Scripture:
2 Timothy 3:12-17 ESV
[12] Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, [13] while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. [14] But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it [15] and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. [16] All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, [17] that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Observation:
Paul wrote two letters to Timothy, who was a young Protoje of his who had been sent out to build a church. As the labor of putting together people and placing them in the right positions. Paul thought it was necessary to inform Timothy about the kind of people and their character. He knew that persecution would come to anyone who was trying to walk this thing out. It’s one thing to read the bible it’s a whole different ball game to try to live it out. As Paul prepared young Timothy, he gave him a warning about those who desire to live a life with godly principles. People would pretend to be something they were not with the intention of deceiving others. The deception. Would go from bad to worse. Fakers and frauds would infiltrate the church, deceiving those whom they build relationships with and being deceived by the enemy. Paul’s encouragement to Timothy was that he held fast and tight to what he had learned. Continuing in the faith. Knowing that what was taught came from the Holy Spirit through the vessel of Paul. It seemed important for Paul to remind Timothy that the things he had been learning began in childhood. Those around him started teaching him the scripture. Honestly, that’s where the benefit of wisdom came from. Giving Timothy an understanding of salvation through Jesus Christ. So Timothy knew the scripture and had an understanding of it. The reminder from Paul of how the scripture came into existence was a vital part of Paul’s mission that he undertook by writing this letter. Reassuring Timothy that all scripture came from the very breath of GOD and that its purpose was to mold us, shape us, and forge us to be more like Jesus Christ was the core of what was being said in these few verses. Paul was mentoring Timothy to be a pastor. There would be times when young Timothy would have to correct others and equip them for the work of the ministry. Using the scripture to do so was going to be the key to whether or not he was going to be successful or not. His role as a pastor was to make sure those under his care were prepared for the work of the ministry.
Application:
When scripture is used in its proper context to correct us and equip us. There is no real way to argue with it. Especially if we truly believe that it is all inspired by the Holy Spirit. GODS word is exactly that…GOD’S word. I’m not going to lie. Correction sucks. But if our intentions in life are truly to be molded and shaped to be more like Jesus…it’s nessesrey. My son Tyler brought up a verse on the way to work yesterday that I thought was interesting coming from him. He said no discipline feels good at the time, but if you allow it to sink in, it’s how our heavenly Father forges our godly character. To be honest, I thought that statement was pretty profound coming from him. But it showed me that the scripture had been shaping his young heart to begin walking in the calling GOD had placed on him. A calling I had seen years ago and did my best to encourage. Even though my methods were wrong. I can see the seeds that were planted so many years ago, starting to take root, and it’s refreshing. My point to this SOAP is this. You might be able to argue with a man when he corrects you, but you can’t argue with scripture. It’s GOD’S breath. It will drive out those who are trying to decive and distort the gospel. It will equip and prepare those who are called, and it will recreate a hard heart of stone into a soft heart of flesh. In Jesus’ redemption, restrictions and reconciliation are found. But where is Jesus found? Well, let me answer that with scripture. John 1:1 in the beginning was the word, and the word was GOD, and the word was with GOD. HE was with GOD in the beginning. All things that were created were made through HIM. HE is the very word that GOD spoke when HE said, “Let there be light.” HE is the very breath GOD breathed into HIS Holy scripture. That was given to correct us and shape us to be more like HIM. My challenge to you is…read GOD’S word, let it correct your heart. Let it change you from the inside out. Don’t use it to justify what you are doing… use it to modify the way you are living, replace resentment with forgiveness, replace hate with love, bitterness with mercy, and judgment with grace. ALL SCRIPTURE IS GOD BREATHED AND IS PROFITABLE FOR TEACHING, FOR REPROOF AND CORRECTION. GODS word can shape a godly life if you let it, but you have to soften your heart to receive it.
Prayer:
Father, your word is truth. We know that we have seen the evidence of what happens when we do our best to live it out. We come to you this morning first, asking you to forgive us. We know that we have not always been open to your correction. Help us to change that about ourselves. We want to live a life that brings you glory, and we know that it will be hard if we use your word to justify our behavior rather than modify it. It’s not up to our feelings and emotions to make the right decisions…it’s up to your word. Help us to live what it says. Walking in truth and love in the mighty name of Jesus, I pray amen.