“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Equipped (2 Timothy 3)
“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.” 2 Timothy 3:1-9
Dark times indeed! This description of the end times sounds a lot like current culture. Self-absorption, no self-control, and rampant wickedness. Times that are full of difficulty and darkness.
What are you following?
“You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.” 2 Timothy 3:10-11
In contrast to people causing division and embracing darkness, Paul commends Timothy for following his teaching, conduct, aim in life, faith, patience, love, steadfastness, persecutions, and sufferings. Who we follow is important. Are we following those who are mired in sin? Or the Word of God?
Dark Times are Normal
“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3:12-15
Persecution and difficulty are a normal part of Christian life. “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”, Paul tells us. When we encounter dark times, we can follow Paul’s advice to Timothy:
“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed” 2 Timothy 3:14
Continue
Keep on keeping on – Christ-followers lean in and continue in what they believe when the dark times hit. When we don’t feel like studying the Bible, we need it even more. When we don’t feel like praying, we should be dropping to our knees. When we don’t want to go to church, we should connect with the body of believers.
Equipped
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
When I was in elementary school, my father started his own construction company, specializing in construction to do with water (bridges, sewer treatment plants, lift stations, etc.). I have a ton of memories of visiting my dad at a construction site and seeing him sitting in the driver’s seat of heavy machinery. Each of his jobs required specific heavy equipment.
As soon as I read the last two verses of 2 Timothy 3, I pictured my dad in that heavy equipment. God equips us with specialized and heavy-duty tools for living a Christ-centered life. We are already equipped through God’s Word. He breathed out, inspired, every word of scripture to prepare us for what was coming in our lives.
When dark times come, we need to turn to God’s Word – it already has the answers. We have to get into the word and align our lives with it.
2 Timothy 3 Action Step:
When we feel like we are drowning in darkness, it is time to remember that God knew what we would be going through. He inspired the Word of God to prepare us for the very situation we find ourselves in right now. Today, let’s take a moment to access the heavy machinery that we have sitting in the yard of our lives. Time to pray and ask God to reveal His Word to us. Then, we need to open our Bibles and dive in.
Share your thoughts in the comments on this post or under the 2 Timothy 3 post at www.facebook.com/devoinaction or tag me @devoinaction on Instagram – I’d love to hear what you think and see pics of your Bible journaling!
2 Timothy 3 Prayer:
Dear God, Thank You for equipping us with everything we need for every part of our lives. Help us remember that Your Word has all that we need. Reveal to us what we need right in this moment of our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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