"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth."
2 Timothy 2:15
We aregoing to look at letters written to Timothy from Paul this week in 2 Timothy. I encourage you as always, to take the time to read all of it, and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the hidden riches we find in Scripture. The King James translation tells us to study to show ourselves approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. As followers of Christ this is not optional. It is essential. We must constantly be in the Word of God studying to accurately handle the Word of God and determine in our hearts to seek His approval above man’s.
In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Paul declares to Timothy:
"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."
We must understand to be adequate, and equipped for every good work, we must become accurate in handling the Word of God. It is a huge responsibility demanded of all believers before our Lord. Only Scripture is inspired by God and is able to teach, reprove, correct, and train us in righteousness, so we may be adequately equipped for every good work. So why are we not fixed on being true disciples of the Word of God? Why do we prefer watered down versions and interpretations from other people rather than from God Himself? He told us the Holy Spirit would teach us, and lead us into all truth! (John 14:26-26, John 16:13, 1John 2:27) Please look these verses up, mark them in your Bible, and memorize them.
Before these verses we read in 2:14 Paul warning Timothy not to wrangle about words which is useless and leads to ruin of the hearers:
"Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers."
Again in 2:16 Paul warns:
"But you avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene ."
Let us remember Hebrews 4:12-13:
"For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do."
There is no substitute for the pure Word of God. No other words written in any book has the power to change us and reveal the truth to us. It is living and active. It is eternal.
In Matthew 24:35 Jesus declares:
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away."
There is no escaping the Light of the Word of God that reveals truth about the thoughts and motives of our heart. The only way we can know the truth about ourselves is allowing the Holy Spirit with the Word of God to reveal it to us. We all must learn this in order to be set free from the deception that lies deep within all of us apart from the Holy Spirit’s counsel within the Word of God. We can’t help others until we allow the Word to help us. We cannot give what we don’t have. In order to minister to others effectively, we have to have been ministered to by none other than God Himself. It is His will for all. There is no partiality with God. We are all extended this invitation, but we know from Scripture few will accept it. I want to be one of the few; don’t you?
I would like to finalize this devotional with Paul’s charge to Timothy and to us in 4:1-5:
"I solemnly charge you in the presence of the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."
We are all to teach the Word who are followers of Christ. May I ask you as parents, are you teaching your children the Word of God? Is it a priority in your home? There was a time in this nation when it was. Children were taught in the home the Bible. Church was a secondary teacher. We must return to the Bible as individuals and as families. The Holy Spirit will bring His Word to life if you allow Him to. You must seek before you will find. We are to be sober in all things. We are to endure hardship doing the work God has called each of us to. We must fulfill our ministry as Jesus did His. This is also what we must teach our children in order to keep them from lies and deception of the enemy of our souls. May we allow His Word to equip us for every good He has purposed in our lives as individuals. Then as Jesus prayed:
"Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
In His love.
Teresa Roberts
Masterpiece Fitness
276-237-6680
The annual Dannelly 10K was a race I ran with all my children. The last few years it conflicted with other races, but this year it was fun to do again with clients. Marilyn and I won first in our age groups. Life goes on, and doesn’t stop for anyone!
