FBC Daily Devotions

Okay, so I’ve now decided to post the entire week’s devotionals according to the sermon date. Why? Because some people will be using the devotionals prior to the sermon and some after the sermon. If you are in a Home Group or have subscribed to these devotionals by email, then you will be doing the devotionals before the sermon. (Those who pick up a copy of the devotionals from the church foyer will be doing devotionals after that Sunday’s message.)

For Home Groups:

For those Home Groups meeting Tuesday evenings, you will discuss the devotionals for last Sunday’s message. For those meeting Friday evenings, you will discuss the devotionals for the upcoming Sunday. For those meeting on Sunday, you will discuss the devotionals from that Sunday’s message (which is ideal).

RESPONDING TO THE QUARRELER

Read 2 Timothy 2:24-26.

Rather than have a quarreling kind of character, Paul calls Timothy to be kind to everyone, able to teach, patient when wronged, and correcting those in opposition. Let’s look at these more closely…

Before starting, though, we need to remember the context of this passage. These qualities that Paul mentions are directed toward our relationship with those who love to speculate on ultimately needless matters. They love to raise controversy… dangerous controversy. How are we to respond to these kinds of people?

Kindness sets the tone for our interactions. We are to be kind… to EVERYONE. That includes those who are annoying and quarrelsome. When we come face to face with a quarrelsome person, reacting in kindness does not come naturally for many us. Some people feel attacked, so they put up defenses, and if the matter continues for more than a few exchanges, they mount an attack. Fearful of getting into a debate, some people ignore quarrelsome people or run away to avoid getting trapped. It’s the age old fight or flight response.

But we are called to respond with kindness. What does that mean? Being kind literally means in the Greek “to follow, as denoting one who readily follows the will of another and is ready to do what he desires or wants.” It denotes mildness and an easy-going disposition. Does that mean we should always give in? Are we to give in to “foolish and ignorant speculations”? Of course not. In this context, being kind is really more of an attitude than waving a white flag of surrender. Being kind actually means coming alongside with an attitude of understanding, but then following up with correction. That is why Paul follows up with “able to teach”, “being patient”, and “correcting those in opposition.” There is a sense that Timothy, as the leader of the church, was not to completely disassociate with these people, but instead, give them a chance to learn the truth. Walk them through the controversy, perhaps even show how meaningless it was, and guide these individuals along the right path. Far from quarrelsome or quiet disregard, he was to engage in healthy correction full of kindness.

The reason for the gentle correction? It was so that they might repent, know the truth, come to their senses, and escape the grasp of the devil. Indeed, this is the heart of a bond-servant of God to reach out to the one imprisoned in false thinking (v. 24).

To consider: How do you respond to those who are quarrelsome? Do you respond with kind instruction and gentle correction? There are many ways to apply the principles from this passage. How might you apply them to your children? Those you work with? Your family? Your church family?  

————-

Questions for Home Groups

1) How do you typically respond to someone who wants to stir up controversy?

2) If you knew a brother or sister in Christ with a quarrelsome spirit, how would you deal with them based on this passage?

3) Read 2 John 1:7, 10. How do you reconcile this passage with Paul’s instruction to Timothy?

NOT WORTHY OF DEBATE

Read 2 Timothy 2:23. 

Back in Paul’s first letter to Timothy, Paul instructs Timothy to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness (1 Tim. 6:11). Strangely absent is Paul’s command to pursue peace, found here in this second letter. As Paul begins to pass the torch to his son in the faith, perhaps he sees false teaching seeping slowly into the church, raising controversy and heating debate. People are getting confused and upset. Sides are being formed and reformed. Battle lines are being drawn. And one has to wonder why so much effort is being expended on what Paul calls, “foolish and ignorant speculations”. Rather than attack these foolish controversies, Paul seems to be saying here that they should be dealt with peaceably. To continue quarreling on the matter would only lend weight to the other side’s view.

