In Paul’s day, people like to watch athletes run races. Athletes would train for nine months. Thousands of people would watch the runners. Paul compares our life o earth to a race. The prize at the end of the long race is the race. We don’t have to be the fastest, the quickest, or the first to complete the race. We must please God and remain faithful to the end of the race. If we finish the race well, we must continue to live in the light of Scripture and the Godly who taught us.
Read 2 Timothy 3: 10-17. There is only one command within this passage. It is “continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of.” No one stays the same throughout life. The bad becomes worse. Have you ever noticed that as the year’s pass, some become worse and others better?
In contrast, the good become better. Persecution and suffering refine and perfect us. At the beginning of Timothy’s ministry, he was with Paul at Lystra. Timothy was there when they dragged Paul out from under a pile of stones (Acts 14:8-20). Timothy learned that persecution is a part of following Jesus. He had watched Paul persevere through trials. Paul mentored Timothy from a boy to a man, to a minister’s helper to a minister who supervised others.
Studying and obeying Scripture is a primary key to finishing the race well. As we love and honor God’s s Word, we are following in the footsteps of godly examples. Read 2 Timothy 2:15. What was Paul urging Timothy to do here? In 2 Timothy 3:14-17, what was Paul reminding Timothy?
Timothy had a great heritage. His mother and grandmother taught him the Bible in his early years. Then had Paul as a mentor. Then there is Jesus. Scripture is the only way we can learn how to be saved. Paul emphasizes that God breathes all Scripture. The Bible is inspired. Inspiration is the process by which God breathed His message into the writers of the Bible. It is carried along by the Holy Spirit. SinceThey wrote what He intended, free from error. This affirms that God’s Word is inerrant, truthful, and free from error. It is also infallible, meaning trustworthy, not capable of erring, deceiving, or leading people astray.
As ministers preach the Word and believers study the Word, Scripture will show us how we look to God. The Holy Spirit guides us to submit to the Word, walk in the light, and be cleansed from all sin, living pure and blameless. We can enjoy fellowship with our Heavenly Father.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray that we, as believers, will know your Word. I pray that we will stand on your truth of what you have taught us.
In Jesus Name
Amen
