
This shop owner was a tall lean, athletic, gentleman who was a bit older than me. I mentally flipped through my contacts and I came up with the name Alexander English who had played his National Basketball Association career with the Denver Nuggets. I inquired if he was Alex and he politely said no, I am Walter Davis. I begged his forgiveness.
This was a deja vu experience for me because I met Walter when I was high school age. My teammates and I attended a college exhibition game in Asheville, North Carolina when Walter was playing for the University of North Carolina. He did not play that day due to a high ankle sprain. He was sitting up in the bleachers by himself and when we spotted him, we went over and got his autograph and chatted for a while.
I reminded Walter about this occasion, and he remembered that day.
Knowing who you are talking with is important. Have you ever considered how true this is when we are engaging in prayer? Our prayers will be shaped by who we believe we are praying to. Jesus certainly wanted his disciples to know that when they pray, they are praying to his Father, and our Father. Jesus called him Abba Father, which indicates a deep and intimate relationship – an unbreakable bond Jesus shared with his Father. Before he taught them how to pray, he wanted to establish who they were praying to. The Psalms also engage in numerous reminders of who God is as it relates to praying. Listen to this link between prayer and the character and heart of the one they are praying to.
1 Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion,
and to you shall vows be performed.
2 O you who hear prayer,
to you shall all flesh come.
3 When iniquities prevail against me,
you atone for our transgressions.
4 Blessed is the one you choose and bring near,
to dwell in your courts!
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
the holiness of your temple!
5 By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness,
O God of our salvation,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas;
Psalm 65:1-5 (ESV)
The Psalm doesn’t end there. It goes another eight verses extolling who this God is who answers prayer. And there are many other Psalms that do the same. When it comes to prayer, the psalmists obviously see the importance of being reminded of the identity of who they are praying to.
What about you and me? We are told to pray unceasingly. Do we also seek unceasingly to know the Father who has been revealed in Jesus Christ? Do we call out to the one who hears our prayers, atones for our transgressions, and satisfies us with his goodness? Let’s pray that we do! It will make all the difference in prayer when we know who we’re talking with.
I’m Greg Williams, Speaking of Life.
Psalm 65:1–13 • Joel 2:23–32 • 2 Timothy 4:6–8, 16–18 • Luke 18:9–14
This week’s theme is the Lord’s faithfulness to the end. In our call to worship psalm, the Lord is praised for his awesome deeds of deliverance and for being the hope of all the earth. The Old Testament reading presents Joel’s vision that highlights the Lord’s vindication and redemption of his people. Our reading from 2 Timothy reflects the Lord’s faithfulness in Paul’s final words and actions prior to his death. In the Gospel text in Luke, the theme of divine reversals is displayed in the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector. Those who trust in their own righteousness will not be exalted, but those who humble themselves before the Lord will.
Reminder: This introductory paragraph is intended to show how the four RCL selections for this week are connected and to assist the preacher prepare the sermon. It is not intended to be included in the sermon.
How to use this sermon resource.
Faith Under Fire
2 Timothy 4:6–8, 16–18 ESV
2 Timothy is a letter written during a daunting and dark time in Paul’s life and ministry. In fact, he is writing from prison as he awaits a second trial that will assuredly sentence him to death. With winter soon approaching, Paul writes to Timothy, who he addresses as his “beloved child” (2 Tim. 1:2). He wants Timothy to come to his side, as everyone but Luke has deserted him (2 Tim. 4:9–11). And this falls on top of the widespread defection of followers in Asia (2 Tim. 1:15) along with the continuing influence of false teachers stirring discord among the churches (2 Tim 2:16–18, 3:13). But in this letter of summons, he also offers Timothy something like a last will and testimony. Paul, in a way, is passing the baton, a passing that will take place during a season of desertion, defection, deception, discord, and ultimately death.
However, as you read through Paul’s letter, you will not see any note of despair. Rather, for Paul, suffering and hardships are to be expected for a follower of Christ. Through it all, it is the triumph of Christ over death that dominates Paul’s letter to Timothy. Paul wants Timothy to remain loyal, not only to himself, but to the gospel Paul is devoted to. He is charging Timothy to remain faithful by embracing the hardship and suffering that he too will experience. Although the letter is addressed to Timothy, it also addresses all followers of Christ, especially during those dark and daunting times. As we take up this short section of the letter, we can take note of how faith in Christ shapes our response in the face of suffering, hardships, and even death.
