#DailyDevotion What Path Do You Want To Be On?

January 31st

Read 2 Tim 3:1–18

2Ti 3:1-5  But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.  (2)  For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  (3)  heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,  (4)  treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,  (5)  having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people… (16)  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,  (17)  that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

 

So we have two paths placed before us:  A path of life and a path of death.  A path of light and a path of darkness.  Which one are you on?

 

Verses 1-5 show what the path of darkness and death looks like.  It tells us Christians what to expect in the world and in the Church from those who will not believe the whole of God’s Word but of those who pick and choose.  Do you know anyone or are you one who is a lover of self and money?  Are you proud, arrogant, abusive or disobedient to your parents?  Are you ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good?  Are you treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, a lover of pleasure rather than a lover of God?  Well if you are repent!  If you know such a one in Church call them to repentance, but watch out lest they deceive you by calling you judgmental and you fall into the trap of approving of their sin.  Are they outside the Church?  You may try to tell them the truth of where that way of life is leading and point to them a better way, but if they do not listen, do not fret, they are not ready for the gospel yet.  You have done your part.

 

Those who have the appearance of godliness but deny its power are those who dress themselves in good works and good intentions but deny the good news of Jesus Christ.  They look and sound like saints at times but they are dragons with poisonous lips and tongues.  They get people to doubt the grace, the good favor, of God on account of Christ Jesus and tell you if you want to be saved you must stop doing x and start doing y and never tell you about the power of God which is the gospel.  What is this gospel?  The Father, the Creator, accepts you on account of the work of his son Jesus of Nazareth.  Your sins are forgiven you and are atoned for on account of the shedding of blood and the death of Jesus.  You are perfect and holy for his sake.  When this is your faith, you have the power of godliness.

 

The path of life and light is much different.  It follows the teachings of the Holy Scriptures which point only Jesus as the salvation of all people everywhere.   This good news teaching of the scriptures gives us patience and make us loving of God and neighbor.  This godliness makes us steadfast in the faith.  It is strengthened in us through the daily use of the Word of God. This Word of God “which is able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  (16)  … is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,  (17)  that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

 

Lord Jesus Christ, by your Word give us your Spirit that we walk on the path of light and life unto life everlasting. Amen.