Just Ask

Scripture – 2 Timothy 4:9-15: ⁹Do your best to come to me quickly, ¹⁰for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. ¹¹Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. ¹²I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. ¹³When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments. ¹⁴Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. ¹⁵You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.

Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture.) Paul’s letter suddenly becomes very personal. He describes disappointments as a couple people have turned against him. He touches on his loneliness as others have moved on to other areas of service. He requests some specific personal items. Over-all, he asks for help. He recognizes he’s nearly alone, except for Luke. His life is nearly over as far as he can see. And so, he asks for help. Sometimes I find that hard to do. Whatever’s behind that dynamic, I’ll struggle alone with something when the simple help of someone else would make the project easier and produce a better result.

Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read.) I will ask for help. I’ll practice that today. I will intentionally ask for help at least three different times.

Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer.) Lord, you provide all the help I need. I just don’t take advantage of that a lot of the time. Please forgive my pride and keep me open to serving you. For that’s the real goal – not that I do what you want done, but that what you want gets done.

An Invitation – If you’re interested in a face to face discussion about what we’ve been discovering in the Mini-Journal, a small group will be meeting this Sunday morning, 9:45 – 10:30am, at the Southgate Fun and Fitness Center (on Northline near I-75). Look for them around one of the tables in the Café area.