“Being a Christian is Tough, Get a Helmet!”


The thing about writing a blog, is you often don’t know if anybody reads it.  Occasionally someone will tell me they read my blog, or post a comment on Facebook.  However, when God lays something on my heart about which I should right, I need to be obedient and write it.  Even if nobody but me reads it, I need to yield to the leading.  Plus, the more you write, the better you write, right?!
A little over a month ago I was preparing for my inductive Bible study on Philippians, and began reading different passages on YouBible in the Amplified Bible.  My wandering brought me specifically to 2 Timothy 2.  The Amplified Bible provides all of the possible interpretations of a word based on the original language (Hebrew, Greek or Aramaic).  2 Timothy was written by Paul to Timothy as if Paul were writing to a son.   2 Timothy 2 specifically addresses living as a disciple of Christ.  I read through the chapter, and became engrossed in 2 Timothy 2:21-25.  Scripture memorization is a cornerstone of the Christian, as well as, the key to hiding God’s word in your heart so that you don’t sin against him.
If you want to see the full passage of 2 Timothy 2 in the Amplified Bible click here.  I want to talk specifically about verses 21-25.   Before we proceed make sure your boots are laced tight and you have on your big boy pants, since Paul is about to take us to school.
Let’s take a look at verse 21 to begin our journey.  I am going to give you the version I pulled out of the Amplified Bible to memorize.

“So whoever separates himself from contact with contaminating and corrupting influences will be a vessel set apart and useful for honorable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work.

I had to ask myself, what are the contaminating and corrupting influences in my life.   As I prayed, ruminated and memorized this verse,  it became clear to me that anything that prevents me from studying God’s word, taking time to pray, or leads my mind toward things that are contrary to the character of God are “contaminating and corrupting.”  I won’t bore you with the things that came to my mind that I have since eliminated, but be careful as you ponder that question for yourself.  You might not like the answers the Holy Spirit provides you.  And if the answer for you are things that you are holding onto so tightly you can let go, those “contaminating and corrupting influences” are idols.    As you contemplate the things that are corrupting and contaminating you should ask yourself,
“Do I really want to be a vessel set apart and useful for honorable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work?”  If the answer is ‘yes’ it is time to tear down some idols and reclaim/redeem the time.
My next chunk of 2 Timothy which I had to memorize and upon I must chew was verse 22.  Can it be much tougher that verse 21?  Let’s take a look.

“Shun youthful lusts and flee from them, and aim at and pursue conformity to the will of God in thought, word, and deed;  and aim at and pursue  faith, love, and concord with others in fellowship with all Christians, who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart.”

      As I meditated on this passage, it came to me that the 2nd and 3rd commands made the 1st possible.  If I “aim at and pursue conformity to the will of God in thought, word and deed”, I will be shunning and fleeing from youthful lusts.  It is possible you may relate that word lust to sexual lust.  If you look up the Strong’s Concordance for that word lust, you will find it means, “desire, craving, longing, desire for what is forbidden.”  It strikes me that not being content with what you have and desiring anything that you don’t or can’t have falls into the definition of lust.  Again we come back to the topic of idols; things we worship beside God.   If you are familiar with Judges 6, you know that God directed that Gideon tear down the Asherah pole before erecting an altar to God.  The word repent comes to mind, since tearing down the Asherah pole required Gideon to turn away from it and toward God.
Notice the working in verse 21 “aim at and pursue.”  Paul is saying that this effort will be active and ongoing.  It takes work and effort that never ends.   To aim at and pursue something means to be moving toward it all the time without stopping.  This brings to mind Paul’s confession and encouragement in Galatians 2:20

“I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

So we would say that “aim at and pursue” tells us to crucify self daily.  Let me challenge you.  I provided a link above for 2 Timothy 2 in the Amplified Bible.  You have a start on this road with what I have laid about above concerning verses 20-21.    Read, memorize and meditate on verses 20-21 and on your own look at verses 22-25.    I wish I could say this has been an enjoyable experience, but that would be a fleshly response.  From a spiritual point of view it has been a rewarding journey.  How rewarding?
Beginning August 31st (Wednesday) I will be leading a Precept Upon Precept study of 2 Timothy using The Inductive Bible Study method.  It will be part of Deeper Roots at Rosemont Baptist Church from 6:30-8 PM.  You can register by going to the Precept website.  I have been in a cocoon digesting 2 Timothy for several months now.  Would love to have you join me and studying this epistle using the Inductive Bible Study Method.

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