DAILY READING
REFLECTION
What You Put in, You Get Out
by David Thompson
Timothy was a prodigy of Paul. He accompanied Paul on a number missionary trips and Paul trusted him to disciple a new church. Timothy came from good parents. Eunice, his mother, and Lois, his grandmother, helped to raise him in the Jewish faith. After conversion, he followed Paul, converted new converts, discipled these converts and assisted Paul in many ways, including supporting him when he was in a Roman prison.
Today's passage starts out with Paul admonishing Timothy in being the best he could be. He did this by showing Timothy articles of gold, silver, wood and clay. He encouraged Timothy to be the best article he could be. No matter what you are made of, he taught Timothy to be the best he could be and to refrain from sin that dirties the relationship with Christ. Verse 22 states "Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."
This reminds me of a story my wife told me many years ago. She was a service desk operator at Kmart. On breaks, especially lunch or supper break, she and most of the other workers who were on break would go to a small "break room." My wife grew up in a Christian home and never was introduced to coarse language and hateful speech. She would sit quietly in the break room and listen to the other workers swear and talk negatively about their husbands, their lives and the work place. She never stooped to speak like what she heard, but she admits that the words became a part of her thought processes. Verse 24 states, "And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful." Now Carla never spoke to the ladies on break, but she did start to separate herself from the situation and eat elsewhere. This made an impression on others and before too long the break room was a much better place.
Now Carla could have been combative and stated that the lounge was an evil place, but like verse 25-26 says, "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." She didn't speak directly to the "offense," but was known for being a Christian. Some, perhaps most people cleaned up their talk and in so doing helped them see the error of their ways.
PRAYER
Lord, help us to flee from bad influences and idle talk. It can be destructive and cause not only us to stumble, but others to be emboldened by our silence. Help us to be a good influence on others and help them come to their senses. Amen.
