Read: 2 Timothy 2-4:18
Paul calls Timothy his dear son who has followed Christ like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Timothy didn’t get tied up in the things of the world, but he served faithfully and hard. Then Paul examined some of the bad fruit of his ministry. He names them by name. He warns his people of fighting over doctrine as Hymenacus and Philitus. They loved to argue over issues and eventually got deceived into believing the resurrection of the dead had already occurred. They turned others away to their false doctrines. Paul also reminded the people of Jannes and Jambres who were Egyptian magicians who through sorcery opposed Moses in Exodus 7.
We are reminded that in these days, it will be difficult. People will only love themselves and their money. They will be proud and boastful, scoffers of God, disobedient to their parents and ungrateful. We see that everyday when we turn on the news. It goes on to say that they will be unloving, unforgiving, slanderers and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, puffed up with pride and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. We are warned to stay away from these people.
So lets look at the positive of that. We, as friends of God and followers of Jesus Christ will love only God. We will be humble and meek, lifting up the name of Christ every opportunity we get. We will be obedient to our parents and those in authority over us and grateful. We will be loving, forgiving, encouragers, exhorters of what is good, and exhibit self-control. We will be kind and hate what is evil. We will love our neighbors as we love ourselves. We will be full of the Holy Spirit and do the miracles that Jesus did because he is in us. We will be powerful tools for God on the earth!
Amen!
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