As Paul continues to encourage Timothy to persevere in the work of the Gospel his focus now naturally goes back to Jesus (v8). Paul’s gospel is not just about doing a, b and c, it is all about the Jesus who has died and risen.

We need to constantly ask ourselves is Jesus the focus of our action and thinking? It is possible to be even religious, to be very engaged in prayer, Bible study, worship and church life, but still not be focused on Jesus. Remember the Pharisees and how religious they were, but it was religion without Jesus.

As Paul thinks of the Gospel he rejoices in its power (v9). Paul can be chained and imprisoned but the Gospel can’t. We can think of the wonderful example of how in the twentieth century missionaries were expelled from China but the gospel flourished and the church grew.

It is as Timothy thinks of this power of the gospel that he keeps going on despite opposition, because in doing this those God has chosen to save will be saved (v10). God’s glorious plans to save will not be thwarted.

Paul now quotes a faithful saying about the hope the believer has in Jesus (v11-13). Yes, the believer is weak and they fall, but Christ is powerful and faithful. Christ’s loves will overcome and we must keep our focus on Him. Have you a longing for Christ’s power to be let loose in your life in a fresh way?