Retaining the Standard of the Gospel (Santosh Poonen)

Paul was persecuted by the world (II Timothy 1:12) and deserted by other Christians (II Timothy 1:15, 4:10,16). We must retain the standard of the Gospel in faith, by guarding it like a treasure (II Timothy 1:13-14). When Jesus knew that Peter would be tested, His only prayer was that Peter’s faith would not fail (Luke 22:31). We must retain the standard of the Gospel in love, by being eager and unashamed about refreshing others (II Timothy 3:16-17). True love is to lay down our lives for the brethren like Christ did for us (I John 3:16). The Devil uses these “thorns” to poke holes in our vessel of faith and love to drain us of the standard of the Gospel: the worry of the age, the deceitfulness of riches, and the pleasures of life (Luke 8:14). Jesus is building His Church as a witness to the entire world of the Gospel (Matthew 24:14). The Church is built from the lives of those who have faith to say, like Paul, “the Lord will deliver me” (II Timothy 4:17-18(); and who have love to lay down their lives for the brethren (I John 3:18).