
Until today.
I'm reading along in God's word, and I'm in 2 Timothy 2. In this area of the Bible, you can really read it like it was a letter written to you, because it was a letter written with Holy instruction.
The first thing that strikes my interests is how the writer is pleading with us, to remain on the path of Christ. He references a soldier, who is not there to please the civilians, but to please his commanding officer. What a great way to put it. With our respect for our military men and woman, we can relate to this. Every husband, wife, child, and friend know that when Uncle Sam calls, we come second. It should be that way with Christ also.
Next in the letter it goes on to instruct us to keep from arguing and quarreling about "words". It actually says avoid "godless chatter". I thought about that. What is "godless chatter". I mean I know what it implies, it means that you shouldn't argue about things that aren't going to matter to our salvation, or that makes God look like it's a debate. God is God, He doesn't need a debate, the world is under his control and it will go as planned. We have free will. Our lives will either go as God planned, or as our free will plans. That is up to us. I played the freewill game for 30 years, it was much harder and much easier. I got to do whatever I wanted and I paid for the consequences of it too, the consequences of my choices were painful and overwhelming. The good news is, nothing can happen that God can't use. I'm glad he used my mess, to give me a message to share with you!
So what would it look like if a Christian wanted to lead others to Christ?
2 Timothy 2:22-26 says:
youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Flee the evil desires of Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, 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 escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
I definitely have some work to do, how about you?