2So, my son, throw yourself into this work for Christ.G4771G3767G3450G5043G1743G1722G5485G1722G5547G24242Pass on what you heard from me—the whole congregation saying Amen!—to reliable leaders who are competent to teach others.G2532G3739G191G3844G1700G1223G4183G3144G5023G3908G4103G444G3748G2071G2425G1321G2087G25323When the going gets rough, take it on the chin with the rest of us, the way Jesus did.G4771G3767G2553G5613G2570G4757G2424G55474A soldier on duty doesn't get caught up in making deals at the marketplace. He concentrates on carrying out orders.G3762G4754G1707G4230G979G2443G700G47585An athlete who refuses to play by the rules will never get anywhere.G1161G1437G5100G2532G118G4737G3756G4737G3362G118G35456It's the diligent farmer who gets the produce.G1092G2872G1163G4413G3335G25907Think it over. God will make it all plain.G3539G3739G3004G1063G2962G1325G4671G4907G1722G39568Fix this picture firmly in your mind: Jesus, descended from the line of David, raised from the dead. It's what you've heard from me all along.G3421G2424G5547G1537G4690G1138G1453G1537G3498G2596G3450G20989It's what I'm sitting in jail for right now—but God's Word isn't in jail!G1722G3739G2553G5613G2557G3360G1199G235G3056G2316G1210G3756G121010That's why I stick it out here—so that everyone God calls will get in on the salvation of Christ in all its glory.G1223G5124G5278G3956G1588G1588G1223G2443G846G5177G2532G5177G4991G3588G1722G5547G2424G3326G166G139111This is a sure thing: If we die with him, we'll live with him;G4103G3056G1063G1487G4880G4800G2532G480012If we stick it out with him, we'll rule with him; If we turn our backs on him, he'll turn his back on us;G1487G5278G4821G2532G4821G1487G720G2548G720G224813If we give up on him, he does not give up— for there's no way he can be false to himself.G1487G569G1565G3306G4103G3756G1410G720G143814Repeat these basic essentials over and over to God's people. Warn them before God against pious nitpicking, which chips away at the faith. It just wears everyone out.G5023G5279G1263G1799G2962G3054G3361G3054G1519G3762G5539G1909G2692G19115Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won't be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple.G4704G3936G4572G1384G2316G2040G422G3718G3056G22516Stay clear of pious talk that is only talk. Words are not mere words, you know. If they're not backed by a godly life,G1161G4026G952G2757G1063G4298G1909G4119G76317they accumulate as poison in the soul. Hymenaeus and Philetus are examples,G2532G846G3056G2192G3542G5613G1044G3739G2076G5211G2532G537218throwing believers off stride and missing the truth by a mile by saying the resurrection is over and done with.G3748G4012G225G795G3004G386G1096G2235G2532G396G4102G510019Meanwhile, God's firm foundation is as firm as ever, these sentences engraved on the stones: GOD KNOWS WHO BELONGS TO HIM. SPURN EVIL, ALL YOU WHO NAME GOD AS GOD.G3305G2310G2316G2476G4731G2192G5026G4973G2962G1097G5607G846G2532G868G3956G3687G3686G5547G868G575G9320In a well-furnished kitchen there are not only crystal goblets and silver platters, but waste cans and compost buckets—some containers used to serve fine meals, others to take out the garbage.G1161G1722G3173G3614G2076G3756G3440G4632G5552G2532G693G235G2532G3585G2532G3749G2532G3739G3303G1519G5092G1161G3739G1519G81921Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing.G1437G5100G3767G1571G1438G575G5130G2071G4632G1519G5092G37G2532G2173G1203G2090G1519G3956G18G204122Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God.G5343G1161G3512G1939G1161G1377G1343G4102G26G1515G3326G1941G2962G1537G2513G258823Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights.G1161G3474G2532G521G2214G3868G1492G3754G1080G316324God's servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool,G1161G1401G2962G1163G3756G3164G235G1511G2261G4314G3956G1317G42025working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth,G1722G4236G3811G475G3379G2316G3379G1325G846G3341G1519G1922G22526enabling them to escape the Devil's trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands.G2532G366G1537G3803G1228G2221G5259G846G1519G1565G2307
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