THURSDAY, MAY 3
Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:6-9

2 Timothy 1: 9 tells us that everything starts with God’s purpose. It is God’s purpose that dictates the power that we have to qualify for. It is the power that dictates the adversity. So the way to look at 2 Timothy 1:6-9 is to start with verse 9 and move backwards through it until we get to the ultimate issue which reveals again that every call has a baptism and a cup. The purpose of God determines the call. The call determines the power necessary to perform it. And the power to perform it determines the adversity that comes against us. Hence we see what is behind the baptism and the cup and the process parallels that of Jesus. Jesus had a purpose that determined the call, a call that determined the power and a power that determined the adversity. Because He was taking it all away from the enemy, He had to overcome all that the enemy could throw at Him. As we fulfill our purpose, we get the parallel of that process. It is a matter of choosing to accept that path and navigating it by the Holy Spirit. There is no way out of the adversity. People who look for a way out, often forfeit the character development necessary to stand in their call.