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.

Day 167/260: Read 1 Timothy 4

God created man as a free moral agent. That means he has the ability to make choices based on information, not merely instinct. You have the freedom to decide to follow Jesus, or to reject Him. God will not force you into submission.

Notice what Paul said to Timothy. “Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.” Timothy had a choice to make. He could either use the gift to the glory of God, or he could neglect it. Refuse to work for the Lord. Ignore the truth.

While we may not be endowed with the miraculous manifestations of the Holy Spirit today, we all have different non-miraculous talents and abilities. We can either use those talents to God’s glory, according to His will, or we can neglect them. We have the freedom to decide.

With that freedom, however, comes consequences. We need to devote ourselves to working in the kingdom if we are to reap the rewards of a faithful servant. Those who refuse to work will be punished. Yes, even if you are not actively participating in evil things, if you are refusing to actively participate in the things of God, you will be punished. Consider the parable of the talents on this point (Matthew 25:14-30).

Are you using the talents and abilities with which you have been blessed?

Memory (Copy into a notebook 5-10 times)

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 opportunities to glorify God through your talents.

Day 166/260: Read 1 Timothy 3

The Holy Spirit, through the pen of the apostle Paul, set forth certain qualities for those who would lead the church of Christ.

Qualifications are also set forth for those who would serve as deacons. Look closely at these qualifications, though. Is there anything listed that should not be true of any Christian?

“Blameless,…temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous.” These are things every Christian should want to be.

There are those qualifications related to the family that may not apply in every Christian’s case, but for the married Christian, shouldn’t he be faithful to his wife? For the Christian parent, shouldn’t he strive to raise believing children?

The church needs elders and deacons to serve in those roles faithfully. If you are a married man with children, what is preventing you from serving in such a role? If you are a young man, not yet married or not yet a parent, what traits do you need to work on in your own life to make you qualified to serve once those family qualifications are met?

In his letter to the churches of Galatia, Paul listed qualities of the fruit of the Spirit, then said, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). Every Christian must live and walk in the Spirit and strive to serve God where He has placed him.

Memory (Read aloud 5-10 times)

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 maturity in spiritual matters and Christian behavior.

Day 165/260: Read 1 Timothy 2

Are you ever amazed by the restraint of the inspired writers when they speak of government? Christians were heavily persecuted in the first century, many even dying for the faith. Yet inspiration teaches that Christians should respect those in positions of authority and even submit to them, as long as they are not demanding disobedience to God.

Paul urged Timothy to pray for all men, including “kings and all who are in authority.” Rome’s opposition to Christianity was no secret; Caesar was not a friend of first century disciples. Despite the animosity, the apostle said that “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for all kings and all who are in authority.” When is the last time you prayed for a politician that you did not like?

As followers of Jesus, we are to be peaceful and submissive to those that do not interfere with our religion, and pray for those who do oppose us. Pray “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” Does your social media usage show quietness, peace, godliness, and reverence?

Let’s pray the way God wants us to pray, and live the way God wants us to live, looking toward our eternal citizenship and striving to bring our neighbors “to the knowledge of the truth.”

Memory (Recite to a friend without looking)

1 Timothy 1:15. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

Pray

Pray for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

Day 164/260: Read 1 Timothy 1

What types of things are “contrary to sound doctrine”? Paul gives us quite a list in the first chapter of 1 Timothy, and it is not even all-inclusive. Lawless, insubordinate, ungodly, sinners, unholy, profane, murderers of parents, manslayers, fornicators, sodomites, kidnappers, liars, perjurers. Have you watched the news lately?

These acts of unrighteousness are usually the headlines on cable news, and many do not even flinch when they hear them. Many modern-day network programs are filled with profanity and fornication. Politicians are often criticized for their half-truths and flat-out lies. And more and more, kidnapping has been getting attention on social media as trafficking has been exposed.

Can we get away from these things? Sadly, as long as we live in a sinful world, we cannot. Jesus does not want us to leave this world, but He wants us to make it better in any way that we can. When He prayed to God, He said, “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15).

Protect yourself by being aware of the sins of the world and guarding yourself against them. We should, like Timothy, “wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience.”

Memory (Fill in the blanks)

1 Timothy 1:15. This is a faithful saying and _______________ of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am _______________.

Pray

Pray with thanksgiving that you have been taught the grace and mercy of God.