The Man of God and the Word of God: But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Lystra—-what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:10-15
Timothy was from Lystra. Paul met him on his first missionary journey. At that time Timothy was just a young boy, probably in his mid teens and yet he was attracted to Paul the apostle because of the message that Paul bore. Timothy had been schooled in the Scriptures from his early youth by his mother and grandmother, and so as Paul began to unveil with the Scriptures the proof of Jesus as the promised Messiah, with Timothy’s background, he could see the truth of it. And so he embraced Christianty, but because he saw the cost of the early Christians pesecutions they faced, he was probably very timid about speaking out in faith. So Paul said, you know what kind of life I lived. You know about the persecutions that I experienced, Persecutions—From a Greek verb that literally means “to put to flight.” Paul had been forced to flee from Damasca (Acts 9:23-25), Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:50), Iconium (Acts 14:6). As a native of Lystra, Timothy would have been a witness to these persecutions, but the Lord delivered me out of them all. ” Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” (Psalm 34:19) Paul’s life contrasted with the world, the Christian’s life should also. The Christian life should always have purpose, the goal of glorifying Christ in all that we do. The world just exists to promote self, and to reach their highest places in this world, which in the end, without no real relationship to God, can never satisfy. Paul reminded Timothy of his life of one faith, lived with longsuffering, as faithful believers must expect persecution and suffering at the hands of the Christ-rejecting world (John 15:18-21). The world really doesn’t admire true Christianty, why? Because the true child of God brings the worldy person under conviction. They just are irritated by all of the Christ-like attributes like love, longsuffering patience, and by your goodness to always want to do what is right. Jesus after giving the characteristics and traits of the Christian in the Beatitudes, after describing the peacemaker, the merciful, those who are hungering and thirsting after righteousness, those who are meek, and poor in spirit, surely the world would welcome such a one that chooses to live this way? But after giving these characteristics of a godly man, Jesus final Beatitudes said, “Blessed are you, when men shall persecute you, and revile you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake” (Matthew 5:11).
Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution—That’s quite a promise isn’t it? Peter wrote in his epistle: Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation (1 Peter 2:11-12). If you align yourself with God and His Word, you will find yourself out of line with the world and persecution will come.
But you must continue in the things you have learned—Paul is referring to the Scriptures, the O.T. Scriptures. The New Testament Scriptures were still being written and not canonized. So Timothy is being reminded of what he learned in childhood being described as the “Holy Scriptures.” Which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith in which is in Christ Jesus. In observation, there is evidence from studying the Old Testament, much evidence concerning Jesus Christ, that can lead you to believe in Him for salvation. Jesus said, “You search the Scriptures, because in them you think you have life; but actually, they are testifying of me.” (John 5:39) And He said, “Behold, I have come—In the volume of the book it is written of Me—To do Your will, O God.” (Hebrews 10:7) The volume of the book is the Old Testament, it is all about Jesus Christ. The whole concept of redemption is wrapped up in the Old Testament. The promise of the Messiah, the details of the Messiah, they are all there. And Paul said, You’ve known the Holy Scriptures, able to bring you to faith in Jesus Christ, salvation through the faith in Jesus Christ.
Beloved friend, Do not underestimate the value of teaching the Word of God, the Bible to your children. It has long lasting effects that will endure through a person’s life. Our children need to see it modeled before them by their parents, and even grandparents. Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6), There is only one right way, God’s way. Which leads to eternal life in Christ the Lord. Meaning early training leads to life long habits, parents must insist upon this way, the way of teaching the Word of God and enforcing it with lovingkindness, and discipline through out the rearing of their children.
May the Lord bless Your walk!
