A Living Loyalty : We Belong to Each Other, By His Shared DNA

Paul was really hurting, and he knew Timothy was hurting too. So, he wrote Timothy a second letter.

Before we read it, I thought I’d give you something to listen for.

Do you know what it means to be loyal? It means to stick by or stand up for someone or something. But there are different kinds of loyalty.

A dog is “loyal” to its owner—because the owner gives it food and companionship.

People can be loyal to other people because “they helped me or stood up for me, so I need to stand up for them.”

A fan is “loyal” to his or her favorite sports team because when your emotions are all wrapped up in something... you tend to “stick by it.” “This is my state. This is my school. So, this is my team.”

People might be “loyal” to rules or principles or science because they think “Well, this is the fact” or “This is the right thing to do.”

So people decide to stick by someone or something because this is my school, my team, my family, my state, my friend, my people, my belief, or “the facts.” But all those types of loyalty are based on decisions or emotions.

But Loyalty to Christ, to the Anointed One and His Anointed Family is way more than that. This loyalty is not based on a mere decision of “I will stick by God or His Family because I ‘should.’”

Loyalty in Christ is ALIVE! It is loyalty to His unseen DNA. Those who give up this temporary world for His forever world become sharers in His DNA.

And in some of our pictures our DNA drawings may have an end to our little strand, but in the REAL and Unseen world it’s not like Jesus cuts a little strand of DNA to give to each person in the Family. Oh, no, no, no. His Strand is never cut.

It is one long glorious shared strand binding us together. So those who belong to Christ with His DNA, don’t just “decide to stick together because it is the right thing to do...” But we stand together, connected in the unseen world, because those who belong to Christ, belong to each other, and to Heaven.

So, listen for that as we read some of Paul’s letter to Timothy.

“Timothy, my dear child, I remember you as I pray day and night. I think of your tears and I long to see you. I remember your grandmother’s faith, and your mother’s faith, and I know that faith lives in you. So, STIR UP the fire that’s within! God didn’t give us a spirit of fear or shyness, but a Spirit of dynamite, selfless love, and a self-controlled mind.

“Don’t be ashamed of the Good News of Jesus or of me, a prisoner for Him. By God’s power, accept your share of suffering for His Good News. He is the one who saved us and called us, not because we are good enough, but by His Plan and Grace. He has broken the power of death and brought life.

“I’m suffering, but not ashamed, because I know my faith is set on Him, and I am convinced that He’s able to protect what I have committed to Him until the last day.

“Hold on strong to what I’ve told you. You know that everyone in Asia has abandoned me. But you, Be strong! Tell others what I’ve said, so that they can teach others. Take your share of hardship and pain as a good soldier of Jesus. A good soldier doesn’t get tangled up in the stuff of this earth-life.

“Remember Jesus... I’m suffering for His Good News, to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word isn’t chained. So I’m suffering patiently for God’s chosen, that they may be saved.

“Timothy, say no to godless and useless babbling which makes ungodliness spread like a cancer. Nevertheless, the solid foundation stands, and on it is written, ‘The Lord Knows those who are His... Let everyone who names the name of Christ turn away from self-life living.’

“In the last days, troubled times will come.

“People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, prideful, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, opposed to what is good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, loving pleasure rather than loving God. They have an outward appearance of being “good folks” or “religious,” but they deny there’s any power to make them godly.

“Avoid people like this.”

I’m going to repeat that because it is very important. Paul just said, Avoid people who appear to be “good folks” but who say God doesn’t give us His power needed to change our character to be like Jesus. Those who are washed in Jesus’ blood are given the power to become like Him. And Paul says to avoid anyone who tells us something different than that.

“They weasel their way into households and captivate weak women who are overwhelmed with sins and led along by their ‘I want, I want, I wants,’ always seeking direction and help (‘Help me, help me, tell me what to do.’), but who never arrive at a knowledge of the truth.

“Those who oppose the truth—their minds are warped and their faith isn’t real. Their foolishness will become obvious to everyone.

“But you, Timothy, have been right alongside me, paying close attention to my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance, as well as the persecutions and sufferings that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and in Lystra.

“But now, everyone who wants to live godly lives in Christ will be abused and treated terribly.

“Evil people and frauds will go from bad to worse, fooling others and being fooled themselves.

“You, however, must continue in the things you have learned and are confident about. You know who taught you, and since you were a baby, you have known the holy writings, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Jesus. Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for scolding, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God may be capable and trained for every good work.

“ So get ready, Timothy. Declare the good message, whether it is convenient or not... For there will be a time when people will not tolerate accurate teaching. Instead, following their own desires, they’ll surround themselves with fake teachers who will just tell them what they want to hear, turning away from Truth.

“Oh, Timothy, it’s about time for me to be done on this earth. I have left it all on the track; I have finished my race; I have kept the faith! Finally, the crown of righteousness is waiting for me—and not just me, but for all who have set their affection on His appearing.

“Please come to me soon... everyone has left me but Luke. And could you bring Mark? He is a very useful guy to me. And please bring my scrolls...oh, and my coat. And try to get here before winter!”

And we know now that Paul was right. He had finished his race. This second letter to Timothy is the last letter we have from Paul. He was murdered in Rome not long after.