This is Good for me....

Little boys and summer. makes for late nights and early mornings. He's not up yet! :) I have unhindered time for devotions.

Anyways......2 Timothy 3 is where we left off.

10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

Paul has just finished telling us what people will be like in the last days (the days we are currently living in). We are to avoid certain peoples - those people who in essence dislike (hate) the truth and who have corrupted minds. Just avoid them.

Today we learn that Timothy and his church have been following the teachings of Paul. Seeing his aim in life, his patience, his love, steadfastness and so forth. They have seen all that he has gone through in various places, and they know that God has rescued Paul from them.

Following the teachings of Paul means they've been living what they have been taught. The live like Paul does. They follow his example in faith, patience, love and steadfastness.

Paul reminds them that all believers who desire to live a godly life will be persecuted. Paul assumes that this is a given. Evil folk on the other hand, they won't be persecuted. They will just go from bad to worse.

Look at the world we live in. Do you see how those who oppose God seem to get their own way all the time? The politically correct agenda that lets everyone else talk except for Christians? Hollywood and it's entertainments that are just getting worse. Christians are more and more having to fight for what is right and of God. Not that I think that's such a bad thing. It will show more clearly who is of God and who well..... isn't. Makes better examples for our children to follow.

But Paul reminds his readers that they do know who they believe in. They aren't among the deceived or the deceivers. They firmly believe in God. They know who they have learned their faith from. Timothy has learned the scriptures since he was a child. He knows God. He knows that the word of God will make him "wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."

We need to know that

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

Think about that for a moment.
ALL Scripture. Not just select parts, but all scripture. It is all useful

• for teaching
• for reproof
• for correction
• for training in righteousness
  

Even those endless genealogies. Even Revelations and the various proverbs that don't make immediate sense. All Scripture. That means as believers we know to know the word of God. It will equip us for every good work. Know your bible believer! Just know your bible!

This is a good word for me today. To remind me of what should be most important in my life. Knowing God's word and following it. It is good for me.