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Good morning my “Walking with Jesus” friends around the world.
This week I’m excited to dig into God’s Word with you, looking at 6 powerful Life Principles I’ve found in 2 Timothy, which I believe apply with remarkable importance in these days of global Coronavirus calamity.
Here’s the Principle for today: “Guard and Share the Godly wisdom entrusted to you.”
Listen to what the Holy Spirit led Paul to write to Timothy, his young friend and the spiritual shepherd of a large group of Christians in Ephesus in the first century: “What you’ve heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you – guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in you.” (2 Tim. 1:13,14)
Do you see how very relevant this powerful word is for followers of Jesus Christ around our chaotic world today? Do you notice twice Paul uses the word “guard“. We understand the importance of protecting valuable things or the people we love. Here Paul suggests that we place the highest possible value on the Spiritual wisdom we have learned from those we trust who have taught us the things of God and His Word. Do you see all around the world, but especially recently here in America, that what has been revered as truth, as important, as essential to stable society, is being rejected and destroyed?
God’s TRUTH is the foundation and Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the existence of the human race and families, churches, businesses, schools, cities, and even entire societies around the world. Remove God’s truth and it all crumbles. So who are the people, in every part of the world, who are responsible to GUARD God’s TRUTH? Those who know the truth, live by the truth, cherish the truth and can teach others God’s truth, right? Is that you? Are you doing that in every area that your life touches the society in which you live?
Here’s a very important series of questions my friends:
1. WHAT is your truth source which you fully trust? Where do you get the truth you need to live each day?
2. WHO do you trust to be totally truthful with you and help you apply God’s truth to life, when life gets really confusing for you?
3. WHO have been the key TRUTH teachers in your life? Those who have poured God’s wisdom into your life? Other than your immediate family, for we talked about them yesterday, who else has God used to pour His wisdom into you? Pastors, teachers, coaches, bosses, friends, media based teachers, books etc?
4. WHO are you pouring God’s truth wisdom into? How?
Now look what Paul writes next: “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Tim. 2:2) I call this “4 Gen Discipleship”. This is gigantic in its importance my friends. Jesus left only one mandate for His friends, the disciples. . .“As you are going through life, make disciples of all peoples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and teaching them all I have taught you, and I will be with you always…” (Matt. 28:19,20) As parents we watch closely to see if our children have learned well from us, and the time in their lives when they most demonstrate that is not when they are children, it’s when they are adults and have children of their own!
Now watch this… when your children teach their children is what you taught them…that is 3 generation discipleship! Then if your grandchildren grow up and teach their children the great spiritual wisdom that you taught their parents, now that is 4 Gen Discipleship!! This is the glue that holds families, and entire nations together, and why the God honoring nuclear family… Dad & Mom, married to each other and following Jesus faithfully, and raising their children in Deut. 6:5-9 fashion, is so vital…so very, very vital to the survival of a family and any nation! So how is this working in your family? And who else, outside your family are you building 4 Gen Discipleship with, using God’s truth wisdom?
One more important Scriptural challenge from Paul to Timothy and to us for today: “Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen… Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.” (2 Tim. 2:14,16)
Oh my! I’ve never seen bickering, quarreling, and outright conflict in many parts of the world as I see today. No longer do people seem satisfied with expressing their opinion. Now by every means, many impose their opinions on others, even by force and our streets are exploding in violence. This “Defund the Police” movement in America is shocking! It’s a movement to reject authority and remove law and order. Anarchy will result of course.
And to control anarchy requires force, a stronger force than the anarchists, and that often brings martial law as we have seen in many countries around the world through history. And when those elected to lead the nation through representative government are themselves in deep conflict and disrespect for each other, it breeds similar discord in the streets. What we have seen in Washington is now in the streets of many major cities in America. Congress cannot call for calm and civility in our cities because they have been modeling anarchy in their hateful speeches and dysfunctional leadership.
Notice the powerful words Paul uses to challenge Timothy to be a mature man of God who like a skilled craftsman, uses God’s Word effectively in leading the people. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15) That my friends is a worthy goal for all of us. Men and women who are saturated with God’s truth, God’s wisdom. Then led and empowered by the Holy Spirit we carefully, effectively proclaim, teach, and live God’s truth, God’s wisdom in our chaotic, truth-rejecting world. But of course in order to live this, we need to be saturated in God’s Word. Is that you my friends?
Mark my words… the global chaos will only continue for many more months, possible years. More and more every community in the world needs men and women who are strong in character, mature in godly wisdom, deeply rooted in God’s truth, and can both speak and act as God’s messengers of truth, justice, and right in the chaos. Oh I urge you to dig deeply into these powerful words from Paul today my friends, and grasp them as your life objective, or you may easily be swept away in the dysfunction.
Oh Lord Jesus, we desperately need Your help as we try to stand against the Tsunami of wrong thinking, rebellion and rejection of You and Your truth, that we see all around the world. Holy Spirit please teach us, empower us to be the types of men and women Paul was challenging Timothy to become.
Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.
Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.
Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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