God Speaks
But the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some in the church will turn away from Christ and become eager followers of teachers with devil-inspired ideas. 2 These teachers will tell lies with straight faces and do it so often that their consciences won’t even bother them.
3 They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat meat, even though God gave these things to well-taught Christians to enjoy and be thankful for. 4 For everything God made is good, and we may eat it gladly if we are thankful for it, 5 and if we ask God to bless it, for it is made good by the Word of God and prayer.
6 If you explain this to the others you will be doing your duty as a worthy pastor who is fed by faith and by the true teaching you have followed.
7 Don’t waste time arguing over foolish ideas and silly myths and legends. Spend your time and energy in the exercise of keeping spiritually fit. 8 Bodily exercise is all right, but spiritual exercise is much more important and is a tonic for all you do. So exercise yourself spiritually, and practice being a better Christian because that will help you not only now in this life, but in the next life too. 9-10 This is the truth and everyone should accept it. We work hard and suffer much in order that people will believe it, for our hope is in the living God who died for all, and particularly for those who have accepted his salvation.
11 Teach these things and make sure everyone learns them well. 12 Don’t let anyone think little of you because you are young. Be their ideal; let them follow the way you teach and live; be a pattern for them in your love, your faith, and your clean thoughts. 13 Until I get there, read and explain the Scriptures to the church; preach God’s Word.
14 Be sure to use the abilities God has given you through his prophets when the elders of the church laid their hands upon your head. 15 Put these abilities to work; throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone may notice your improvement and progress. 16 Keep a close watch on all you do and think. Stay true to what is right and God will bless you and use you to help others.
Source: The Living Bible: BibleGateway.com
We Respond
Reflection: In this part of the letter, Paul was more personal with Timothy. First, Paul warned about those who will fall away from faith in Christ to the teaching of demons. Two of these wrong teachings were that marriage is wrong and that eating certain foods is wrong. Paul’s answer is for believers to determine what is good by the word of God and prayer, then do what He says. It is the duty of a Christian leader to do this and teach others to do so as well. Like Timothy, leaders are to get spiritual exercise, to seek to be good examples for others to follow, and to work hard to help people believe and hope in the living God (Jesus) who died for all, particularly those who have accepted His salvation. Timothy was to set the pattern by his teaching and life, by his love, faith, and pure thoughts. Paul hoped to visit, but in the meantime, he instructed Timothy to read the Scriptures, encourage believers, and teach the people to put them into practice. He told Timothy to throw himself into practicing the spiritual gift he had received (from the Holy Spirit) when the elders had laid their hands on him and prayed. He was to pay close attention to how he lived so that people would see from his life what it meant to be saved and grow in Christ.
Prayer: Dear God, thank You that, through Jesus Christ, You have already defeated Satan and all his demonic forces and plans against God’s people. In Jesus’s powerful name and by the blood He shed for us at the cross, I come against the demonic ideologies of this present age. These are being used to attack citizens of the kingdom of God. I come against the controlling spirits of deceitfulness and hypocrisy, lies and lawlessness that evil forces are using to sear people’s consciences so they can no longer distinguish between good and evil. They celebrate or promote evil and shame or hinder good. Please come to our rescue, Lord. Raise up people who will stand up for Your plan for marriage and families and who will thank You for all the good things You provided for us when You created the earth and everything in it. Please raise up young leaders like Timothy who will exercise godly wisdom, be good examples of right living, work hard at helping people, giving people hope, and pointing them to Christ Jesus who died and now lives for all. Strengthen and encourage Your people of all ages to be patterns for others in their teaching, their charity, their faith, their holy and morally pure lives. May each believer throw themselves into exercising the spiritual gifts they have been given by the Holy Spirit. May all Your children pay close attention to how we live so that people will see from our lives what it means to be saved and grow in Christ. For the glory of God. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, which one of these He wants you to work on or something else more personal that He points out.)
- I will seek to encourage a younger person in the faith as Paul did with Timothy.
- I will be alert to demonic ideologies and warn others about them.
- I will pray before meals to express my gratitude for all the nutritious food God has created and made available to us.
- I will ask the Holy Spirit to help me to develop and to follow through on a regimen of spiritual exercise.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.