God’s Truth for Trying Times - 8/7/20

We need God’s truth in trying times. Read the Scripture passage, think about what it is saying, then pray; by yourself or with your household. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly (Col. 3:16).

READ: ‬ ‭‬‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2:24-26‬

“And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.”

‭‭(2 Timothy‬ ‭2:24-26‬)

CONSIDER: Let’s focus on the same three verses one more day! So much here to digest. Believers, especially Christian leaders like Timothy (Pastors and elders in local churches), are to be kind to everyone. The hope is that God will grant repentance as people hear the truth and are confronted with it. Escaping from the snare of the devil is a life and death proposition. Notice at the end of verse 26 it says that they have been captured by the devil to do the devil’s will. That would be in direct opposition to God’s will. So people’s eternal destiny is at stake here. This is why we must rely upon the Lord and his strength and not our own. But we must exert every ounce of strength God gives us in ministry for the souls of others.

THINK: What does this declare about God? What are God’s people being called to do? What assurance is given? How does the Word of God transform our hearts and lives and relationships?