2 Timothy 2:22

Verse of the Day Devotion: 2 Timothy 2:22   

“Now flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” – 2 Timothy 2:22

The thought in our focus verse is straightforward, even if the mandated response can be difficult: there are acts that are heinous, immoral, unlawful, or otherwise contrary to God and goodness, and regarding these actions Timothy is being urged to flee these things. Timothy is a young man and unmarried. And because of this, Paul is instructing Timothy to flee the evil desires of youth. The Greek word translated lust here is epithumia, which has the idea of an earnest longing or desire, especially for what is forbidden. Paul almost always uses this word as regarding negative behavior or impulses. This same Greek word is used by Paul in Romans where He said, “Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, that their bodies might be dishonored among them.” Romans 1:24.

The idea is that if we do not flee these sinful desires, we may end up following these ways. So, what are these deeds?  “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21. Paul refers to these as the desires of the flesh. “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.” Galatians 5:16-17.  

But the ethic Paul calls for is not simply one of sin negation. “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.” Galatians 5:18.  This certainly is or can be true of Timothy.  But Paul is calling Timothy to go further.  He is to substitute these illicit longings with the pursuit of ‘righteousness, faith, love and peace’. This idea is as simple as what Paul wrote to the Church in Rome. “Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21. In essence he is saying not to allow ourselves to be overcome by these desires simply by trying not to do it but overcome them by doing what is good in its place. Paul again wrote to the Galatians the following, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16. We are to live under the influences of the Holy Spirit and admit His influences fully into your hearts. And do not resist Him but yield to all His suggestions.

This is something we need to examine within ourselves. Is there something we do that entices us to sin? Are their questionable books or movies we pursue that cause us to indulge in sinful thoughts?  These could be illicit articles, or they could raise hate, anger, or other negative feelings in us. Do we focus on what people have done to us or against us? These also can raise improper desires in us. We need to look inside ourselves and see what causes us to sin. We then should pray about it, flee from these things, and focus on what the Holy Spirit calls us to do, that being pursuing righteousness, faith, love, and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. And notice the last part of our focus verse. “pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 2:22b. We do not need to do this alone. He is saying get with our brothers and sisters in Christ, where we can lift each other up in prayer and encourage each other in our Christian walk.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries. 

2 Peter 3:3

Verse of the Day Devotion:  2 Peter 3:3 

“Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,” – 2 Peter 3:3

Peter here, through the leading of the Holy Spirit, is declaring things that will occur in the last days.  Looking at our focus verse, in the last days mockers and scoffers will come.   Who will they mock?  Those who believe that Jesus will come back.  They will say, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” 2 Peter 3:4.  There basic argument is that Christians have been talking about this event for over two thousand years and He has not come so far.  So, why should they believe that it will ever happen. 

We see the message of mockers and scoffers presented in many forms.  You see it in books that attempt to convince many to ignore Christianity, especially regarding Christ’s return.  We also see it in our schools, colleges and universities which are becoming more deeply atheistic in their beliefs, teachings and ideologies.  Professors and teachers pushing an anti-religion mentality that many times ridicules anyone who believes otherwise.  I remember taking a class called ‘Christian Beliefs’ at a North Carolina college.  It turned out that the instructor was a heavily liberal Christian who was an assistant Pastor at a heavily liberal church.  I had missed the first night of class.  On the second night I arrived and the first thing he said was, ‘So, now that we have shown that the creation story is a myth, we will proceed …’.  I immediately raised my hand and said ‘Excuse Me.’  One person in the class shouted out ‘All right’.  Most of the class said nothing and appeared not to question it at all.  And throughout the semester, he brought up many similar thoughts that showed his unbelief, several of them in mocking fashion.

This prophecy Is not limited to Peter.  We see it with Jude as well.  “But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.” Jude 1:18. Now, when you look at this as well as our focus verse, we see something in common; the idea of following after their lusts.  This is actually what is happening and why many scoff at the idea of Christ returning, and Christianity as well.  This is the true source of antichristian beliefs.  The Gospel of Jesus is pure and holy and requires a holy heart and a holy life.  The enemy, Satan, has convinced many that there is no reason to give up what they desire to believe that cannot possibly be true.  He has convinced them that Christianity is a lie and there is no reason to give up what they enjoy simply to follow a myth. 

We see more and more a mocking and scoffing of Christianity.  And it is interesting that this is evidence of the truth of the gospel.  Most other religions are accepted and even followed by many who attempt to downplay and ridicule Christians.  The enemy will allow people to believe anything as long as it does not include the real truth of Christ.  And Satan will attack true Christians by mocking and ridiculing them, especially in the presence of others.  It is important that we do not be concerned with how people see or ridicule us.  We know the truth.  We understand that Christ came to earth to die for us to pay the price of redemption and will come back to take His people to our future eternal life.  What difference does it make how man views us?  Sadly, if they do not repent and accept Christ, when He returns, they will see the truth and believe, however at that time they will find it is too late.  And because of this, we should share the truth no matter how they respond.  It can be difficult, but we are a light in the darkness and thus it is our calling.  Be strong and tell the truth.  Remember what Peter said.  “We must obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29b.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries. 

1 Peter 1:14

Verse of the Day Devotion: 1 Peter 1:14 

“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,” – 1 Peter 1:14    

When we are saved, we are not the same person after as we were before.  Before giving our life to Christ, we did as we chose.  If we wanted to get drunk, we drank till we were intoxicated.  If we wanted to curse, we thought nothing of it.  We did not have the Holy Spirit in us, and we felt as long as we did not harm anyone or was not too illegal, it was OK.  But when we received Christ as our Savior, it is not just our thoughts that have changed, or our beliefs.  It was much more than that.  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.  We are not the person we were prior to committing our life to Christ.  We are not just mended, having our broken areas fixed.  We have essentially been made new. 

When we become new creatures, this should mean that everything about us is new.  The first three words of our focus verse say’s ‘as obedient children’.  Peter is telling them that their life should be one that exemplifies obedience to God.  This is the way our lives should be.  Just reading the word is not enough.  We should also obey it.  “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.” James 1:22. We are to do what His Word says, since we are now a new creature that does not live as our old self.  In fact, Jesus says we are wise in doing so.  “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Matthew 7:24. So, Jesus and James tell us that we are to be obedience to God and His word. 

Peter goes on to say, because they are obedient children, they should not be conformed again to the former lusts in their old life of ignorance.  Paul says essentially the same thing when he writes, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2.  It can sometimes be too easy to go back to the old ways, becoming conformed to the world, and I do not say this loosely, as the newness of that life begins to fade.  We cannot go back to our old life and lustful ways and still live a life of obedience.  We are to live a holy life.  Again, our focus verse, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,” but then he continues, “but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, You shall be holy for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16. 

So, what can we do to help us live as the obedient children noted above?  By reading His word, fellowshipping with Him in prayer, and staying away from anything that could draw us into that old life again.  Also, if you are struggling, go to a fellow Christian and ask them to pray for you, asking God to take these old ways away.  It is important that we completely walk away from the old life and submerge ourselves in the new.  Life will be so much more beautiful when we do.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.