Today's lesson talked about how atheists have a..goal....as I should say to rid the community and our culture of anything that involves a creator, such as displays of a cross or the Ten Commandments. The lesson also states that turning away from God can make one even more angry at God. (2 Timothy 2:24-26).
I have decided to read the entire book of 2 Timothy and post selected comments here for you all to read.
2 Timothy is a letter from Paul to Timothy.
To me, this book seems to be more of a poem than a typical Bible book. The version I am looking at, The NIV's Bible Across America, is written in poem form.
1:4: Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy.
This verse really states what I am feeling right now. As my very public battle with depression still rages, I sometimes pray this very same thought. Even last night while trying to sleep, (I never did get much sleep), I was praying this because I was feeling alone.
1:8: So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of god,....
Every time I hear something like this, I remember Matthew 10:33 - ...but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.
1:12: This is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.
As you can read in my previous post called Doubt, I have recently had doubts about my faith. The verse above states that I know God is real. There's an old hymn that goes like this.
There are some things I may not know there are some places I can't go
But I am sure of this one thing my God is real for I can feel him in my soul
But I am sure of this one thing my God is real for I can feel him in my soul
My god is real real in my soul my God is real for he has washed and made me whole
His love for me is like pure gold my God is real for I can feel him in my soul
Some folks may doubt some folks may scorn
Well they can all go on just leave me alone
But as for me I'll take God's part my God is real for I can feel him in my heart
My god is real real...
I cannot tell just how you felt when Jesus took your sins away
But since that day - yes since that hour
God has been real for I can feel His holy power
2:1: You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
Kinda self explanatory.
2:6: The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.
One of my college professors stated that I have done the most research for a project that she has ever seen any student do. I felt really good about that comment. I have a belief that I should work hard and not show myself to be lazy.
This past summer I worked at a printing press factory in Lancaster, Ohio. I was a temporary worker, hired by a temp agency. On numerous occasions, my temp agent said that the bosses and other workers at the printing press factory have stated that I am one of the hardest workers they've seen in a while. I did things without being told to do, and I did them the first time. When the trash needed taking out, I took it out. When the printing press was down, (one of a million times), I took a scraper and started to scrape the 20 year old gunk off of the floor, just to keep myself busy.
I believe that working hard will get me far in life.
2:9: For which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained.
2:11-12: Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him. If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us.
Kinda points back to my previous comment a few lines above.
2:14: Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.
When I read this, I immediately thought about the homosexuality issue again with the ELCA and various other organizations. Why are we quarreling about words in the Bible? Isn't it the meaning behind the words and not the words themselves? If I say very loudly, "OH FIDDLE-STICKS!" what do I mean? Am I yelling at violin bows or am I making an interjection, possibly substituting it for the words son-of-a-bitch? (I would love to see a fight over this though).
2:23-26: Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance, leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and scape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
Hello, WBC.
3:2-4: People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure, rather than lovers of God.
This sounds like a person's teenage years. Hahaha!
3:12-13: In fact, everyone who wants to live a Godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
4:1-4: In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his Kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction.
Listen to this.
For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, the will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
We, as Christians, have to be VERY careful as to what we teach from the Bible. The WBC, (sorry that I keep going back to them), teach from the Bible what they want to hear. They take that famous verse from Leviticus and stretch it to suit their liking. However, the ELCA isn't always the perfect organization either. There are times I think they stretch scripture too much to suit their liking.
4:16: At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.
This verse shows that Paul is a truly forgiving person. We all should follow his example.
I hope you learning a few things about me, and from Paul. I sure did. Thanks for reading!
4:22: The Lord be with your Spirit. Grace be with you.
