May 28, 2013
What a contrast between II Timothy 2 and 3. II Timothy 2 talks about what kind of life we should live, how God can use us, and what it looks like to be a worker who is pleasing to God. Then in II Timothy 3, Paul describes the person who is not a follower of God, and whose actions bring much trouble.
Paul's description of the person who is not a follower of God is an accurate (in my opinion) line-by-line description of the person I now know my sister to be. I didn't fully come to terms with the truth until the carefully constructed facade cracked and the truth was slowly revealed from late 2006 to today. My sister is in her sixties, yet she is still holding grudges and still falsely accusing and still seeking to harm innocent people. You don't "grow" out of sinful behaviors. The exact opposite is true. The more you don't change your ways, the more ingrained into you the evil behavior becomes, and the more it becomes part of your DNA.
I hate writing the word "evil" and relating it to someone's actions (especially my sister's) but her actions exactly mirrors Paul's description of one who is against God. The truth is the truth whether I want to face it or not. I recognized some of the actions on the list prior to the blow up in late 2006. My response was almost always, "Oh, that's just ______ (my sister's name)." I was wrong to overlook and excuse her actions away. Sin is sin, regardless of how much you love the person, and I should have called it that and confronted her about it years before. When I finally did try to speak up about her obsession with my brother it did not go over well, and my bringing up her obsessions became part of the final breakdown in our relationship.
Scripture says it very clearly. "Stay away from those people. Have nothing to do with them." I am grateful to God for the forced separation their lawsuit and "the storm" has caused. It would have been really difficult for me to break free on my own. I would have felt like I was abandoning my sister and I would have tried to hang in there and "fix" the problem. I now understand that I can't fix it. There is only one thing that can fix it, and that is true personal repentance which brings about a new way of thinking, and a changed heart and life.
Our prayer for my sister and brother-in-law remains the same. LORD, may they understand that without you they are nothing, and may they desire nothing but you.
As believers we will experience hurt. Paul suffered, but the Lord saved him from his troubles and the message of Christ still went out. II Timothy 3:12–13 - "Everyone who wants to live as God desires, in Christ Jesus, will be hurt. But people who are evil and cheat others will go from bad to worse. They will fool others, but they will also be fooling themselves." How incredibly sad to think you are wise, when in reality you are not aware, and don't know or understand what truth and true wisdom is.
But for you who believe—continue on. You know what truth is. You know that salvation is found through faith in Christ. You know that you have everything you need in God's scripture. II Timothy 3:16–17 - "All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, correcting, rebuking, and training in righteousness so the man of God can be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
We have everything we need to navigate living in this world—and that is the Bible. Paul used his life as an example and tells Timothy:
And I say—Amen. God has saved us from the mouth of the lion as well. And, He will continue to save us.
Psalm 22:21 - Rescue me from the lion's mouth.
Psalm 58:6 - God, break the teeth in their mouths! Tear out the fangs of those lions, Lord!
Job 4:10,11 - Lions may roar and growl, but when the teeth of a strong lion are broken, that lion dies of hunger. The cubs of the lion are scattered.
II Thessalonians 3:3 - But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.
Next Entry: II Timothy 3:1 – 4:22 (Continued)
What a contrast between II Timothy 2 and 3. II Timothy 2 talks about what kind of life we should live, how God can use us, and what it looks like to be a worker who is pleasing to God. Then in II Timothy 3, Paul describes the person who is not a follower of God, and whose actions bring much trouble.
- Lovers of themselves
- Lovers of money
- Want what others have
- Brag; are boastful
- Proud
- Abusive
- Say evil things against others
- Will not obey (honor) parents
- Are not thankful
- Are not filled with gratitude
- Refuse to be the kind of person God wants
- Without empathy; does not love others
- Holds grudges; refuses to forgive; truce breakers
- Slanderous; false accusers
- Without self-control
- Cruel; brutal; fierce
- Despises those who are good
- Traitors; will turn against their friends
- Rash; acts without thinking
- Conceited; high minded
- It's all about them, not about God
- Will act as if they serve God, but do not
Paul's description of the person who is not a follower of God is an accurate (in my opinion) line-by-line description of the person I now know my sister to be. I didn't fully come to terms with the truth until the carefully constructed facade cracked and the truth was slowly revealed from late 2006 to today. My sister is in her sixties, yet she is still holding grudges and still falsely accusing and still seeking to harm innocent people. You don't "grow" out of sinful behaviors. The exact opposite is true. The more you don't change your ways, the more ingrained into you the evil behavior becomes, and the more it becomes part of your DNA.
I hate writing the word "evil" and relating it to someone's actions (especially my sister's) but her actions exactly mirrors Paul's description of one who is against God. The truth is the truth whether I want to face it or not. I recognized some of the actions on the list prior to the blow up in late 2006. My response was almost always, "Oh, that's just ______ (my sister's name)." I was wrong to overlook and excuse her actions away. Sin is sin, regardless of how much you love the person, and I should have called it that and confronted her about it years before. When I finally did try to speak up about her obsession with my brother it did not go over well, and my bringing up her obsessions became part of the final breakdown in our relationship.
Scripture says it very clearly. "Stay away from those people. Have nothing to do with them." I am grateful to God for the forced separation their lawsuit and "the storm" has caused. It would have been really difficult for me to break free on my own. I would have felt like I was abandoning my sister and I would have tried to hang in there and "fix" the problem. I now understand that I can't fix it. There is only one thing that can fix it, and that is true personal repentance which brings about a new way of thinking, and a changed heart and life.
Our prayer for my sister and brother-in-law remains the same. LORD, may they understand that without you they are nothing, and may they desire nothing but you.
As believers we will experience hurt. Paul suffered, but the Lord saved him from his troubles and the message of Christ still went out. II Timothy 3:12–13 - "Everyone who wants to live as God desires, in Christ Jesus, will be hurt. But people who are evil and cheat others will go from bad to worse. They will fool others, but they will also be fooling themselves." How incredibly sad to think you are wise, when in reality you are not aware, and don't know or understand what truth and true wisdom is.
But for you who believe—continue on. You know what truth is. You know that salvation is found through faith in Christ. You know that you have everything you need in God's scripture. II Timothy 3:16–17 - "All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, correcting, rebuking, and training in righteousness so the man of God can be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
We have everything we need to navigate living in this world—and that is the Bible. Paul used his life as an example and tells Timothy:
- Preach the Good News
- Be ready at all times
- Tell people the Truth about what is right and wrong
- Encourage others
- Have great patience
- Teach carefully
- Control yourself
- Accept troubles
- Do the work
- Tell the Good News
- Complete ALL the duties of a servant of God
- Give your life as an offering to God
- Fight the good fight
- Finish the race
- Keep the faith
- Receive the crown
And I say—Amen. God has saved us from the mouth of the lion as well. And, He will continue to save us.
Psalm 22:21 - Rescue me from the lion's mouth.
Psalm 58:6 - God, break the teeth in their mouths! Tear out the fangs of those lions, Lord!
Job 4:10,11 - Lions may roar and growl, but when the teeth of a strong lion are broken, that lion dies of hunger. The cubs of the lion are scattered.
II Thessalonians 3:3 - But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.
Next Entry: II Timothy 3:1 – 4:22 (Continued)
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