Corona Devo 1793
Sometimes in training a dog, managing an employee, teaching a student, treating a patient, or raising a child...we see the (poor) results of other methods, and it motivates us on our own methods.
We want to do it right, if we can. It's almost like life gives us examples of what not to do.
I am grateful that we serve a God who does not keep us guessing about the standards that He sets and the guidelines that He gives for us as we seek to live for Him. The Bible gives overarching themes (Love one another. ~John 13:34) but it also gets specific too.
2 Timothy Chapter 3 is one of those places. Paul is teaching (warning) Timothy of the "last days", when self-focus will be the rule... and care for God and others, the exception.
May the Bible motivate us to serve God today, instead of self. All we have to do is look around, and we see the (poor) results of other methods in people all around us.
We want to do it right, if we can. And with God's help, we can. The Bible gives us examples of what not to do.
Heavenly Father, help us to be the opposite of what Your Word warns us about. Amen.
You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. (2) For people will love only themselves... ~2 Timothy 3:1-2
Father, Help us to love YOU and Your Word today. Help us to then love others as Your Word instructs. Guard our hearts from a love of self. Amen.
...that in the last days there will be very difficult times. (2) For people will love only themselves and their money. ~2 Timothy 3:1-2
Haven't we learned yet? Money can't buy love. It can't buy fulfillment or purpose for us. Money can't buy joy, health, family ties or true friends, and it certainly can't buy us salvation from our sins.
So why (oh why) do we elevate money so highly in our hearts and our lives? Money blinds so many of us from seeing (and experiencing) the true riches of Christ.
Lord, help us to NOT love only ourselves and our money today. Amen.
~~~
God's next tip in living well for Him? Don't be boastful and proud.
They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. ~2 Timothy 3:2
Again...what not to do if we love the Lord. I wish we didn't see so much of this occurring in the world around us. But then--God told us that we would: You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. (2) For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred (2 Timothy 3:1-2).
Instead of doing this, we want to do it right if we can. And with God's help, we can.
Lord, help us to live for You today and to make the right choices in honoring You instead of honoring ourselves. Amen.
(3) They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. (4) They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. ~2 Timothy 3:3-4
Lord, we have seen these harsh behaviors, and so have You. Find the areas of our lives and hearts that are harboring any of the ugliness mentioned here and carve it out of us. Your Word is a tool and knife to cut-us-to-the-heart, and to also cut-away the sin in our lives.
Being unloving to others is a sin. Cut away the unloving spirit inside of us, Father.
Slandering another is a sin. Silence any slandering we are doing, Father.
Being unforgiving is a sin. Carve out any unforgiving spirit inside of us, Father.
~~~
They will be cruel and hate what is good. (4) They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. ~2 Timothy 2:3-4
If these phrases and characteristics were a breed of dog in a setting, I picture them as a pitbull bred-to-fight and standing in a dog ring with teeth bared and tensions high.
People in the last days will be scary. Their attitudes, "truths", and tendencies will not resemble Jesus Christ at all. Love (except for themselves) has been lost in their hearts, and their lack-of-love for others will bring a dangerous reality to everyday life.
In opposition to everything that the Bible teaches us, they will be in the wrong. But, we want to do right, if we can. And with God's help, we can.
Lord, help us to live (Your) laws today, and to do right. Amen.
~~~
The last mention of difficult people and times is the most difficult: They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! (2 Timothy 3:5).
Good and gracious God, protect us from blatant deception of our faith. We will never fool You, and choosing to reject (Your) power that could make us godly...that makes a fool out of us. The danger of rejecting You is life-altering. Protect our hearts from pride, Lord. Amen.
~~~
We can read and process 2 Timothy 3:1-5, and as we see the (poor) results that the Bible mentions, it can motivate us on our own methods in living for the Lord.
We want to do it right, if we can. And we can--with God's help today.
I am grateful that we serve a God who does not keep us guessing about the standards that He sets and the guidelines that He gives us as we seek to live for Him.
You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. (2) For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. (3) They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. (4) They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. (5) They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! ~2 Timothy 3:1-5
Blessings,
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