Paul tells Timothy to “refuse” (NAS) these speculative debates. To “refuse” literally means “to ask to excuse oneself” or “to decline”. There is a sense of humility in this term, one that the translation “refuse” makes sound a little too harsh and the translation “don’t have anything to do with” (NIV) sound a little too disengaging. A peaceful refusal of false teaching begins with politely choosing not to get involved in a quarrelsome debate. It is a polite rejection of an invitation to spar. [1]  This does not mean, though, that there cannot be discussion on the matter, because as we will see, false teaching cannot continue to go uncorrected. But more on this tomorrow…

All of this leads to the question, What kind of quarrelsome talk was Paul referring to? The answer lies in Titus’ letter where Paul states specifically, “shun foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law; for they are unprofitable and worthless.” (Tit. 3:9)

They were engaging in debate regarding controversial matters that could never be resolved, matters of genealogies that had no value whatsoever to Christ, and matters of the Law, which only led to death and had no place in the spiritual growth of Christ followers. In other words, they were getting involved in matters that had no real relevance to a life in Christ. These matters did nothing to help them grow.

How do we know when our debating falls into this category of foolish speculation?  The previous verse in Titus gives us a promising guideline. Paul tells Titus that they were to be “engaged in good deeds” – things that are “good and profitable for men.” (3:8) He then goes on to tell them to avoid foolish controversies and the like.

When it comes to engaging in discussion (even heavy, yet respectful debating), we must ask ourselves whether it ultimately affects anyone’s relationship with God and hence, one’s behavior. Any discussion that has no outward effect is only head knowledge and puffs up (1 Cor. 8:1). Yes, there are times when matters of the faith are debatable (e.g. forms of music, forms of teaching, etc.), but these often relate to one’s ability to grow in Christ. These kinds of discussions are actually very beneficial. But watch out for discussions that lead to meaningless quarrels. They do nothing but distract people from what is really important – a life growing in Christ.   

—————

Questions for Home Groups

1) What is it about speculative matters that are so enticing to some?

2) What might be some examples of “foolish and ignorant speculations” today not worthy of debate? Have you ever been “sucked in” to such a debate? What was the result?

3) On the flipside, what are some examples of some not so foolish speculations that are avoided out of laziness?

When, if ever, have you witnessed foolish debate or quarrelsome behavior to the distraction and discouragement of fellow believers?

---

 [1] Understandably, there are times when people can debate passionately on issues of doctrine. Certainly, many doctrines are subject to debate. But most often (though not always) these debates center on matters of truth. We are attempting to understand and articulate biblical truth, and I trust Paul would be fine with that. In the matters brought forth in this letter and in many letters of Paul, he is concerned about worthless yet dangerous talk – controversies that “tickle ears” (2Tim. 4:3), myths that take the place of truth, “knowledge” that has led some astray (1 Tim. 20-21). These are matters rising from prideful ignorance, not a humble seeking after truth.

PURSUE THE RIGHT THINGS

Read 2 Timothy 2:22.

It is not enough to merely flee the evil desires within us. We must flee to a place of safety.

One summer Lyanne and I spent a week in Palm Beach, Florida. Walking on a deserted beach one afternoon after a nice lunch, it began pouring down rain, and not the kind of gentle showers we have in Seattle, but a torrential downpour. Along with the rain came the booming thunder and the flash of lightning at a very uncomfortable rate. You could watch the lightning from the beach striking the ocean maybe a mile out or so. It may as well have been 100 yards out because instinctively we began to run down the beach to find shelter. Was it any wonder we were the only ones on the beach? Along the beach were a number of sun-shading umbrellas (really more like open half tents), so we decided to wait inside until the storm passed. There we sat huddled inside this small shelter, rain pouring down, lightning striking close by. And then it occurred to us with more than a little shock – the entire fortress in which we sought shelter was propped up by an aluminum frame. Looking down the beach, we sat inside the only thing made of metal. Like lightning rods shoved into the ground, these structures seemed to us to be a perfect attraction for a lightning bolt. We found ourselves repeating over and over, “We are S-T-U-P-I-D!”

