WEEKLY DEVOTION

“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Tim. 3:13-15 (read 1-17)

Indeed, we live in the perilous times described in the opening verses of this chapter of Paul’s second epistle to Timothy: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof….”

As Christians, placing our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and seeking to live in accord with His Word, we can expect to suffer persecution. Paul writes to Timothy: “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (v. 12).

In so many ways, our lives in this world are as if we are in a terrible battle – for our very souls (cf. Eph. 6:10ff.). The devil seeks to mislead us and devour us (1 Pet. 5:8-9). The world would have us compromise the truth and go along with its ways, and our own flesh would betray us and lead us into sin and unbelief (1 John 2:15-16; Rom. 7:14ff.; James 1:14-15; 1 Pet. 2:11; 4:1-5). By the grace of God, we are brought through this battle but so often bear the injuries, scars and wounds of the war – often the result of not walking close to our Savior but choosing our own way.

Though the perilous times get worse and worse, though evil men and seducers would seduce and deceive us, though the devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh would have us compromise our faith, what does God’s Word urge us to do? “Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

Continue in the teaching of the Holy Scriptures – in those things we have been taught from the Bible already from the days of our childhood (cf. v. 16-17)! Why? Because the Bible will give us knowledge of salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. The Bible will reveal to us God’s holy law and our sinfulness, but it will also make known to us the salvation God has provided for us through the death and resurrection of Messiah Jesus (cf. Rom. 1-3)!

Keep us steadfast in Thy Word, O Lord, and grant that we are made wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Amen.

[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture taken from the King James

Version of the Bible]