Let’s look at the first section given to us in today’s reading:
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:6–8 ESV
Notice Paul is being realistic — he believes his death is near. His focus is on God, the righteous judge. Considering God’s faithfulness and love toward us, there is nothing lost that we know the Lord won’t redeem. Paul describes his situation in light of this reality. Paul might be afraid; death is scary! By the power of the Spirit and the faith of Jesus, he trusts God. Despite his circumstances, he encourages Timothy and others — this is what mentors attempt to do.
Paul does not speak in terms of his life being taken, but rather he sees his life as being offered as a sacrifice, given in service of the gospel. No one took Jesus’ life from him; he freely laid it down. Paul speaks of “being poured out as a drink offering” and his “time of departure has come;” both reflect, in some measure, Jesus’ words about his own death. Paul’s life is hidden in Christ, who enables Paul to live as an image-bearer of Jesus. As we follow Christ, how we face suffering and hardship, will also begin to reflect our Lord. In each struggle, we are being increasingly conformed to look like our Lord and Savior.
In this transformation, we become the Lord’s witnesses to others. The way Paul speaks of his impending death conveys to Timothy that the Roman government is not the ultimate authority. They do not have the final word. Paul’s manner of facing death bears witness to the reality that no matter what any human authority, government, or empire does to Paul, Timothy, or us, we still belong to God. Timothy is being mentored further by Paul’s demonstration of his loyalty to the true King of kings and Lord of lords in the face of his own execution at the hands of the Roman Empire.
Our faithful devotion to the Lord during our times of trial can serve as some of our most powerful moments of witness and discipleship to others, especially those we are closest to. Timothy would not soon forget Paul’s faithfulness during this turbulent time. It served as an encouragement when he faced his own times of trial. May we remember the witness of other believers we have known who have also displayed trust in the face of dire circumstances. May it give us courage and strength to do likewise. And as we do, we too then become an example of hope for those further down the line.
Next Paul uses three images to sum up his journey of faith. Paul is not bragging in these statements. Rather he gives an honest evaluation of his journey with the Lord, while holding out for Timothy an example to follow.
Paul has “fought the good fight.” The first image is that of a struggle. Life involves struggle. We have Jesus’ own words to this effect in John 16:33 ESV: “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” However, as Paul points out, our fight is a “good fight.” The struggle is worth it; Jesus has overcome the world. It is the only conflict where we are guaranteed victory on account of Jesus’ victory on the cross. Evil has already been defeated. As believers, we are called to make witness of the one who has defeated evil and conquered death.
Notice that Paul did not say he “won the fight.” Fighting well means to participate in Jesus’ fight and victory. We are not waging a war on our own steam and power. It is a strength and courage given to us by the Spirit. We do not look back on our lives of faith and assess that we have now accomplished or achieved something on our own, apart from the Lord. It is only in trusting and receiving from the Lord that we can speak in terms of fighting “the good fight.” We must fight every day to trust the Lord again. Our battle is to receive from him, once again, the very life that only he can give. This is a constant struggle every believer will face.
The second image is that of running a race. Notice again that Paul does not say he has “won the race.” He has simply completed the race the Lord gave him to run. This also gives us a clue of how following Christ shapes our lives and our responses during difficult times. As a follower of Christ, we have direction. Our “race” is set before us. We do not have to go through life trying to figure out the course or direction to take. It’s a given. Our calling is simply to follow the course set before us. In short, Jesus is the “race” and “finish line” set before us. He is the direction we run regardless of any headwinds that may confront us. We know the finish line; therefore, we do not run aimlessly or in vain. This also means we know when we have strayed off course. The Christian race is a constant call to repentance. We must always change our direction back to the Lord when we find ourselves running down dead-end roads. Keep in mind these metaphors have everything to do with faith. The race we are called to finish is a course of trusting the Lord every step we take.
Again, like the fight, we are not called to “win” the race. That has already been done by Jesus. We are following in his “footsteps” by running the course he charted for us. In a way, our race is simply running the race that is now a victory lap. There is a finish line because Jesus has already declared that “It is finished” (John 19:30).
The third image Paul offers ties them all together. Paul says he has “kept the faith.” That’s the context of Paul’s journey with the Lord. This is the Christian’s true metric of success. Paul does not claim to have evangelized some preset numeric goal of converts. He is not saying that he has finally achieved some vision he had set forth for his ministry. In fact, numerically he is facing a major defection of many believers in Asia and I’m sure his vision was not to end up in prison awaiting execution. His goal has never changed. It is to remain faithful to the Lord. That is our calling as well. Jesus is not calling us to accomplish what he has already accomplished for us. He is calling us to follow him faithfully, trusting his lead no matter the course he gives us.