If one is to flee something bad or evil, he must run to a place of safety, not to another place of evil. Trading one evil activity for another is not an option. We must flee to a real place of safety.

In the passage today, Paul says the best way to flee evil is to pursue good. It is not enough to stop bad practices; one must flee and pursue good practices. What are we to pursue? Paul mentions four areas. And take note that these are to be pursued – an active chasing after, taking initiative. We are called to pursue:

1) Righteousness: that which is right in the eyes of God. This speaks of moral integrity.

2) Faith: that which trusts in God enough to follow Him even when we can’t see the results.

3) Love: that which expresses the love of God to others. It means pursuing others as God pursued us – a love in which God sacrificed His only Son.

4) Peace: that which expresses God’s value of relationship with a spirit of reconciliation and peacekeeping.

Much could be said about each of these. For today, however, consider each of these areas in your life. How are you PURSUING righteousness? Faith? Love? Peace? If we spend our time pursuing these godly qualities, we will find little time to pursue youthful lusts and other things that are destructive and displeasing to God.

————–

Questions for Home Groups

1) Discuss what it looks like to pursue – to chase after, take initiative – these four areas: Righteousness, Faith, Love, and Peace.

2) Which area is most difficult for you to pursue? Why? (Alt. Is there a situation in your life in which pursuing one of these qualities is a struggle?)

3) The verse ends with the statement, “pursue… along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” How can the group help one another in any of the problem areas discussed?

FLEE YOUTHFUL LUSTS

Read 2 Timothy 2:22.

In the previous passage, Paul talks about there being vessels of honor and vessels of dishonor. Obviously, we are called to be vessels of honor, “useful to the Master, prepared for every good work” (2Tim. 2:21). How do we become vessels of honor? That is the subject for the week. Paul gives us several negative and positive imperatives. Today it is flee and pursue.

What are we to flee? We are to flee youthful lust. Now think about that for a minute. Why would he specify youthful lusts, and not just lust in general? (And by the way, have you ever heard of elderly lusts? I’m sure they exist, but the contrast is fairly obvious – as people get older, generally speaking, they grow in wisdom and see their once youthful pursuits to be really not that important after all.) In response to the specificity of youth, it is good to remember that Timothy was still fairly young, and was probably facing the temptations that every younger person faces – the temptation to pursue things that could shipwreck his faith. Paul tells Timothy to FLEE those lusts.

In our youth, we often lack wisdom and pursue things that may seem important, things that seem as though we can’t live without. It is often not until we are older that we see those pursuits as fleeting and foolish. Experience often has a way of filtering out bad choices. But let’s be clear here: Paul is not asking Timothy to wait until he is older and more mature to figure it out. He is telling Timothy to run away NOW from those lusts. It means making the willful choice to do what perhaps in our immaturity draws us so powerfully away from a healthy and growing relationship with God. We cannot wait until the enticement goes away on its own. It may never go away. Plus, age does not guarantee maturity. Maturity comes when immature people make willful choices to do what is better or best despite the draw of immature enticements. Maturity is product of discipline.  

By telling him to flee, Paul is telling Timothy to run to a place of safety. Imagine a hand grenade being thrown at your feet. What would you do? You could pick it up and throw it away, but chances are you would instinctively run away as fast as you could. Youthful lust is like a hand grenade. It initially looks harmless, but in time its effects are tragic. That’s why we are to flee youthful lusts and run to a place of safety. Where is safety found? We’ll see that tomorrow. For now, though, consider what you are pursuing right now. Look at your life. What are the things you are pursuing? Looking years down the road, consider if those things will really matter in the long run. Perhaps those are the things to flee now rather than later.

——————–

Questions for Home Groups

1) What are some examples of “youthful lusts” today?

2) Have you ever pursued any of those yourself? How, if at all, have those pursuits affected your decisions today? (i.e. what have you learned from those pursuits?)

3) Where do you need help fleeing youthful lusts in your life?