Living the Journey

Welcome to Day 17 of The Challenge! Our verse to memorize is II Timothy 2:17:

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"And their word will eat as doth a canker:
of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;"

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Thinking on this passage and the correlations between it and the New Testament in which I have been reading, I found a perfect example of words that "eat as doth a  canker." First we must understand what "canker" means—the word "canker" speaks of the disease of gangrene. If gangrene is not quickly cared for, it will destroy the whole body, working it’s way to the very structure of our bones.

The example that I was thinking of is the Pharisees. Their vehement and hateful words were used to curse and accuse Jesus. This was their tool throughout the New Testament to try not only to trick Jesus, but also to destroy Him.

How did Jesus respond to these things? Jesus being the Master of meekness, responded in the power of love through the Word of Truth. We find the same situation with Jesus being tempted of Satan in the wilderness; the response was the truth of the Word of God as His weapon of defense. (See Matthew 4:1-11.)

We in our own personal lives must be careful to evaluate every word that comes out of our mouth, for it only is a proof of what is really in the heart. (See Matthew 12:34.) May our words be consistent testimony of Psalm 19:14, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer."

~ Nate Paine

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Welcome to Day 16 of The Challenge! Our verse to memorize is II Timothy 2:16:

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“But shun profane and vain babblings:
for they will increase unto more ungodliness.”

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Renouncing ungodliness appears here in an interesting context. People in the congregation were getting into heated discussions about genealogies, meanings of words, and technicalities of law. Paul called this “ungodliness” (or irreligion) and instructed Timothy to shun such things. The word “shun” means literally to place  around or stand around. The picture conveyed by this verb is to go around something so as to keep oneself away from being involved in this type of chatter by deliberately and habitually avoiding it.

Timothy is to show his attitude toward these unholy errors by going around them—to “steer clear”—continually placing himself at a distance from them. Why? Because it is unprofitable for the things of eternity and in fact actually leads to ungodliness! Paul is not talking of idle chitchat or gossip, which can do considerable damage in a church. He is speaking of destructive heresy that perverts divine truth. These brethren had missed the point of God’s way of life, which Paul says is righteousness, joy, and peace in the Holy Spirit. (See Romans 14:27.) Being technically correct about a minor point is not as important as building right relationships through kindness, forgiveness, service, and sensitive concern for others.

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Welcome to Day 15 of The Challenge! Our verse to memorize is II Timothy 2:15:

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"Study to shew thyself approved unto God,
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth. "

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The Amplified Version exposes this verse in a new light; "Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing (rightly handling and skillfully teaching) the word of truth."

Wow, a lot packed into just one verse! This brings to mind Ecclesiastes 9:10, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, wither thou goest."

What comes to mind when I read this verse is a runner! I for one, love to run, we can picture a runner who strives to please his trainer in everything that he does. He works and works with all the instruction that his trainer gives him, it is most likely a long and painful process. What the runner may not visualize is that when the time of the race is come, as long as he has been faithful to his training he won’t need to worry about being "ashamed" in coming in behind, but will set his eyes in confidence on the prize. With the training and confidence that he can count on, it will be a simple task for him to be able to help others learn how to run also!

And so it is with our spiritual lives, If we are faithful in striving to please God in everything we do (and it could be long and painful process) we needn’t be ashamed. And through our difficult times or trails in life, we will be able to see them in a new light as building blocks that we will have to show others what God has brought us through.

~ Thomas Paine

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Welcome to Day 14 of The Challenge! Our verse to memorize is II Timothy 2:14:

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"Of these things put them in remembrance,
charging them before the Lord that
they strive not about words to no profit,
but to the subverting of the hearers."

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Before we plunge into the "meat" of this verse, it is time for a quick review because the first part of verse fourteen says, "Of all these things put them in remembrance…." What things are we supposed to remember? Verses eleven through thirteen listed them for us:

• True living requires death to self
• Suffering (which will come) gives us eternal blessings
• If we deny Him, He will deny us
• And no matter what we do, He will always be faithful

Paul continues in verse fourteen: "…charging them before the Lord that they strive not with words not to profit, but to the subverting of the hearers." Clear as mud, right? If we use the original Greek to aid in defining, we find it says that we are not to focus on words alone because words have a tendency to hurt people and cause more damage than good. Words have the power to build up or tear down: "Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing" (James 3:10).

James further spoke on this topic: "But be ye doers of the word [logos, meaning "Christ's expression"], and not hearers only…" (James 1:22). Ever heard the saying, "Actions speak louder than words?" It’s true! Don’t just say that you believe in Christ—show it. How can we show the Lord that we love Him through a specific action that exceeds the effectiveness of words?

…. The answer is in tomorrow’s verse!

~ Kendalyn Kowalchuk

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Welcome to Day 13 of The Challenge! Our verse to memorize is II Timothy 2:13:

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"If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful:
He cannot deny Himself."

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God will always remain faithful no matter what we decide to do. But the word "faithful" does not mean that He will always abide with us and give us mercy. God will always be faithful to his own character, because "He cannot deny Himself." He faithfully carries out mercy, love, kindness, etc. But God says that He will also give out judgement and justice to those who deny Him, and believe not (which in the Greek means "to disobey"). Jude 1:5 says: "I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt afterward destroyed them that believed not."

In the past, when there was an event that was going to happen, people would say, "It is as sure as the rising of the sun." More sure than the sun rising, however, God abideth. He will continue to exist and He also will remain faithful to act. God can not act contrary to his character or His Word. He is faithful to His promises, which makes the unbeliever’s condemnation just as sure as the believer’s salvation.

"Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations. And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face" (Deuteronomy 7:9-10).

May the Lord abide with you and may He bless you with an obedient heart, ready to receive all that He has for you.

~ Elizabeth Webster

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Welcome to Day 12 of The Challenge! Our verse to memorize is II Timothy 2:12:

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"If we suffer, we shall also reign with him:
if we deny him, he also will deny us:"

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As a Christian, suffering is inevitable. Trials go with faith like frosting on a cake. The Lord allows suffering as a testing of our faith to prove our love for Him, because love demands a choice. When going through these times of pain we must remember that we have been given an invitation to join our Savior in the fellowship of His sufferings. (See Philippines 3:8-10.) It is this High Calling that will bring about His image in our lives.

We must seek His purposes for each trial, keeping in mind that He has not called us to do anything that He Himself has not done first. Suffering brings about the abiding that John talks about—it is the sheer dependence upon our Sovereign King, knowing that He is in control and that nothing shall separate us from His love. (See Romans 8:35.) One day we will be glorified with Him (see Romans 8:17, I Peter 4:12-14) and experience the Rewards of reigning with Him. "There is no trial so dark where His love does not shine brighter still."

~ Elizabeth Baldwin

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