2 Timothy 3:10-17
Paul's Charge to Timothy
10You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Paul gives advice throughout his two letters to Timothy...Paul tells Timothy that throughout his life, he has had purpose, faith, and patience...Yet Paul has had to endure persecutions and sufferings in his life...He was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra but endured these persecutions through his faith...The LORD rescued him from all of them...Everyone who believes in Jesus and tries to spread the good news at times maybe persecuted...Because Jesus was persecuted those teaching His gospel will be persecuted (John 15:20)...
As you read the Scriptures and mature you will continue to learn...Scripture will make you wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ...All of the Bible is God-breathed and is useful in our lives for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness...Those who know God's word is thoroughly equipped for every good work, in all fields, in all careers, no matter what one chooses or does in life...
Paul's advice is good advice for all of us...His life was good but he too suffered with the problem of pain and persecution...Life is filled with problems and tragedy...God gives us purpose, hope, and faith...Jesus is so unique and so different from everyone that His three years that are written about in the gospels, have never lost their meaning...Yet, His uniqueness make Him still a controversial subject as any in the world...I would think the topic of talking about Him would be an easy part of everyday conversation, but the weather and weather talk seems to much more talked about than Him in casual conversation...He is purpose, faith, hope, and meaning... Yet, He is trumped in talk by the weather, which He not only created, but calmed a raging wind and storm for His disciples...His disciples said even the wind and waves obey Him (Mark 4:41)...When we bring up the subject of Jesus in our casual conversations, He still brings controversy for different reasons...In a way these reasons have a similar streak as Paul's opponents saw and felt (about Him) two thousand years ago...
The Bible is as close as we can get in seeking and reading about God...The Bible comes from God and is useful today as it was centuries ago, for all of us when we are looking for answers in life...What other book can one turn to in times of elation or times of trouble and still find meaning?...