A PURE HEART
Today’s Reading: 2 Timothy 2
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
A modern day Roman soldier stands guard at the Palazzo del Quirinale – the President’s residence in Rome.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: 2 Timothy 2:15, 22b
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth…but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Today’s reading continues the military manual for spiritual warfare. “Endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2:3). “No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life” (2:4). Our weapon of choice is “The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Eph. 6:17b). “The Word of God is not chained” (2:9b). We are “not to strive about words to no profit.” Let us keep to God’s Word and not become caught up in conspiracy theories, etc. “Avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife” (2:23). Finally, God approves of those who “rightly divide the Word of Truth” (2:15b). In division in mathematics, there are several factors. Remember the divisor, etc.? Even so, comparing Scripture with Scripture will help us learn “TRUTH”…rightly divided.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I pray, as I often heard my father pray as we would kneel after breakfast around the kitchen table, “Father God, may the smile of Your approval be on my life this new day.” In Jesus’ Name I ask this mercy, Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
My Dad in his prayer would often quote the couplet, “Heaven came down our souls to greet, and glory crowns the mercy seat.” God is seated in mercy toward all who have confessed their sin, repented with godly sorrow, and turned away from sin. What great assurance!!!
For some reason as I read today’s Scriptures, I thought of the time when Norma-Jean and I, along with our four children, were in a tough place financially. I was offered a job selling pots and pans from door to door in order to supplement our $25.00 per week salary from the church. The Scripture about not “entangling” myself came to mind. I determined to spend even more time visiting from door to door with the message of Jesus than I would have spent trying to sell pots and pans. The result was that more people began attending services and the offerings grew to more than I could have ever made in sales. When we brought in a new Pastor we were able to pay him $60.00 per week!
Yours for being “diligent” in the reading of God’s Word,
David
P.S. One of our children’s productions from the 80’s, which some who read this helped us produce by your offerings, has been aired in over 50 countries. It’s called Kingdom Adventure. Paul refers to “a pure heart” in today’s reading (2:22b). Click here for something about a “pure heart” to show the children in your life (especially the song at the end of the episode called “Beauty Comes from a Pure Heart”).
Palazzo del Quirinale – the President’s residence in Rome. Someone said, “Let us make Jesus, not just resident in our lives, but PRESIDENT, in charge of our lives.”
Thanks Pastor David; I enjoyed this blog this morning, especially about dividing the “Word of Truth.” Trust you are well.
Beautiful message this morning, David, amen! We are “… casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God…” 2 Cor 10:5. “He who believes in Me… out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” John 7:38. “A river is victoriously persistent, overcoming all barriers. For a while it goes steadily on its course, but then comes to an obstacle. And for a while it is blocked, yet it soon makes a pathway around the obstacle. Or a river will drop out of sight for miles, only later to emerge again even broader and greater than ever. Do you see God using the lives of others, but an obstacle has come into your life and you do not seem to be of any use to God? Then keep paying attention to the Source, and God will either take you around the obstacle or remove it. The river of the Spirit of God overcomes all obstacles. Never focus your eyes on the obstacle or the difficulty. The obstacle will be a matter of total indifference to the river that will flow steadily through you if you will simply remember to stay focused on the Source. Never allow anything to come between you and Jesus Christ— not emotion nor experience— nothing must keep you from the one great sovereign Source.” The Far Reaching Rivers of Life, September 6, My Utmost For His Highest, Oswald Chambers.
Praise God through whom all blessings flow. Wishing all saints a precious day in the Lord.
Prayed with you this morning Pastor David…yes may the smile of His approval be on my life this new day, Jesus I pray in your Name, Amen!!
How blessed you were to have a father who loved you so and guides you with great wisdom.
“may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight O Lord!
Yes, the Word of God cannot be chained!!!
Amen, Irene!
I’m confused about 2 Tim 2:18. The false teachers were saying the resurrection had already happened. However, at this point in time, it had already happened? So what was wrong with saying so? Any one has any insight on this point, it would be helpful.
Denial of the Resurrection:
Hymenaeus and Philetus are included among persons whose profane and vain babblings will increase towards more ungodliness, and whose teaching “will spread as a cancer” (2 Tim 2:17, NLT). The apostle declares that Hymenaeus and Philetus are examples of those just described, and he adds that those two persons, “concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already, and overthrow the faith of some.” Then, for the guidance of Timothy, he goes on to say the seal upon the foundation of God is, “The LORD knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the LORD must turn away from evil” (2 Tim 2:19, NLT).
The inference intended is, that though Hymenaeus and Philetus had professed their faith in Christ, they did not turn away from evil. There is no doubt in regard to the identity of this Hymenaeus with the person of the same name in 1 Tim. Accordingly, the facts mentioned in the two epistles must be placed in the following order: That though Hymenaeus had, made a public and Christian profession of faith in Christ, yet he had, not turned away from evil, but by his profane teaching (see below), went towards more ungodliness. This led to, his abandoning his faith and a good conscience, thus he brought about,
the end result of his faith being shipwrecked. The error, therefore, of Hymenaeus and his two companions would amount to this: They taught that “the resurrection is past already,” circa 50AD–65AD, and that there would be no future resurrection, but that all that resurrection means is that the soul awakes from sin. This teaching of Hymenaeus had been so far successful: it had “overthrown the faith of some” (2 Tim 2:18).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hymenaeus_(biblical_figure)
Cross References
1 Corinthians 15:12
But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
1 Timothy 1:19
holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.
1 Timothy 6:21
which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith. Grace be with you all.
Titus 1:11
They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach–and that for the sake of dishonest gain.
Wow, thanks Beverlee!!!! That was very helpful.
Amen to your father’s and your prayer David! I’m praying for your good health and well-being! I am so so grateful for you “rightly dividing the Word of Truth” for us. Honestly I would be so lost without you!! At first I thought it was a misprint for “divining” but now I,m in the KNOW! I enjoyed Beverlee’s comments too-so insightful and encouraging! LOVE TO ALL!!!