IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

The Approved Worker

Date: Jul. 29, 2021

Passage

2 Timothy 2:14-26

A Worker Approved by God

14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19 But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”

20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 2 Timothy 2:15

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Christians are sometimes tempted to engage in meaningless quarrels and debates over nonessential beliefs. This was the case in the Ephesian church where Timothy ministered. Godless chatter spread throughout the body of Christ like gangrene—a dangerous condition and a type of body tissue death. False teachers, like Hymenaeus and Philetus, fostered heresies that went so far as to even deny the resurrection of the dead. What was Timothy to do? Was the solution for him to become better at debating? Not at all! He was to live a life that was pleasing to God and teach the gospel in a clear, straightforward way. Such a worker is like a gold or silver article in a large house that is reserved for special purposes. Those who cleanse themselves of false teaching and chatter are holy and useful to God.

Timothy, still in his youth, may have been inclined to get involved in such quarrels and debates. However, Paul instructed him to flee from such desires and to pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace instead. Confrontation rarely works. The best form of correction is to teach the truth in kindness and love and then trust God to lead others to repentance and the truth.

Prayer: Prayer: Father, grant us your Spirit to live godly lives and to teach your word with clarity and love.

One Word: One Word: Correctly handle the word of truth

Daily Bread

We Are Your Sheep, Lord

Psalm 79:1-13

Key Verse: 79:13

But we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
from generation to generation we will recount your praise.

Read More

Intro Daily