Intro:The Scriptures are able to make us wise. There is a wisdom in the Book that the world in all its wisdom cannot find. We are either dead on it or we are fools. There is no middle ground.
In the first part of this passage Paul reminds Timothy to remain (“hold on to”) what he has become assured of. Are you assured that the Word of God is true? This is a weird world that might accept a god but only if he/she/it is not demanding or exclusive. We use big words like “pluralistic” for a culture like America – basically it means we do not hold to any absolute truth. A little god and a little Darwin. A little god and a little Freud. A little god and a little Capitalism. They want us to keep the mix.
The folks in Timothy’s day were exactly the same. They were good at sales, good at making gods, good at immorality. So Paul reminds Tim to hold on to the Book. It takes a solid grip on God and His word to hold on in a culture adrift. Try telling your friends that you believe in God and see what happens. Tell them you believe that Jesus is the only way to God and see what happens (see Acts 4:12).
Read: 2 Timothy 3:14-17
14But you remain in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them. 15From infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. 16Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Think:
Paul tells Timothy to “remain” in what he has learned. This is not a suggestion but a command. It is not just a good thing it is IMPERATIVE. Christians lose anchor when we move away from the Bible. We are people of the Book. How is your grip on the book?
Not only is Timothy to hold on to what he learned, he is to allow the Bible to shape his beliefs and behavior. This is critical. So many Chritians that fall into serious sin or simply wander away did not do so just one morning. It was a slow fade. It started with the thinking and ending with action. It started with the head and ended with the hands. Paul says that the Scriptures teach us to how to live. It shows us how to think and act(v.17).
Belief always comes before behavior. You act out of what you know. You come to a red light and you STOP. Your belief that the red light stands for something will direct your behavior accordingly. You have a teen in the neighborhood that you "know" is up to no good. You are sure they are the ones that egged the homes over the weekend. As such, your belief WILL dictate your behavior toward that teen. Belief always comes before behavior.
So, show me how you are viewing something today and I will show you what you are going to be doing 5 years from now. Your belief will guide your behavior. So, how do I get wisdom for living in a culture adrift? I get it from the Bible. The Bible is profitable for teaching, reproof, correction and training in right living (v.17).
Reflect on your worldview. How did you build it? Do you reflect your parents? Your education? Your friends? Your church? Or your Bible? How biblical is your view of the world?
Do:
Do you trust God's word? Are you allowing it to shape what you believe?
Continue to read and study the word. Seek to align your life to IT not the other way around. Be mindful not to justify yourself around those difficult passages that you do not like.
Thank God for the wisdom you gain from His word.
DevoLink: Devotions to help you Link with God.
