In this charge today, Paul was telling Timothy that people who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. Paul knew that truth from his own experience. Jesus had warned his disciples: “Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you” (John 15:20).
Today, most Christians do not face outright persecution just for being Christians (although being a Christian is still against the law in some places in the world). Those who worship freely and unhindered should be deeply grateful. However, we should not assume that this verse does not apply to us. If we stand up for Christian values, we can expect opposition and hostility from the world. Based upon the testimony of countless believers who have lived before us, we can expect to meet with some form of persecution or resistance if we persist in living in obedience to Christ. Absence of persecution may not mean unfaithfulness, but if our lives as Christians never affect the world, we may have to question the depth of our commitment.
But even as believers faced persecution, evil people and imposters will flourish. These wicked people were progressing toward their wicked goal and dragging others down with them (1 Peter 4:2-5).
Besieged by false teachers and the inevitable pressures of a growing ministry, Timothy might have been tempted at times to abandon his faith or modify his doctrine. Paul counseled Timothy to look to his past and remain faithful to the things he had been taught about Jesus that he knew were eternally true. The false teachers might constantly move on to new and more exciting concepts and ideas for discussion and argument, but Timothy needed to stand secure on what he had learned and firmly believed. This did not mean that Timothy needed no further study, but that the basics that Timothy had learned from people he trusted would never change.
Timothy was one of the first second-generation Christians: he had become a Christian, not because an evangelist preached a powerful sermon, but because his mother and grandmother had taught him the Scriptures when he was a small child. For Timothy, the holy Scriptures were primarily the Old Testament—Genesis to Malachi. The sources for Timothy’s faith could provide another encouragement to continue in the faith: Paul, his mentor and friend, who provided an unmistakable example of God’s faithfulness; the inerrant Scriptures that Timothy had studied and loved since childhood; and Timothy’s dear mother and grandmother who nurtured and loved him. Scripture, God’s word, teaches about salvation; but knowing Scripture alone saves no one (many Jews had known Scripture from childhood, yet had opposed Jesus and the salvation he offered—2 Corinthians 3:15-16; Paul himself exemplified that in his early years, Acts 26:9-11). The Scriptures show people their need for salvation and show them how to get it—by trusting in Christ Jesus.
SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)
The great theologian Mike Ditka once said that "suffering doesn't build character - it reveals it." I like that. When the pressure is on your life - when your getting squeezed like a tube of toothpaste from all corners, whatever is inside of your life comes out. Whatever comes out, fear, anger, anxiety, stress - peace, patience, kindness, self-control - whatever comes out is what's inside. You can't fake it. You can't pretend in those moments.
Some early converts faced persecution. They had converted to Christianity from Judaism. The pressure to come back to the synagogue was palpable. The ultimatum came down - either come back to the synagogues and your Jewish faith or be excommunicated.
Read how they responded -
John 12:42-43 (NIV)
Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
How do you respond when the pressures of life hit? What's inside of you? Ponder these things today. I love you guys. Stay faithful. Stay the course.
After reading this post, I believe the Lord is telling us, that through trials, we are given an opportunity to share God's desires for our lives, when those who do not know the Lord pressure us into "getting hooked in" and "doing it our way." If we respond in OUR old ways to outside pressures of life, (difficult family members) how can God teach us new ways, ways that will ultimately honor Him and bring a peace and comfort to our lives like no other.
ReplyDeleteAnd more than that, bring more of His children back to Him. Ultimately, aren't we supposed to be "fishers of men?" This has got to be one of the most difficult challenges for us as Christians.