Friday, July 12, 2024
Struggles in Christian Life – 2 Timothy 3:12-17 Submitted by Kay Crumley
As a believer in Texas USA, I don’t encounter persecution for my faith. Maybe that’s because I am not in a typical work environment or am not exposed in social settings to those who ridicule my beliefs. However, that doesn’t mean, even in Texas, believers are not persecuted, face struggles. Some may be overlooked for promotion, pressured to veer from their moral convictions, or left out of social events. In other environments or locations in America and especially in the world, struggles and persecutions are more prominent. Pressure to conform to the society in which we live often challenges our Christian standards. Those struggles are real especially for new believers, immature Christians.
The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy to encourage him and instruct him as he was facing much opposition by the church leaders in Ephesus. In 1 Timothy 2 Paul refers to Timothy as his true son in the faith. Paul had been released from prison in Rome and went to Ephesus to help Timothy. There he was mistreated by renegade church leaders, was imprisoned and returned to prison in Rome. 2 Timothy is the letter Paul wrote to Timothy from prison. He knew that Timothy was intimidated and discouraged by these church leaders who had corrupted the truth. Paul listed, in Chapter 3, many of the struggles he had faced. He encouraged Timothy, and us, with this at the end of verse 11 What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from them all. Our God is faithful and never leaves us.
We will be persecuted. Paul didn’t leave any doubt about that.
12 In fact, all those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13 Evil people and impostors will become worse, deceiving and being deceived
Evil people, those who resist the truth of God’s Word and have corrupt minds, will cause us to struggle. False teachers who are leading people away from the truth. 2 John 1:7 describes them this way Many deceivers have gone out into the world; they do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.
This all sounds very discouraging doesn’t it. We will be surrounded by those who oppose the truth and persecute us who stand up for the truth of God. Here we find another ‘But’. I like that in scripture because if often leads to another perspective or change in direction.
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you, 15 and you know that from childhood you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
As for you, those who know the truth and believe strongly, continue in your faith. We are to be steadfast, never faltering but holding strong to what we know from His Word. This is the reason we must study God’s Word, so we can know what it teaches, becoming wise as we apply it to our lives daily. The scripture was given by God for us to learn how to live, how to respond to challenges we face. It is by His Word that we can be equipped to fulfill the purpose He has for us. Hebrews 13:21 tells us what Jesus did for us on the cross for the sole purpose to equip you with all that is good to do His will, working in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ. Glory belongs to Him forever and ever. As believers, Christ followers, we are given all we need to do His work. The Holy Spirit lives in us to guide, teach, and convict us. That is how we are sanctified, become more like Him, as we grow in our faith.
Regardless of the struggles we face as Christians, we are never alone. Thus, we must remain steadfast, rooted like a tree by the water, strong, and unchanging in our belief in Him and by sharing that truth with those around us. Paul served as an example to Timothy and to us about how to live.
