Last week I mentioned that I was studying the two letters from Paul to Timothy. I wrote my blog about the things that touched me in the first one about fighting the good fight, and I have started this post a couple of times to be pulled off for one reason or another. But this morning I am starting the post once more. Again from a slightly different vantage point than the last attempt. I think this makes three tries on paper… far more as I muddle it over in my head. The one constant has been the passage from the book of Proverbs I quoted in last weeks post.
Proverbs 3:5-7 (ESV)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
This verse is written on my heart, and as I study God’s Word It reminds me of who I should rely on for all things… because every one of these last days is one day closer to the last day of the last days; if it is not the last day.
Guard What is Entrusted to You
Last week when I started this I began reading in chapter 3 of this book, but I kept inching backward and forward until I pretty much read the whole book. It was not my idea. I would get a little prompting that leads me to get the context. I ended up in chapter one today because I read a verse of the day. 2 Timothy 1:9. I opened my ESV translation to get the context and the verse, although it contained the same information, it was so different than the NLT I had read I had to read 8 and 10 as well and that turned into 3-14.
It is funny how one verse can lead to 2 paragraphs. It is kind of like a loose string in a sweater. When you pull on it, you can easily pull more than you planned, but unlike the sweater, Gods Word does not unravel, it makes things stronger.
Verse nine in chapter one of 2 Timothy speaks of Jesus saving us because of His purpose, not because of anything we had done. But when I went back to verse three, I am filled with this hope and joy that Paul shared with Timothy and the encouragement he offered him benefited me as well.
2 Timothy 1
Take the time to look at this passage.
2 Timothy 1:3-14 (ESV)
3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. 13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
I read this passage, and I am overcome. I am not Paul, but, as I read this passage, I see myself in each role. I had faithful ancestors, and I had family members with deep faith. I know that there was a time when I accepted Christ and someone shared that message with me and baptized me.
There was a time when I realized that I needed to be bold in my faith, not because I had done anything to earn it, but because it was such a great gift from God and I could not let it sit on a shelf. This gift is meant to be shared.
Paul also reminds us that this gift is precious, and we must guard this gift from all forms of false teaching and corruption. We do this, not by our own strength, but by the strength of the Holy Spirit which dwells within us.
What a wonderful gift we have been given. How could we not share it? How could we not, “Trust in the Lord with all our heart.”
I went on from there and read through chapter two on the importance of being a soldier for Christ and a good worker. At the end of chapter two, I came to the passage about foolish passions and controversies.
Foolish Passions and Controversies
Paul, in chapter 2 takes us through the kind of person we should be and how the Lord knows His own, and these are powerful passages. As I came to the end of this chapter through the last paragraphs stopped me in my tracks.
2 Timothy 2:22-26 (ESV)
22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
As I read this passage a few times my heart, it touched my heart. Paul reminded me that I have this great gift that I must share. He tells me the kind of person to be, and then he reminds me to “flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness.” Not to argue but endure evil and correct “his opponents with gentleness.” Why? “God may perhaps grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth… and escape the snares of the devil.”
Now I do not know about you all, but as I read this, I was very thankful for the fruits of the Spirit because I know that my human nature lacks the patience to endure many things. As I read 22-26 this passage from the book of Galatians share space with it in my heart.
Galatians 5:22-24 (ESV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
And all of that prepared me for the “But understand this,” that begins chapter three.
But Understand This
Paul begins with a warning to us that this world is going to continue to fall away from God. It will become more and more self-absorbed and more and more hostile to believers.
2 Timothy 3:1-9 (ESV)
1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.
Paul even gives you a point of reference in Jannes and Jambres who opposed Moses. It is interesting to me that at the end of chapter two Paul tells us that we should correct opponents, but then at the beginning of chapter three, he warns us that not all can be helped and he defines them with an example. It is a lot to take in but so important. We do have this precious gift that we must guard against false teaching, with the help of the Holy Spirit, and Paul is not the only one that warns us about false teachers and their ways.
2 John 1:10-11 (ESV)
10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
2 Peter 2:1-3 (ESV)
1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
These warnings along with the passage from chapter two cause me to stop and reflect on the responsibility and challenges of following Jesus.
Reflection
Think about the responsibility we have. We have been given this great gift of salvation. We were taught the Gospel; the good news of Jesus Christ and we, like the first apostles have been commanded to share that with the rest of the world, (Matthew 28:18-20). But in addition to this command we are warned that the task will not be easy, and if we were on our own I would say it would be impossible, but along with the message we have a gift. That gift is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit; a Helper promised by Christ Jesus.
John 15:26 (ESV)
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.
We also have the full Armor of God.
Ephesians 6:13-18 (ESV)
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.
What power we have been given to draw on and if we will stay in God’s Word and study prayerfully and trust in the Holy Spirit we will not fall victim to false teaching. We will guard that “good deposit entrusted to me.”
Closing Thoughts
There is so much more to 2 Timothy yet to share, but it is more than I can handle in a single writing. I am overwhelmed by the power of God’s Word. My heart aches for those that do not have the time to spend in it. It is so easy to get to busy in the world today. I was one of the worst, and I can still fall into that trap. It seems that we are often pulled in too many directions.
These days I tell myself it is a struggle with focus. In the old days, it was busy. My wife shared an acronym for busy that I think works in both cases: Being Under Satins Yoke. I cannot tell anyone else if that is true for them. That is between them and God. I do know that often if I pushed a bit harder, God would clear my head and give me what I need to focus. All I need to do is…
Proverbs 3:5-7 (ESV)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
Prayer
Father, thank you for the gift of repentance and grace. Thank you, Lord, for strengthening me when I am weak and giving me wisdom when I feel incapable and unworthy. Forgive me for my unwillingness. Thanks be to you Lord in Jesus name I pray, Amen!
