Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Timothy 3:10-17.

 

“¹⁰ Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, ¹¹ persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra;  what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!  ¹² Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.  ¹³ But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴ You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, ¹⁵ and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  ¹⁶  All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3:10-17.

 

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“It is a jungle out there!”  Paul knew it:  “persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra;  what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!   Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”  Verses 11 and 12.  Timothy also knew it.  He “followed” or kept track of Paul’s experiences.  Verse 10.

 

We can’t go out into the jungle with “Polo” shirts, cacti pants, and “Sperry” dock shoes.  We need to go out into the jungle with the whole armor of God.  “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”  Ephesians 6:10-13.

 

In other words, we can’t go into the jungle with only the Tampa Bay Times tucked under our arm, a Reader’s Digest in our hand, and love letters from our family in our briefcase.  We need the “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”.  Ephesians 6:17.

 

Hebrews 4:12
“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

 

I have nothing against Tampa Bay Times, Reader’s Digest, and love letters from our family.  I read them.  But, we need to rely on the word of God.  We can hold loosely to man’s words.  But, we need to grip tightly “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”.  We can watch TV at home in our pajamas sitting on our sofa.  But, we need to go outside into the jungle fully dressed in the armor of God.

 

Jeremiah 23:28-29 illustrates this distinction:  “The prophet who has a dream may relate his dream, but let him who has My word speak My word in truth.  What does straw have in common with grain?” declares the Lord.  “Is not My word like fire?” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock?”  

                                  

“7  The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8  The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9  The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.
10  They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11  Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward.”  Psalm 19:7-11.

                               

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;  so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”  Verses 16 and 17.