From 2 Timothy 2:14-26

When Moses went to Pharaoh to demand Israel’s freedom, there were magicians who opposed him.  As God did miracles through Moses, Pharaoh’s magicians found ways to do similar things so that Pharaoh could justify continuing to disobey God and oppress His people.

In the time of Jesus, the disciples, and the early church, people were lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.

Today we look around us and see that people are lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.

When Paul warns Timothy and his congregation about the times of difficulties that will come in the last days, we understand that this will be the reality we have to deal with until Jesus’ return.  The wisdom that Timothy receives in the face of all these challenges?  Avoid such people.  Measure people against the standards laid out in Scripture and avoid those who profess to be godly but do not line up with the teachings of God. Do not follow them, no matter how pleasant or easy or desirable they might sound.  Our calling is to be faithful and to strive after the things of God, and that is not easy but it is worth doing.

Focus on God

We are reminded in these verses that God promises us a better future, free of the difficulties of these times.

Function in Our Lives

We are encouraged to pursue godliness and faithfulness and righteousness.

Topics to Pray About                                                               

  • Thank God for the warnings that Scripture gives us.
  • Confess to God the times where you are tempted to follow people who are doing the wrong things.
  • Ask God to bless His church and its mission.

In His Service,

J. LeBorious