"with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will." 2 Timothy 2:25

There is nothing more agonizing than to observe those we love being held captive by satan with his lies and deception causing them to do his will. Satan comes as an angel of light. (2 Cor 11:14) He sets snare for us, and when we take the bait we become captive to the sin we have been lured into. Over time we become enslaved or addicted to our sin, and it will eventually destroy us and often those around us. That is his goal for God’s creation. John 10-10 tells us:

"Satan came to kill, steal, and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

The antidote for satan’s lies and deception is God’s absolute truths found in scripture. We are promised transformation when we renew our minds with His Word. (Rom 12:2) The Bible also tells us we shall know the truth and the truth will make us free. (John 8:32)

If we look closely at 2 Tim 2:25 we see a chain of action. Firstly, when we see those in opposition to Christ, we are not to judge them, but we are to gently correct them with His love and instruction. His kindness brings us to repentance.
(Rom 2:4) Repentance leads to a knowledge of truth being able to combine spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. The result is they are brought to their senses as we see over and over throughout scripture. They are then freed from the snare of lies and deception and are no longer held captive to do satan’s will – but free to do the will of God – which give us all life and life more abundantly. Let us fulfill our responsibility as Christ followers to those we love by obeying Paul’s instruction to Timothy.
In His love.

Teresa Roberts

Masterpiece Fitness

276-237-6680

Experiencing life and life more abundantly running the Warrior Creek Half Marathon Trail Run in Boomer, NC Saturday morning. Mud, creeks, forest, nice weather, strength to continue to run, and great running camaraderie. All I recognized as gifts from the "Life Giver."