Let’s look at the three remaining verses:
At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 2 Timothy 4:16–18 ESV
As Paul makes the assertions that he has “fought the good fight,” “finished the race,” and “kept the faith,” he speaks in a way that reflects the goal of his calling. He is called to be faithful to the Lord who has proven to be faithful to him. He is called to be a follower of Christ, which will mean he is becoming more and more like his Savior. Notice how Paul relates the fact that no one came to his defense during his first trial; everyone deserted him. Does this not sound like the experience of Jesus during his own trial before the chief priests and scribes who sent him to Pontius Pilate to be sentenced to death? Paul travels the same road. His response of “May it not be charged against them” is similar to Jesus’ own words of “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Paul reflects Jesus in all that he says and does as his life and ministry nears the end. That is his perspective as he says, “the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.” He can face all desertions and defections knowing that the Lord is faithful to him. The Lord will see Paul to the finish line. Paul does not fear the loss of his life nor the end of his ministry. He knows both are in the Lord’s good hands. Reflecting on his first trial, he can say that he “was rescued from the lion’s mouth.” The lion metaphor is an allusion to the Emperor Nero and the empire. Now, facing a second trial that he seems assured will end with a death sentence, he is confident of the Lord’s rescue. He knows what really is at play is a rescue from “evil.” With this overall cosmic understanding of his situation, he can be at rest knowing that the Lord will “bring [him] safely into his heavenly kingdom.” There is no other kingdom worth dying for. Paul’s final words in this passage glorify God.
Paul’s last words not only encourage Timothy to remain faithful and continue his own fight and race of faith but serve to strengthen us as well during our times of intense challenges. We are reminded that evil has no final claim or standing. It is defeated and has no power over us that we don’t give it. Jesus is our finish line, and he is faithful to bring us into his kingdom. As we follow him daily, we trust that we will become more and more like Jesus in all we say and do. We are witnesses to others of the Lord and Savior, the only one worth our worship. Whatever challenges you may face, I pray Paul’s words to Timothy will speak to you in a way that builds your faith. Keep fighting, keep running, keep the faith. Amen!
Rev. Dr. Eun Strawser—Year C Proper 25
Listen to audio: https://cloud.gci.org/dl/GReverb/GR068-Strawser-YearC-Proper25.mp3
October 26, 2025 — Proper 25 in Ordinary Time
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 NRSVUE
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Program Transcript
Rev. Dr. Eun Strawser—Year C Proper 25
Anthony: Alright friends, we’re down to our last text. Time is flying by. It is 2 Timothy 4:6–8, 16–18. It is a Revised Common Lectionary passage for Proper 25 in Ordinary Time, October 26. Would you read it for us please?
Eun:
As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. 8 From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 16 At my first defense no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Anthony: Amen. “But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength.” Those are such good words. What would you say to Christians who want to declare with confidence like Paul did, “I fought the good fight.” Maybe they haven’t finished the race yet, but they’re running the race faithfully. What gives Paul the right to make such a bold claim?
Eun: Oh, I’m like crying in my little corner again, reading that passage. I actually think that it’s what Paul has been talking about all along. It’s that it’s because Jesus has already done that work. He’s already fought that fight. He’s already finished that race. And again, he is the one who is most faithful.
So, I feel like Paul’s bold claim isn’t really about him. His boldness and his confidence still rest in the fact that he can do all of these things and proclaim all these things about himself because he’s relied in utter, utter dependence on Jesus the Christ.
Anthony: Preach. Yes.
Eun: I think that, and I just love that the things that he talks about is he’s going receive this crown of righteousness and all these things, and it’s because all he did was long for Jesus, long to be in his presence, long for his appearing. I love that. That’s where the effort lies in. Do we like love Jesus that much?
When you think about a bold proclamation in today’s society that maybe humiliates us or makes us feel a little bit shy, but we still feel like it’s worth it to do it, it really always centers around love, doesn’t it? Romantic love and those silly stories and movies and things. So, we’re captivated by it because some, for some reason, it transforms people to do these things. And I love that at the end, Paul is proclaiming that he’s loved Jesus, that he’s loved God, that he’s longed for him all this time. And I think that’s where his boldness comes from.
Anthony: The scripture says, but the Lord stood by me and gave me strength. Verse 17. As a final word, Eun, how have you personally experienced the Lord standing by you and giving you strength in your own life? We’d love to hear from you.
Eun: Yeah, I think again, my new book You Were Never Meant to Lead Alone, a love letter to myself, and I say this, embarrassed, a little bit shy about it, but I wept so much having to recall the suffering and loneliness and pain points in this life, really, really trying to lead in ways and minister in ways where it felt like suffering so many times. And I know that my only strength really is because the Lord stood by me.
