2 Timothy 3:12-13

Summary retelling of 2 Timothy 3:12-13

Paul says that all who desire to live a godly life will face persecution.  However, evil people and imposters will go from bad to worse.  They will continue to be deceived and to deceive.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Notice Paul’s words.  Those who desire to live a godly life will face persecution.  It isn’t just the righteous who suffer.  The people who suffer are the righteous as well as the people who desire to be righteous.  This should make sense.  Of course Satan and this world would want to make life difficult for those who are godly and different from the world.  But it makes even more sense that Satan and the world would want to persecute those who are only to the point of desiring to live a godly life.  It is easier and more effective to persecute those who are thinking about being godly than those who are already in the habit of being godly.

How does it make you feel to know that even desiring to be godly is cause us to expect persecution?  For those of us who are strong Christians, what does this say to us as we look to mentor others who might just be learning the faith?

Second Thought:

Evil people.  Paul doesn’t seem to have too much trouble using the term “evil.”  I make this point because we live in a culture of “not judging others.”  We live in a culture where we tend to call people “good” out of habit.  Not so with Paul.  Paul is not afraid to call it like he sees it.  Those who work for purposes other than God’s purpose are one simple word: evil.  {I understand the danger of taking this point too far.  Please understand the danger of taking this point too far as well.}

How does it make you feel to hear Paul use a word like “evil” in relationship to a person?  Do you know anyone in this life that you personally would genuinely classify as evil?  How do you think you can know evil in your midst?

Third Thought:

Paul also talks about “imposters” as well as evil people.  Imposters are those who habitually deceive people through false pretenses.  Notice that Paul talks about these people as those who deceive as well as those who are deceived.  People who are imposters always begin by believing their own lie.  They believe the lie enough that they then can promulgate the lie to others.  As people, we can either promote truth or we can promote a lie.

Where are you an imposter?  What lies about yourselves or others have you chosen to believe?  What can you do with respect to yourself to make it harder to believe lies and easier to see truth?

Passage for Tomorrow: 2 Timothy 3:14-15