Today’s reading is 2 Timothy 2:1-3:17.

“…always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7).

I have heard this passage referenced for years. In fact, I have referenced it for years. Usually, this verse is pulled out when talking about some preacher, teacher, or elder who keeps vacillating on some issue. This verse is especially handy when trying to push someone into making up their mind about some tough doctrinal question. If he won’t make up his mind quick enough, we can just point out how wicked he is because he keeps learning but doesn’t come to the truth. Of course, he only comes to the truth if he agrees with the one who is using this verse to push him.

There may be an appropriate application of this verse to that situation. However, in the immediate context, I’m no  longer sure Paul is talking about that person. Look at the preceding verses. He is talking about someone beset by recklessness, carelessness, lack of control, and sin. I can’t help but think of John 8:32. “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” The issue is not that these people study and study an issue but never make a decision about it. The issue is they keep learning about God’s will but they aren’t letting it change them. They aren’t being set free by it.

I must let God’s word change me. If I don’t, I may know a whole lot about it, but I’m never really arriving at the knowledge of the truth. If I knew the truth, it would set me free.

Keep the faith today, and keep reading.

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is 2 Timothy 4:1-22; Titus 1:1-16.

II Timothy 4:18 says, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom.” 

Paul was in prison. On the one hand, he claimed he was about to be poured out as a drink offering (II Timothy 4:6). Yet, here he says he’ll be delivered. Now which is it?

The reason folks struggle with trying to figure out if Paul would be delivered or if he would die, is because his perspective was different from ours. Paul viewed death as deliverance. If he died, he would go be with the Lord (Philippians 1:23). People can’t hold much over your head when letting you go is deliverance and killing you is also deliverance. 

If I could just grasp that for the Christian, death is not such a bad thing, living for Christ would become a much easier thing.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

Today’s reading is 2 Timothy 2:1-3:17.

Perhaps it is because I’m now using the ESV but II Timothy 2:7 really grabbed my attention today. “Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.”

The word translated “think over” means to perceive with the mind or consider and ponder. This just really shocked me. Paul did not tell Timothy, “Don’t worry about what I’m saying, God will give you understanding.” Paul did not tell Timothy, “You can’t remotely understand this on your own, the Holy Spirit will provide the understanding you need.” No, Paul told Timothy to think about it, ponder it, perceive it with his mind. If Timothy wanted understanding from God, he needed to direct his mental effort toward understanding.

We need to make sure as we read scripture every day that we are not simply wading through a series of verses. Rather, if we want understanding, we need to turn the effort of our minds toward what is written. We need to think about it. We need to consider it. We need to ponder it. We need to meditate on it. 

Sadly, too many in the modern world have the idea that knowing God’s will just enters our minds if we are true Christians. Not so. If we are really going to give our lives over to Christ, then we are going to spend time in His word and spend time meditating upon and thinking about His word. When we do, God will give us understanding through that work and effort. 

Let’s keep getting into the Word. Let’s not just read, let’s meditate. Let’s gain understanding from God.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

One of my all time favorite stories is of a little boy who cried out in the middle of a stormy night. His mother came to check on him and he pleaded with her to stay in the bed with him for comfort. 

“Oh, honey, you know I need to sleep with Daddy.”

“But, Mommy, I’m scared.”

“There’s no need to be scared, sweetheart. You know that God is here with you.”

“Yeah, I know, but sometimes I need someone with skin on.”

That describes me. I know God is with me, but I also need someone with skin on. Sometimes I feel a bit unspiritual for saying that. But today I read II Timothy 4:9-18. In the past, I simply noticed Paul’s great faith in God. Even though everyone abandoned him, God was still with him and God would deliver him. Clearly, Paul had a great faith in God.

However, in this reading I noticed something else. Even with this great faith in the presence and deliverance from God, Paul was asking Timothy to hurry up and come to him and bring John Mark because all these people had been abandoning him. 

Do you see it? Paul had great faith in God. He was able to endure his imprisonment alone because he knew God was with him. But he also needed someone with skin on. He needed the encouragement that came from like-minded people who could edify and uplift him. In fact, I think we see that relying on God means relying on His people.

The take away for me is keep praying, keep relying on God. At the same time, keep bringing brethren around me who will also encourage and strengthen. It’s okay to need and want someone with skin on.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

Prisoner by Jennifer Gordon

“And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will” (II Timothy 2:24-26, ESV).

This passage means a lot to me. It represents a paradigm shift. For the longest time, I would look at those outside the body of Christ with a bit of smugness. After all, even though I had done bad things, I had chosen to enter Christ. These people were the enemy who had decided to follow Satan and deserved whatever they got.

This passage has opened my eyes to some things. First, back when I was in the world, I didn’t want people to look down on me with smugness or just leave me in my captivity because I was the enemy. Second, instead of viewing those still in the world as enemy spies, they are POWs. They have been captured by the enemy to do his will.

Have you ever heard of Stockholm Syndrome? It is the psychological response seen in some kidnapped victims where they become loyal to the one who has taken them hostage. On the surface, it sounds ridiculous to us. However, it is a great illustration of what has happened to those in the world. They have been taken captive by Satan and have developed a loyalty to him. They don’t need us firing our salvos at them trying to beat them down. They actually need to be set free, just like we did. 

Therefore, lets look at our friends in the world in the proper way. They are not the enemy. They are captives of the enemy. They have become dazed and confused by their captivity and they need our help. More than that they need God’s help. So let’s get the message of freedom to them.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

II Timothy 1 is actually a great comfort to me. 

Perhaps I’m reading too much into it. However, in this chapter it appears to me that Timothy has been having some struggles. He has been dealing with some fears regarding doing his work as an evangelist. Paul is lifting him up and encouraging him to stay on track.

Paul lets Timothy know about how much he has prayed for Timothy. He reminds him of his legacy of faith. More than that, instead of shaming Timothy for any seeking lack of faith, Paul affirms he knows the faith really is there. Timothy just needs to rely on it. He reminds Timothy of the miraculous gift of the Spirit he has through the laying on of Paul’s hands. That is, Timothy is not alone but the Spirit is working through him therefore he does not have a spirit of fear but a Spirit of power, love and self-control. He reminds Timothy that there is no need to be ashamed of the suffering of the Lord or of Paul. This suffering is no reason to think Timothy has ended up on the wrong side. Rather, he is on the winning side and needs to join in the suffering because despite all the suffering, Jesus Christ can be trusted with what Timothy and Paul committed to Him, that is, their souls.

This gets into II Timothy 2, but Paul reminds Timothy of the grace that is in Jesus.

Of course, all this information is really good. However, what comforts me the most is knowing I’m not alone. Even a great evangelist like Timothy had times of struggle. He had times when he needed to be provoked to love and good deeds by the likes of Paul. How easy it is for me to hit moments of despair because I don’t have a 24/7/365 powerful motivation to do what is right and do my work. Sometimes I have fears and struggles with preaching the truth, talking to others about the gospel and just generally doing the work of the Lord.

Don’t misunderstand, this chapter doesn’t give me permission to wallow in that. Rather, it simply lets me know that I’m not a loser because I have struggles. Rather, I’m like every other person who works in God’s kingdom. We all need encouragement at times. We all need to be stimulated, stirred up, spurred on and provoked. I may have struggles, but those struggles don’t mean I’m lost. They just mean I’m still living on earth. 

Therefore, this passage has a twofold help for me. First, I see that Timothy went through what I go through and I don’t have to feel alone. Second, I can also read Paul’s encouragement and be provoked to love and good deeds myself.

Hope this encourages you as well.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC