SCRIPTURE: 2 Timothy 3
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. [2 Timothy 3:2-5]
Who is Paul talking about?
He is talking about people claiming to follow Jesus, who have the form of godliness but not the power (or inner reality).
Look at those adjectives – brutal, treacherous, unholy – how could the community of Jesus followers ever reach this point?
Close to Jesus, yet so far from Him; hearing Him but not listening to Him.
We know that there have been many seasons in the life of the church when things were this bad, and it is always a danger.
Which is why Paul urges Timothy to cling to the truth and to the gift of the Scriptures, which can equip you for living the Jesus kind of life!
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.) [John 6:68-71]
Peter knows that Jesus’ words are life and truth, and that being close to Jesus means listening to Him.
Judas had the form of a disciple, but he denied (or refused) the power.
He heard Jesus’ words, but He did not listen to, or receive, His message.
There, walking close to Jesus, he is yet far from Him – and is actually more in touch with the devil.
A lover of pleasure (or treasure) than of God, and with treachery he betrays Jesus to death for financial gain.
But as Paul says, his folly soon becomes evident, even to himself, and he takes his own life.
Going to church, reading the bible, singing worship songs, attending bible studies, making donations, volunteering in the church or community – these all have the form of godliness, but they are not the power of it.
The critical thing is the power of Jesus’ word and Spirit changing us on the inside, transforming us more and more into lovers of God and not pleasure.
It is a lifelong process, one that we must continually pursue.
The Scriptures are able to make us wise for salvation, able to teach and rebuke and correct and train in righteousness, able to equip us for the good life that He saved us for.
But we have to be open to them, we have to receive them.
Just going through the motions, being with Jesus (like Judas) yet far from Him in our hearts, is having the form without the power.
Ask yourself today, how is your life being changed through your time with Jesus, with the bible, bub the Spirit’s power?
What specific area is He addressing in your life – impatience, greed, lust, pride, anger, unforgiveness?
Because this is a lifelong process, you will never get to the point when you no longer have issues to deal with.
Is your ‘being with Jesus’ showing itself by His power at work in you, or have you fallen into an outward form without the power.
Look over today’s reading carefully – what one word or phrase or thought is the Spirit pointing to for you, something you need to repent of, or work on?
PRAYER:
Lord, help me not just to go through the motions of writing these devotionals, help me also to allow Your word to challenge and change me.
The age of children is the age to learn, yet we all are life long learners. And what directs our learning? Truth is only possible for God’s Word. This is also the basic tenant of Christian education – His Word our Guide. Mission and vision in every decision based on the Word of God. We need eyes that see and ears that hear so that we may be equipped for every good work. And what drives our work? It must be His Word. Serving Christ Jesus in all we say and do. Our heads, our hearts and our hands have to be in sync. Our loving and our knowing and our doing must be in sync. All for Jesus, following the good Shepherd because He continues to lead me this day. I am not my own, but bought for a price and thus I live this day for Him. He continues to lead me and guide me by His Word and Spirit. I must be His living letter also this day. Not my will, but His will be dine because also this day, God must be first in all I do and say.
Help me to be Your living witness also on this day You have made.
Thy Word is a lamp to my feet, O Lord,
Thy Word is a light to my way;
It shines in my soul like a star by night,
And comforts and cheers me by day.
Refrain
O wonderful, wonderful Word,
My treasure, my hope, and my stay;
Each promise recorded delights my soul,
And brightens each step of my way.
Thy Word is a lamp to my feet, O Lord,
And, trusting in Thee as my all,
Whatever of evil may cross my path,
I never, no, never can fall.
Refrain
Thy Word is a lamp to my feet, O Lord,
And oh, when Thy glory I see,
For all the rich blessings its truth has brought,
The praises will I give unto Thee.