January 9, 2024
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in 2 Timothy? Here’s today’s reading:
2 Timothy 3 (NIV)
1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—.……Continue Reading
2 Tim. 3
16 ¶ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Tim 3:12: Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”
I think I easily can fall into the trap of thinking that the world will actually embrace my efforts to reject its values and ideals. And then I am surprised when it feels like I am surrounded by a world that is actively attempting to draw me away from my Lord. That is why spending time with God’s people in fellowship and prayer is so vital to our Christian lives. It is with God’s people where we should expect to be exhorted to godly living, by others who are doing the same…knowing that it is training in godliness that ultimately yields the peaceful fruits of righteousness…and that is where our peace is found…not in the world, but in the one who MADE the world.
2 Tim 3:16: The OTHER 3:16…All Scripture is BREATHED OUT BY GOD and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…that we may be complete, equipped for every good work.
The Word…breathed out by God…to reference Pastor Peter’s series on the Symphony in John…the Word breathed out the Word. How awesome is that!? This image of something being “breathed out by God” echoes how God brought Adam to life in Genesis 2:7 “then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man become a living creature.” It can certainly be assumed that God breathed life into Eve in the same manner before He brought her to Adam. Such a beautiful, intimate picture of God’s love for His creation, even at our very start.
And then to be given NEW LIFE in Christ Jesus…Romans 8:11 “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”
God CONTINUES to breathe life into us…every day, both through His Word, and His Spirit. All glory and honor be to Him!!!
2 Timothy 1-5
2nd Timothy 3 Paul talks about the Godlessness in the last days. He
Describes exactly what we are seeing right before our eyes. Paul talks about being persecuted for living a Godly life.
Paul had suffered many times in his life for spreading the Gospel. He’s telling Timothy to fight for the truth.
Paul states how in the last days there will be perilous times. I think we are in the times leading up to the end times because of all the evil around us. But not in the end times themself. For I believe that we will be taken up in the Rapture before all the Great Tribulation can happen. But it sure seems very close to that time. In all the time that I have lived it seems far worse now than any other time in history. The people in the world were so wicked that God destroyed the world with a global flood. The second time will be by fire. But just look at the description that Paul gave of how the people will be. It sure fits today. Anyways we don`t know when the Rapture will take place or the tribulation for only God knows. But we are given two clues. 2 Thessalonians 2;3 [ Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.] Also in other scripture it speaks to when he that restrains is taken away that this person will be revealed. Many think that He that restrains and is taken out of the way is the Holy Spirit and therefore since the Holy Spirit dwells in us we will be taken away in the Rapture. 2 Thessalonians 2;7-8a [ For the mystery of iniquity doth already work; only He who now letteth will let, until He be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth—–.] May the Lord bless us as we look for His coming.
That’s my understanding of how the Bible says it will go down as well, Dennis, thanks for the concise explanation.
I think of also John 14:
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
If chapter 3 doesn’t t start describing what we see getting so progressively worse. I’ve seen people read this and there eyes were open to God. Everyone who leads a Godly life will be persecuted. Sobering truth. And the last verse we should all memorize as so many use the argument. The Bible was written by men. If they still roll their eyes. Do you believe that Jesus Christ Jesus of Nazareth walked this earth years ago. Yes!! Well as Pastor Peter ended his sermon 2 weeks ago. Who is Jesus to you!!!!!!!!!! No more questions
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
The blatant unrighteousness in our culture is frightening. It is hard to imagine that we have come this far in such a short period of time.
2 Timothy 3
2 Timothy 3
Certainly it feels like the times spoke of in the first part of this chapter are indeed here! We are under constant attack of things the world wishes to make normal and acceptable that are completely opposite to the things of God and the good news here is “12In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,”
Sean is exactly right in saying why are we surprised when people don’t see our point of view or understand why we wish to live a moral life in opposition to the ways of this world. God tells us to expect the persecution and yet also gives us His word, His God-breathed Word that will equip us to handle such opposition. He makes a way when there seems to be no way!
How true that these initial verses are written for the days we are in, and yet we do need to be prepared that it will get even worse. And I always wondered about the form of godliness these evil people would have, but I see it in the presumptuous, even self righteous attitude people of our day have over things that the Bible would call wrong. It is in the way that they call evil, good that this form of godliness could be found. And yet we need to make sure we are not caught up in the deception and behavior that the world promotes. We must be strong looking both at the example set by those who have been faithful as well as adhering to the faith we already have. We can trust a man like Paul in the same way he encourages Timothy to, because all the he suffered for the truth. And the Word of God is testimony to itself as well. It’s divine stamp is seen in it’s wisdom and in it’s effect. How useful it is to guide our own lives and be the reference point as we lead others too.
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.
This is quite a long list of negative traits people can have who do not know God. It must be a miserable existence. We should strive not to exhibit any of these qualities ourselves and have nothing to do with people who practice these behaviors.