Day 173/260: Read 2 Timothy 4

Paul charged Timothy, “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season.” It is said that Marshall Keeble explained this to mean “you preach it if they like it, and you preach it if they don’t!”

There are a lot of people in today’s society that don’t like the truth. Some say there is no such thing as truth, or that your truth may differ from my truth because of our individual experiences. Thus, one cannot claim to know “the” truth, because there are actually “many” truths.

Yet, Jesus proclaimed, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). In His prayer for the apostles, Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17). Which brings us back to 2 Timothy 4:2, in which Paul charged Timothy, “Preach the word!”

If we are preaching God’s Word, we are preaching the one and only truth. Paul had earlier written to Timothy that God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). It is the truth of God’s Word that saves us and sets us free from the bondage of sin.

God said it, that settles it, and I must proclaim it…whether they like it or not!

Memory (Fill in the blanks)

2 Timothy 2:15. Be diligent to present yourself ________ to God, a worker who does not need to be ________, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Pray

Pray for courage in spreading God’s truth about love, grace, mercy, and faithfulness.

Day 172/260: Read 2 Timothy 3

You may have heard a religious person say, “We’re all going to heaven, just taking different paths to get there.” Friends, this is a lie that has been pushed by false teachers for decades, and every day this ungodly line of thinking infects more and more sincere people who simply have not thought it through. “But evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.”

Paul gives us quite a list of evil deeds and attitudes in the third chapter of 2 Timothy. “Perilous times” indeed. Just like the “evil men and imposters” who have been spreading these false doctrines, those who fall for their lies “grow worse and worse” year by year.

The sad thing is that so many truly are sincere, but they just don’t understand the fullness of God’s grace and truth. They are the epitome of those “having a form of godliness but denying its power.” They may attend worship services every week, read their Bible every day, but they are being misled by deceptive men and women who are “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

The gospel is simple. God wants to save you. Turn your life over to Him, eliminating sin from your life and infusing yourself with the righteousness that is found only in His Word. Examine the local church of Christ in your area and explore the simple gospel that the Spirit revealed through the inspired writers of the New Testament.

Memory (Copy into a notebook 5-10 times)

2 Timothy 2:15. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Pray

Pray for those who are deceived, and for those who are deceiving, that they may come to a knowledge of God and repent.

Day 171/260: Read 2 Timothy 2

Diligence in the work and Word of the Lord is to be commended. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

One who is diligent in the work and Word of the Lord is approved by God. He stands on God’s solid foundation, the inspired Word. He does that which pleases the Lord because he knows what the Lord has done for him.

One who is diligent in the work and Word of the Lord has no cause to be ashamed. There is amazing power in the Word. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16).

One who is diligent in the work and Word of the Lord is careful in how he handles God’s revelation to man. The New King James Version says, “rightly dividing the word of truth.” The American Standard Version says, “handling aright the word of truth.” If there is a right way to do something, that implies there is also a wrong way to do it. We must study to understand the Word in its proper context, carefully applying it to our lives as we seek to serve God more faithfully.

Memory (Read aloud 5-10 times)

2 Timothy 2:15. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Pray

Pray for wisdom in handling the Word accurately.

Day 170/260: Read 2 Timothy 1

“Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.” There is much we can learn from just these few words that Paul wrote.

First, notice that there is a pattern. A pattern is something to be followed closely, from which one should not deviate. If we don’t follow the divine pattern, the end result will be different from what God intended. God is infinitely wiser than man, and it behooves us to follow His pattern precisely. His pattern works.

Second, consider the phrase “sound words.” The original Greek word for “sound” has reference to good health. Thus, to follow God’s pattern is good for one’s spiritual health. When we break away from His blueprint, we endanger our eternal well-being; we become unhealthy.

Next, consider the source. Paul was the one who delivered “the pattern of sound words” to Timothy (and to everyone else he taught). Paul, as an inspired apostle, was directed by the Holy Spirit. No preacher or teacher can truthfully claim the same today. When someone begins teaching something contrary to “the pattern of sound words” found in the New Testament, beware! They are endangering your spiritual health!

Finally, the motivation with which Paul taught was “in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.” He wanted the very best for Timothy, and he taught according to the revelation of Christ our of a heart of faith and love. A powerful pattern for spiritual health, delivered from the inspired source with pure motivation.

Memory (Recite to a friend without looking)

2 Timothy 1:13. Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

Pray

Pray for wisdom in following God’s pattern, and for discernment in learning from uninspired men.

Day 169/260: Read 1 Timothy 6

A man of God is a man of action. Showing up for worship services is important, but it is not enough. A man of God must actively be seeking to do God’s will in all aspects of life: at home, at work, and at recreation. If those things draw one away from his relationship with the Almighty, they should be closely examined and put into their proper place.

Paul urges Timothy regarding worldly pursuits driven by greed, “But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.” It is good to recognize that greed can cause problems, but it is important to replace the pursuit of money with the pursuit of heavenly treasures.

Jesus taught, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 7:19-21).

Where is your heart? Are you content with the basic necessities? Paul warns, “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.” Guard your heart!

Memory (Fill in the blanks)

2 Timothy 1:13. Hold fast the pattern of ___________ words which you have heard from me, in faith and ___________ which are in Christ Jesus.

Pray

Pray for contentment with God’s grand blessings.

Day 168/260: Read 1 Timothy 5

Family takes care of family. Yes, that’s an old-school way of thinking, but it’s also Biblical. We treat each other with respect, and we help each other when needed.

The church is a family, and just like a group of people who are related by blood take care of each other, those in the church who are related by Christ’s blood must take care of each other.

Paul tells Timothy, “Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.” Family takes care of family.

When it comes to aged parents, Paul says their children should step up and offer any assistance that is needed. “But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God.” Jesus condemned those who refused to care for their parents (Mark 7:9-13), and here Paul says, “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Family takes care of family.

Memory (Fill in the blanks)

2 Timothy 1:13. Hold fast the ___________ of sound words which you have heard from me, in ___________ and love which are in Christ Jesus.

Pray

Pray a prayer of thanksgiving for your family and for the time you have to spend with them, and look for opportunities to care for them.