May 24, 2013
Paul told Timothy to stand strong and to teach people he could trust the things Paul taught him. Then they will be able to teach others. II Timothy 2:2 - "People whom you can trust..." Not everyone will listen to you. People you cannot trust will take your words, twist them, take them out of context and use them to try to hurt you.
Been there... received that.
Paul tells them to be like a soldier, working hard to please the enlisting officer, sharing in the troubles, and realizing that everyday matters, really don't matter. He goes on and give the example of an athlete and how you have to obey the rules to win. If you try to falsely enhance who you are (through drugs, steroids, etc.) it is cheating, and when caught the prize is stripped from you.
God knows our hearts. We can't fool Him. What we do should not be to advance ourselves. All we do should bring honor and glory to HIS name. Even though people put Paul in prison and bound him with chains, it did not stop the message of Christ from going out. In fact, I believe it actually increased it.
We are bound by a lawsuit, but our testimonies and our opportunities to tell God's Story about His faithfulness has increased, and His message is going out. It has been an amazing thing to watch. Paul was bound in chains like a criminal, but "... God's teaching is not in chains. So I patiently accept all these troubles so that those whom God has chosen can have the salvation that is in Christ Jesus. With that salvation comes glory that never ends." (II Timothy 2:9b–10)
It is not about me/us. It's about HIM and who HE wants to reach, and save, and grow because of the story HE has given us to tell.
II Timothy 2:14–15 - "Continue teaching... make every effort to give yourself to God as the kind of person he will accept. Be a worker who is not ashamed and who uses the true teaching in the right way." Stay away from foolish, useless teaching that only destroys. What is important—the true teachings of Christ—is what is important! Wandering from the truth and listening to foolish, useless teaching is dangerous. II Timothy 2:17 - "It spreads like sickness inside the body." It is a cancer of the soul and it destroys the faith of some people.
But, the foundation of God is strong because it is built on truth. II Timothy 2:19 - "The Lord knows who belong to him." If you want to belong to the Lord you must stop doing wrong. Must! There is no other option. Run away from evil; try hard to live right; have faith, love, and peace; surround yourself with people who have the same foundation; stay away from stupid and foolish arguments because they only lead to trouble; be kind to everyone; be a good teacher; be patient; and gently teach those who disagree. Do all this so that those who are lost can see the truth, and the truth will set them free.
Next Next: II Timothy 2:1–26 (Continued)
Paul told Timothy to stand strong and to teach people he could trust the things Paul taught him. Then they will be able to teach others. II Timothy 2:2 - "People whom you can trust..." Not everyone will listen to you. People you cannot trust will take your words, twist them, take them out of context and use them to try to hurt you.
Been there... received that.
Paul tells them to be like a soldier, working hard to please the enlisting officer, sharing in the troubles, and realizing that everyday matters, really don't matter. He goes on and give the example of an athlete and how you have to obey the rules to win. If you try to falsely enhance who you are (through drugs, steroids, etc.) it is cheating, and when caught the prize is stripped from you.
God knows our hearts. We can't fool Him. What we do should not be to advance ourselves. All we do should bring honor and glory to HIS name. Even though people put Paul in prison and bound him with chains, it did not stop the message of Christ from going out. In fact, I believe it actually increased it.
We are bound by a lawsuit, but our testimonies and our opportunities to tell God's Story about His faithfulness has increased, and His message is going out. It has been an amazing thing to watch. Paul was bound in chains like a criminal, but "... God's teaching is not in chains. So I patiently accept all these troubles so that those whom God has chosen can have the salvation that is in Christ Jesus. With that salvation comes glory that never ends." (II Timothy 2:9b–10)
It is not about me/us. It's about HIM and who HE wants to reach, and save, and grow because of the story HE has given us to tell.
"If we died with him, we will also live with him. If we accept suffering, we will also rule with him. If we refuse to accept him, he will refuse to accept us. If we are not faithful, he will still be faithful, because he cannot be false to himself." II Timothy 2:11–13IF—THEN. Our choices have consequences—both good and bad.
II Timothy 2:14–15 - "Continue teaching... make every effort to give yourself to God as the kind of person he will accept. Be a worker who is not ashamed and who uses the true teaching in the right way." Stay away from foolish, useless teaching that only destroys. What is important—the true teachings of Christ—is what is important! Wandering from the truth and listening to foolish, useless teaching is dangerous. II Timothy 2:17 - "It spreads like sickness inside the body." It is a cancer of the soul and it destroys the faith of some people.
But, the foundation of God is strong because it is built on truth. II Timothy 2:19 - "The Lord knows who belong to him." If you want to belong to the Lord you must stop doing wrong. Must! There is no other option. Run away from evil; try hard to live right; have faith, love, and peace; surround yourself with people who have the same foundation; stay away from stupid and foolish arguments because they only lead to trouble; be kind to everyone; be a good teacher; be patient; and gently teach those who disagree. Do all this so that those who are lost can see the truth, and the truth will set them free.
Next Next: II Timothy 2:1–26 (Continued)
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