Lent Day 16: March 10

Lenten Reflection for Day 16

Date: Saturday March 16

Author: Mike Michaels

Bible Passage:

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (Good News) “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed.”

Reflection:

The scripture quoted today is taken from Paul’s second letter to Timothy, first meant to be personal advice to the younger early Christian. I’ve always enjoyed reading this letter (it somehow helps me to feel the concrete reality of our early brothers and sisters) especially for two of the warnings Paul gave, although the second helps to explain the first to me:

2 Timothy 4:3-4 (Good News) “The time will come when people will not listen to sound doctrine, but will follow their own desires and collect for themselves more and more teachers who will tell them what they are itching to hear. They will turn away from listening to the truth and give their attention to legends.”

This scriptural advice explains to me why Paul would have to remind Timothy that indeed all scripture is God’s word (and not the legends of men.) Human nature certainly hasn’t changed; it seems that we have forever sought out that which makes us happy to hear, in some cases even substituting it for God’s truth. Some religious teachers will “cherry-pick” and quote out of context from God’s word, and indeed some translations use the phrase implying that some people “just want to have their ears tickled” by their teachers, allowing them leeway to do whatever they want, sometimes in direct contradiction to God’s Word.

Whenever I find myself beginning to doubt, or start to find faults or seeming “contradictions” with anything in God’s inspired, written scriptures to us, I am reminded of Paul’s words to Timothy, above. I can’t explain everything. Long ago I turned my life over to God and asked Him to help me strengthen the faith I needed to continue, whenever life would present me with a new challenge to overcome. So that now, when I have problems, I turn them over to God, and they will vanish almost overnight, with prayer, and through God’s grace.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, as we thank you for this day and everything you’ve given us, we pray that you continue to watch over us all, and help us to remember your special place for us. Please help us to never forget the sacrifice you gave in your only Son, to forgive us our sins, so that we may behave at all times in accordance with your will. Help us to have the faith we need (as children) in your Word, and not be led astray by the false doctrines of men. Today, we especially thank you for the strength and encouragement we derive from your inspired, written word, without which we would not know what to do. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.