Bible Chapter: II Timothy 3

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    Terrible times.  They will be identified by an amazing list of traits.  People will be:  lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--  having a form of godliness but denying its power.  Wow, what a list.  And, we are seeing all of these things happening in the world today to a greater degree than ever before.  Paul said these would come in the last days before Jesus returns.
    One of the impacts of this behavior is the destruction of the family as God designed it.  Generations are growing up now who are disobedient and ungrateful.  They are demanding, fully expecting that anything and everything they want should be instantly provided.
    Especially in light of the fact that the signs point to the soon return of Jesus, we must be faithful to what the Bible teaches.  There will be persecution.  Evil people are becoming more and more open about their intentions to get rid of the Bible and all who believe it.  Paul encouraged Timothy to continue faithfully in what he had been taught all his life.  God breathed life into His book. It will bring life to all who follow it.  God’s Word is beneficial for teaching, correcting and training people in righteousness.  Spiritual maturity comes through getting the Bible deep down inside.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    There will be terrible days.  I must sort out truth and error.  I must reject the things that come and remain faithful to truth.  Since God breathed His life into the Bible, I must keep studying it and apply it.  As I am writing these comments on the various chapters of the Bible I am finding myself repeating this theme over and over.  I must keep digging deeper into the Bible to learn it more and more.  I must recognize the tricky arguments that sound so reasonable, but are so unbiblical.  The Bible is not just to make me feel good, but to get me on the right track.  It is for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.  This means it will point out both the good and evil.

3.  How can I help someone?
    People need to see the truth.  God’s desire is not to condemn people, but to point them to the truth to set them free.  One of the greatest and most effective lies that has been told down through the centuries is that the greatest freedom is found in doing anything I want.  Unfortunately, people don’t realize that they are being caught in a trap and slavery to sin.  When they get sick of the life they are living and the problems that result, they can’t get out.  Only through Jesus can people be delivered from the control of sin in their lives.