As we continued our Wednesday night Bible study through 2 Timothy we concluded the portion in which Paul challenges Timothy personally to where Paul challenges Timothy to challenge the congregation.
We moved from the thoughts of 2 Timothy 2:10-13 to 14-21.
If we die with Him, we live with Him; if we endure, we will reign with Him.
If we deny Him, He will deny us and if we are faithless...He Remains Faithful.
I though about these scriptures for some time. Read it slowly and think about the promises and the faithfulness of God. Every one of these is a promise whether we want to accept it or not. It is wonderful to think of how if we die with Him we live with Him or if we endure we will reign but when it comes to denying him, He Will Deny Us. That is an eye-opening thought and truth. How often do we deny Christ not just as Lord and Savior but we deny Him the glory and honor because we do not take the opportunities to share, serve and go as he calls us to. Then, if we are faithless (not believing in Him, in his accomplished work in and through the cross, in Him as Sovereign and not trusting Him in all things) He Remains Faithful. I am reassured of this when I read Hebrews 6:16-19. God is faithful, so faithful that He cannot deny himself.
Paul then challenges Timothy to challenge the church.
Just like then we still have issues of people starting quarrels about words. Paul tells Timothy that all it does is start trouble, especially in the church. So Paul tells Timothy to tell the faithful men, whom he entrusted with Paul's teaching in the first chapter, to be diligent and study so he and the men may show themselves approved before the Lord.
When I am bring introduced to someone new or someone who is an important person, there are expectations of the one bring presented. In most situations one would shower, shave, put on some nice clothes or buy new ones, clean up the car (if riding in it), comb your hair or get a haircut, brush your teeth (which should be normal) and be on time. When we are presented before someone we want to give a very good first impression but the first impression should be who we are, not just a one-time polished up version. God desires us to be diligent (careful and industrious, prompt, earnest and making the effort) so we can come before Him unashamedly. We need to be pure in heart so we can come unashamedly and come accurately handling the word of truth. That means we don't take one verse and manipulate it to say what we want it to say. We must read and teach from context not from one verse. One verse teaching can become dangerous.
Paul continues with the challenge against empty talk. Paul says it will lead to further ungodliness. The phrasing here brings to my mind that there are times when we think things but do not say or act upon them. We may be thinking ungodly things but when we speaking on them it causes further ungodliness and affects more than just us and our relationship with God it affects others and their walk with God.
I thought the reference to that ungodly talk spreading like gangrene a very potent and accurate description of useless and empty chatter. Gangrene is the decay of body tissue due to a lack of blood supply. When someone is filling the church with something of than the lifeblood and truth of Jesus Christ it begins the "spiritual" formation of gangrene. Gangrene spreads, causes discoloration, gives a foul smell and causes a loss of feeling in the area. How true it is when this invades the body of Christ. False teaching spreads, it causes off-color remarks, the people are not longer a sweet savor in the nostril of the Lord and the people become apathetic or divisive.
So how do you treat gangrene? You amputate the body part, find and remove the dead tissue or improve the blood supply to the area among other things.
So, take this with you today. Evaluate teaching and compare it with God's word. Will people occasionally say the wrong things, yeah and it may be unintentional but we must encourage them and love them. Later on Paul tells us to gently correct those in opposition. Let's be gentle, loving, patient and kind.
To God be the Glory,
Blake Prater
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