Corona Devo 1792

Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. (24) A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. 

(25) Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.  (26) Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.  ~2 Timothy 2:23-26

~~~

Are there any Kenny Rogers fans out there?  

I like his songs a lot, and my favorite one...that's easy: The Gambler.  

In it, Kenny Rogers sings about card playing, and he advises that the key to winning and losing is not only in knowing how to read and play the cards you've been dealt...but you must also know how to read the people that you are playing cards with.  

You got to know when to hold 'em
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away
And know when to run

The apostle Paul gave the exact same advice when writing to his protege, but he wasn't telling Timothy about card games, he was talking about sharing the truth of God with others.

Some people just want to argue to argue... and their arguments are foolish and ignorant.  Run away or know when to fold 'em (as Kenny says) from those people and conversations, Paul told Timothy.   

Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights.  ~2 Timothy 2:23

However--some people don't know any better (yet).  There may be those that oppose the truth of God, but this is only because they don't know the truth (of God) yet.  But (with the help of the Holy Spirit), we will be able to discern if their heart and minds are open to God.  Paul tells Timothy (and us) to gently instruct those people, because perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.  Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants. (2 Timothy 2:25-26).

It sounds a little intense to speak about people that way, but we know people who are living in the lies of the devil's trap, don't we?  We see, we love, we read about those who have been held captive by Satan and his lies.  These are children and people that we know at work, at school, in our friend groups, and in our families.  Some people are lost because they do not yet know the truth.  

Figuring out who only wants to start fights and who is open to learning the truth...this is our task as sons and daughters of God.

You got to know when to hold 'em
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away
And know when to run

~~~

Are we involved in a round of "spiritual poker" with anyone right now?  

Who has the Lord dealt into our lives?

Can we read the people in our path?  Are they bluffing about their interest in Jesus, or are they seriously seeking a spiritual relationship with their Savior?

Let's ask the Lord to show us the cards today.  May He reveal those in our path and in our lives that we can have an influence for the Lord with.  

Lord, we want to be Your servants today.  Help us not to quarrel but to be kind to everyone, to be able to teach, and help us to be patient with difficult people today, Father.  

And Lord, give us Your wisdom to not get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights.  Let us walk away from those people and pointless situations, but where there are seeds of spiritual curiosity, let us plow the soil and gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps You will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth, Lord.  And then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap.  Lord, help us to discern the hand we've been dealt today and to shine and share Your truth with those willing to welcome it.  Amen.  (2 Timothy 2:23-26) 

Blessings,

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