Tag Archives: 2 Timothy 4:1-22

October 25, 2014 Bible Study — Teachers Who Tell People What They Want To Hear

For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have been convicted over the last few weeks to seek to develop a disciplined prayer life. It is still a work in progress. Please pray for me, that the Holy Spirit may show me how to pray in a disciplined manner.

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Proverbs 26:9-12

    All of today’s proverbs warn us about the dangers of becoming involved with a fool. Verse eleven tells us how to recognize if we are a fool. All of us do foolish things from time to time. However, only a fool does the same foolish thing over and over.

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Psalm 95-96:13

    Will you join me in singing praises to God, in shouting out loud about His great works? Please join me in coming before the Lord in humble thanks giving. Let us listen to His voice today. I will not harden my heart and rebel against Him. Oh Lord send Your Spirit into me so that I do not try Your patience.

Sing to the Lord; praise his name.
Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.
Publish his glorious deeds among the nations.
Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.
Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!

The gods whom others worship are mere idols, but our God is the Creator of heaven and earth. In the past I have read this psalm as an enthusiastic encouragement for people to praise the Lord. Today, I read this as a plea. Please come and worship the Lord. There is joy to be had in doing so. Do not wait for Him to bring His judgement against evil.

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2 Timothy 4:1-22

    We are instructed to preach the word of God at all times, whether the time is favorable or unfavorable. It is not enough to tell people about our faith when they are receptive. We must discuss our faith even when they are unreceptive. Let us correct, rebuke, and encourage those around us, but remember to do so patiently and gently. We are in a time when people do not want to listen to sound doctrine. People seek teachers who will tell them what they want to hear rather than the hard truths. People will reject the truth and seek after myths which allow them to do what they want to do. There will come a time when we will suffer for serving the Lord, for remaining true to the Gospel. Rather than fear such suffering let us embrace it as evidence that we are being faithful.
    I must admit that I struggle with that last. I see a time of persecution coming and I am afraid that I will not be strong enough to stand up under it. I fear that I will not remain faithful in the face of persecution. Oh Lord, set your Holy Spirit upon me that I will remain faithful even when it costs me.

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Jeremiah 48-49:22

    Jeremiah gave prophesies against Judah’s neighbors, lands which had rejoiced to see the downfall of Israel and Judah. However, the peoples of these lands had boasted of their riches, power, and gods as protecting them from the fall which struck down Israel and Judah. The lesson which strikes me today is that it is a mistake to revel in the misfortune of others. When disaster strikes, whether natural or man-caused, it does not respect borders. If our neighbor suffers misfortune, we should do our best to help, otherwise that same misfortune may strike us as well.

October 25, 2013 Bible Study — Do I Seek Out Only Those Teachers Who Tell Me What I Want To Hear?

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

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Jeremiah 48-49:22

     After the fall of Jerusalem, Jeremiah had prophecies for the countries and peoples who had been rooting for its destruction. He told them that now destruction would be coming for them. Their celebration of the fall of Jerusalem was short-sighted because their own destruction would surely follow.


     As I read this passage it struck me that these prophecies apply today. First, they apply to modern Israel’s neighbors who are rooting for her destruction. They fail to see that whatever power succeeds in destroying Israel will roll over them and bring destruction and tragedy to their own lands. Second, it applies to those people and nations who are rooting for the United States to lose its preeminent status in the world. Most of them fail to see that the suffering and hardship that follows will not be confined to the United States, but will indeed effect the entire world. Finally, it applies to those who wish to see the Christian Church lose its standing as a moral authority and to see Christians forced to suffer for taking a stand for morality. In all of these cases, if the people rooting for suffering to come upon others get their way, the suffering will not be limited to those whom they wish to see suffer.

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2 Timothy 4:1-22

     Paul told Timothy that the day would come when people would not be willing to listen to sound teaching. They will seek out teachers who will tell them what they want to hear, rather than teach them the truth. We are living in that day. All too many people do not want to hear the truth, whether it be about sexual morality, or greed, or selfishness, or some other sin. They explain that if the Church wants to grow it must make its teachings “relevant”. I will tell you that the word of God is always relevant. While the Church may need to change how it teaches God’s word so that people will hear it, it cannot change the message which it has been given.


     It is important to seek out those who will tell us the things which we do not want to hear. We all have a tendency to try to limit our exposure to those who tell us things we do not want to hear. However, we are all human and need to remember that sometimes (in my case, often) God has a message for us that we do not want to hear. We do not want to change, but we need to change those places where we fall short of living according to the glory of God.

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Psalm 95-96:13

     What a great psalm (actually, two great psalms). The first calls on us to bow down and worship God because He is our creator and He watches over us. It contains a plea for us to listen to His voice today. I will listen to His voice and plead with those I know to do the same. Oh how much better your life will be if only you will listen to what God has to say to You!
     If you listen to what God has to say to you, you will do as Psalm 96 advises. Those who listen to God will sing to the Lord because they will be full of joy. I cannot help myself. I have no choice but sing His praises. Following His instructions make me want everyone to know the joy which I experience. The Lord reigns! He will judge everyone with justice.

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Proverbs 26:9-12

     A fool who knows a wise saying, a proverb, is as likely to apply it inappropriately as a drunk is to hit unintended targets when he swings a branch at his opponents. A fool will make the same mistakes over and over. However, as bad as being a fool is, there is more hope for someone who recognizes their foolishness than for someone who thinks they are wise.

October 25, 2012 Bible Study

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

From God’s Paint-By-Numbers Perkiomenville Collection

Jeremiah 48-49:22

     Jeremiah prophecies against Moab, Ammon and Edom. He tells them that God is bringing destruction upon them because they trusted in their wealth and followed practices detestable to God. They ridiculed Israel, now they would be an object of ridicule. They were proud and boastful, God was going to put an end to their boasting. If we rely on anything besides the Lord, our end will be destruction. Each of these nations was proud of their military might and confident that their wealth would provide them a defense against trouble. They followed practices that God had declared detestable and now they were going to pay the price for their pride and sin.

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2 Timothy 4:1-22

     We should be prepared to preach the word of God when people are receptive and even when they are not. In addition we should patiently and gently correct, rebuke and encourage those around us with careful instruction. There are many who will not listen to sound teaching but will instead seek out those who tell them what they want to hear. Let us work at carrying out the ministry that God has given us so that, like Paul, when death is near we can say that we fought the good fight and remained faithful. Then we will also be able to state with confidence that God will rescue us from every evil attack and bring us safely into His heavenly kingdom.

A selection from God’s Paint-By-Numbers Green Lane collection

Psalm 95-96:13

     Sing to the Lord, the Rock of our salvation. I will give thanks and praise to the great God for all he has done. I will prostrate myself before Him because I am not worthy of His love. Listen to His voice today, He desires to bring you into His rest.
     Let me sing a song to the Lord. Lord move your Spirit within me so that I will tell everyone of the wonderful things that You do. The Lord will judge the world with justice and the nations with truth. If only everyone would bow before Him and honor His name, this would be a thing of joy. For all too many God’s just judgement is a cause for terror. Lord, use me as a light to them that some of them might come to love and honor You.

All Things Bright and Beautiful

Proverbs 26:9-12

     A fool who spouts a wise saying is as likely to condemn himself as the one he targets. Hiring a fool or someone at random is as likely to harm your business as it is to increase your productivity. Fools do not learn from their mistakes, but often repeat them even after suffering harm from them. Even so, there is more chance of teaching a fool than of someone who thinks he is wise. O Lord, let me never think that there is anyone from whom I can learn nothing.