2 Timothy 3:16-17

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Encouraging Words

The teachings and writings that we follow have been inspired by our loving God so that we would have what we need to live Godly, Christ-centered lives. Christ, himself is the living embodiment of the Word of God. He is the Light that illumines our way. Glory be to God!

2 Timothy 3:12

Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

Personal Challenge

So, after reading this simple verse, I have asked myself “Am I suffering persecution?” The answer is, “No!” So, if I am not suffering persecution, then does that mean that I am not desiring to live godly in Christ Jesus? That is a tough one. We do live in a country and a time where I am not persecuted for being a Christian. Yet! But that day may be coming. We do live in a culture, though, where if I try to live a Christlike life, people around me will get agitated. We have become so polarized in our thinking that if I try to think or behave outside of the cultural box that everyone wants to force me into, then some form of persecution is exhibited. Try it out sometime and see what happens. Be apolitical, neither Republican or Democrat and see what happens. Love those around you, no matter what their sexual preference, political leanings, social agenda, race, color, or creed and see what happens. Love and take care of the downtrodden, the widow, the orphan, the migrant, or the outcast and see what happens. Maybe the reason I am not seeing persecution in my life is that I am not following in the footsteps of Jesus. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

2 Timothy 2:22-26

Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

Personal challenge

This is another one of those passages that is packed full of the truths that we need to make it through every day. What should we avoid in our lives? Youthful lusts. Foolish and ignorant disputes that generate strife. Do not quarrel. We avoid these so that we can do the things that God wants us to do. What are these things? Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, especially with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Be gentle to all, able to teach. Be patient and humble in our dealings with others. We are God’s instruments in this world to show them who God is and how much He loves them. This should dictate to us the behaviors to live our lives by. Glory be to God!

2 Timothy 2:14-17

Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer.

Personal Challenge

Heresy, the truth of God twisted to meet our own desires. We must constantly be on the guard for those who twist the truths of our Lord for their own gain or edification. We must also watch our own words to make sure that we are not professing our own doctrine and therefore creating our own heresies. This is especially true today as the post-modern church becomes more individualistic and fosters the mindset that we each have the right and the ability to interpret the scriptures the way that we see fit. Our responsibility is to our God, to be diligent in our work and approved by Him, to rightly divide the word of truth. We do this by staying connected to His Church and relying on the teachings of our holy fathers before us. Glory be to God!

2 Timothy 2:11-13

This is a faithful saying:
For if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him.
If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him,
He also will deny us.
If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself.

Encouraging Words

I remember growing up and hearing my mother say, “If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride.” We can go through our lives wishing things were different or wishing for things to be given to us, but this passage reminds us that if we do certain things, then there will be consequences. If we die to ourselves for our Lord’s sake, then we will live our lives with Him and in His glory. If we endure this world, then we will reign with Him in His Kingdom. If we deny Him, He will deny us in the day of judgment. If we stumble and lose our faith, He will remain faithful to us because He dwells within us. Glory be to God!

2 Timothy 2:3-4

You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

Personal challenge

The Apostle Paul is a master at using metaphors to describe for us what it means to live a Christian life. These metaphors worked in his day and continue to work for us today. If we are to live our lives in a way that truly glorifies our Lord then sometimes we must be like soldiers in a great army engaged in warfare. We are at war. We live in a world that is against us and our Lord. This war causes hardships that are sometimes constant and extremely challenging. As a soldier in the midst of warfare, we must keep our focus fixed upon the leader of our army and engagement at hand. We do this by not getting entangled in the affairs of the world around us. We do this in order to please the leader of our army and to win the battle of this life. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

2 Timothy 1:12-14

For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

Personal challenge

Paul lived quite the life. He grew up as a renowned Jewish scholar and Pharisee. He was on an upward path to leadership, especially when he started to lead the persecution of those new Christians in order to purge them from his society. But God had another plan for him. When he was introduced to Jesus on the road to Damascus, his life was changed forever. Paul realized that this Jesus that he had been trying to persecute and expunge was none other than his much awaited for Messiah. Paul became a Christian and was willing to undergo his own persecution. He was not ashamed to be called a Christian and gave us all an example to follow. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

2 Timothy 1:8-9
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,

Encouraging Words

What is our Holy calling? Jesus Christ died on the cross to save us from the ravages of death and by doing that, He has called us to be a part of His holy family and Kingdom. This calling has nothing to do with what we have done or could do, but everything to do with His purpose and grace in our lives. A purpose and grace that was set aside of us at the beginning of time. Because of this, our calling, our holy calling, is to live our lives for Him, loving our God and our neighbor with all of the love that we can muster and to do good works for Him because of our appreciation for all that He has done for us. We can live for Him and not be ashamed because of how the world might treat us. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

2 Timothy 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Encouraging Words

We have been blessed by God to have the Holy Spirit bestowed upon us in our baptism and chrismation. That Holy Spirit, living within us, does not give us a spirit of fear and trepidation in this hostile world, but a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. This is a promise from the living, eternal God. A promise that we can hold on to in all circumstances. This is how the martyrs through the history of the Church, and the prophets before them, could stand firm on their beliefs even in the midst of persecution and death. Glory be to God!