I remember when my husband and I had visited Jerusalem and we were in the garden of Gethsemane. And it was such a busy tour and things, but they gave us one little quiet moment to be able to sit and reflect. And I remember just sitting in that garden and crying out to God because it was right after experiencing such a depth of betrayal within the church context.
And I feel like Jesus said, “I understand what it means to be betrayed.” This is him telling me in the Garden of Gethsemane. And he said, “And yet, I still moved forward. I still said a “yes” to being crucified because there’s resurrection on the other side of it.” And I felt like only Jesus could call me forward that way because he’s experienced all of the suffering and so much in greater amount than I ever will.
And so, yeah. The Lord stood by me and gave me strength in my darkest of times, in times of betrayal, in times of loneliness, in times of failure, the mistakes. The Lord stood by me and gave me strength.
Anthony: And it seems that way to me, Eun. Thank you for sharing that story of your own experience.
The scripture time and time again takes us back to remembering, like, remember what the Lord has done for you. I’m thinking of Hagar in the desert when God meets her in her moment of just great distress and saves her, and she calls him El Roi, the God Who Sees. I think it’s so important that we remember, God sees us; he sees the pain; he understands. We have a high priest who understands.
And that’s just such a good word because anytime we’re standing up proclaiming the gospel in a church, there are people in the pews that are really, really hurting. And to be able to say … and I thank you for sharing your story, and I know you said it’s maybe hard to talk about, but I’m grateful for that because your strength that you receive from the Lord strengthens me.
And so, in that way, as I look back on my own life, I give thanks for the times that I was walking through the valley, the shadow of death, because it was in those times that I really sensed the Lord’s presence and his faithfulness and his strength. I give thanks for those times. I don’t want to go back. I don’t want to do it again, but I’m so thankful, and I think it’s just so important as part of our testimony, we share those things, don’t you, because I just think it strengthens the whole body. And so, we do that. And I just thank you for you sharing yours.
I’m grateful for you and I’ve told you this before, but you can be my pastor anytime. It’d be awesome. I’d love to move to Hawaii, but I don’t think that’s in the cards for me. But again, I’m just so grateful for you. And folks check out her books on Amazon, the two books that we’ve previously mentioned.
And I certainly want thank our team that helped make this podcast possible. Reuel Enerio, Elizabeth Mullins, and Michelle Hartman. So grateful to work with them. And, Eun, as is our tradition here on Gospel Reverb, we close with a word of prayer. So, thank you for being here and please pray for us.
Eun: I’d love to. Jesus, I just thank you that you see us. Thank you for being the God who takes the time, makes the effort, values seeing each and every one of us, and I pray that you would give us the courage and boldness and deep sense of joy and love to also see you. Would you make us seeing you be visible and public to those around us? Would our ability to long for your appearing, long for your presence, long to see you face to face be such a love that proclaims to the world around them an invitation to enter into this kind of relationship with you. Where it’s full of flourishing and mercy and grace and truth and beauty that none of us could really imagine fully. Thank you that you understand suffering, you understand betrayal, you understand all of our failures and unfaithful moments, and you remain to be the one who is faithful and is for us. It’s in your good name we pray. Amen.
Anthony: Amen.
Program Transcript
Rev. Dr. Eun Strawser—Year C Proper 25
Anthony: Alright friends, we’re down to our last text. Time is flying by. It is 2 Timothy 4:6–8, 16–18. It is a Revised Common Lectionary passage for Proper 25 in Ordinary Time, October 26. Would you read it for us please?
Eun:
As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. 8 From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 16 At my first defense no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Anthony: Amen. “But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength.” Those are such good words. What would you say to Christians who want to declare with confidence like Paul did, “I fought the good fight.” Maybe they haven’t finished the race yet, but they’re running the race faithfully. What gives Paul the right to make such a bold claim?
Eun: Oh, I’m like crying in my little corner again, reading that passage. I actually think that it’s what Paul has been talking about all along. It’s that it’s because Jesus has already done that work. He’s already fought that fight. He’s already finished that race. And again, he is the one who is most faithful.
So, I feel like Paul’s bold claim isn’t really about him. His boldness and his confidence still rest in the fact that he can do all of these things and proclaim all these things about himself because he’s relied in utter, utter dependence on Jesus the Christ.
Anthony: Preach. Yes.
Eun: I think that, and I just love that the things that he talks about is he’s going receive this crown of righteousness and all these things, and it’s because all he did was long for Jesus, long to be in his presence, long for his appearing. I love that. That’s where the effort lies in. Do we like love Jesus that much?
When you think about a bold proclamation in today’s society that maybe humiliates us or makes us feel a little bit shy, but we still feel like it’s worth it to do it, it really always centers around love, doesn’t it? Romantic love and those silly stories and movies and things. So, we’re captivated by it because some, for some reason, it transforms people to do these things. And I love that at the end, Paul is proclaiming that he’s loved Jesus, that he’s loved God, that he’s longed for him all this time. And I think that’s where his boldness comes from.
Anthony: The scripture says, but the Lord stood by me and gave me strength. Verse 17. As a final word, Eun, how have you personally experienced the Lord standing by you and giving you strength in your own life? We’d love to hear from you.
Eun: Yeah, I think again, my new book You Were Never Meant to Lead Alone, a love letter to myself, and I say this, embarrassed, a little bit shy about it, but I wept so much having to recall the suffering and loneliness and pain points in this life, really, really trying to lead in ways and minister in ways where it felt like suffering so many times. And I know that my only strength really is because the Lord stood by me.
I remember when my husband and I had visited Jerusalem and we were in the garden of Gethsemane. And it was such a busy tour and things, but they gave us one little quiet moment to be able to sit and reflect. And I remember just sitting in that garden and crying out to God because it was right after experiencing such a depth of betrayal within the church context.
And I feel like Jesus said, “I understand what it means to be betrayed.” This is him telling me in the Garden of Gethsemane. And he said, “And yet, I still moved forward. I still said a “yes” to being crucified because there’s resurrection on the other side of it.” And I felt like only Jesus could call me forward that way because he’s experienced all of the suffering and so much in greater amount than I ever will.
And so, yeah. The Lord stood by me and gave me strength in my darkest of times, in times of betrayal, in times of loneliness, in times of failure, the mistakes. The Lord stood by me and gave me strength.
Anthony: And it seems that way to me, Eun. Thank you for sharing that story of your own experience.
The scripture time and time again takes us back to remembering, like, remember what the Lord has done for you. I’m thinking of Hagar in the desert when God meets her in her moment of just great distress and saves her, and she calls him El Roi, the God Who Sees. I think it’s so important that we remember, God sees us; he sees the pain; he understands. We have a high priest who understands.
And that’s just such a good word because anytime we’re standing up proclaiming the gospel in a church, there are people in the pews that are really, really hurting. And to be able to say … and I thank you for sharing your story, and I know you said it’s maybe hard to talk about, but I’m grateful for that because your strength that you receive from the Lord strengthens me.
And so, in that way, as I look back on my own life, I give thanks for the times that I was walking through the valley, the shadow of death, because it was in those times that I really sensed the Lord’s presence and his faithfulness and his strength. I give thanks for those times. I don’t want to go back. I don’t want to do it again, but I’m so thankful, and I think it’s just so important as part of our testimony, we share those things, don’t you, because I just think it strengthens the whole body. And so, we do that. And I just thank you for you sharing yours.
I’m grateful for you and I’ve told you this before, but you can be my pastor anytime. It’d be awesome. I’d love to move to Hawaii, but I don’t think that’s in the cards for me. But again, I’m just so grateful for you. And folks check out her books on Amazon, the two books that we’ve previously mentioned.
And I certainly want thank our team that helped make this podcast possible. Reuel Enerio, Elizabeth Mullins, and Michelle Hartman. So grateful to work with them. And, Eun, as is our tradition here on Gospel Reverb, we close with a word of prayer. So, thank you for being here and please pray for us.
Eun: I’d love to. Jesus, I just thank you that you see us. Thank you for being the God who takes the time, makes the effort, values seeing each and every one of us, and I pray that you would give us the courage and boldness and deep sense of joy and love to also see you. Would you make us seeing you be visible and public to those around us? Would our ability to long for your appearing, long for your presence, long to see you face to face be such a love that proclaims to the world around them an invitation to enter into this kind of relationship with you. Where it’s full of flourishing and mercy and grace and truth and beauty that none of us could really imagine fully. Thank you that you understand suffering, you understand betrayal, you understand all of our failures and unfaithful moments, and you remain to be the one who is faithful and is for us. It’s in your good name we pray. Amen.
Anthony: Amen.
Small Group Discussion Questions
- Can you think of believers in your life who stood faithful like Paul during serious times of trial? How did their witness affect you?
- The sermon spoke of Paul not having a victim mentality. How does playing the victim in our circumstances undermine our faith in Christ?
- What stood out to you in Paul’s metaphor of fighting the good fight as it regards faith?
- What stood out to you in Paul’s race metaphor?
- How does our faithfulness in times of trial witness to others the faithfulness of Christ?
