The enemy of our soul sets traps in unsuspecting ways. His goal is to derail us. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

When we read God-breathed Scripture, it separates the wheat from the chaff. When we hang out with ungodly folks, their chaff gets into our minds. This applies to relationships but also who we listen to. Our media is full of propaganda that is designed to lead astray. Be careful little ears what you hear.

Ephesians 2:10 says that the good works which are part of His purpose for our lives were prepared before time began. Our progressive sanctification is a journey to conform us to His image. Romans 12:2 reminds us to not allow the world to conform us to its image. 1 John 2:15 says to not love the word or the things in the world.

2 Timothy 2:20 says, “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.” As I meditated on this verse, my mind was taken back to 1 Corinthians 3:13. It says that everyone’s works will be revealed by fire.

Our fiery trials purify our faith. They burn up the wood, hay, and stubble things in our lives that have crept in to pull us away from our foundation of faith. That includes wood-type relationships. 1 Corinthian 15:33 says that evil communications corrupt good manners. 

We are influenced by those we hang out with. Be careful who you listen to. 2 Timothy 3:8 says that men of corrupt minds resist the truth. Romans 1:18 says that we suppress the truth through unrighteousness.

Paul charged Timothy with words that are timeless. 2 Timothy 3:14 says, “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them.” Read the word ‘must’ as all capitals with an explanation point.

In 1987 we were in another country on a short term mission trip. The people in the churches were so beaten down by their pastors. Their bones were dried up like Ezekiel 37:11. We had four pastors in our team. As they spoke God’s word, the folk’s spirits revived.

God-breathed words are the food our spirit thrives on. If anyone speaks to you in a way that defeats you, it is not the truth. God’s word builds up. It is designed according to 2 Timothy 3:17, “That the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Romans 8:9 says, “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you…” Here is the tension between our flesh and our spirit man. This verse is our position in Christ. It states truth that is not altered.

Yet in our progressive sanctification we are in the process of becoming more like Christ. We still veer off into our flesh. The Holy Spirit is present to empower us to resist. Yet it requires us to yield to His promptings.

Quarreling: harsh words, heated arguments, demanding one’s rights ~ opposing with fleshly barbs. Proverbs 15:1 gives us God’s way. It says, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”

In 2 Timothy 2:14 Paul wrote out a reminder for Timothy. It says, “Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.”

Verse 23 says, “But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.” Strife and quarreling are fleshly ungodly behaviors. They spring up from unresolved issues when we fail to guard our hearts. Proverbs 4:23. 

James 4:1 starts with a question. “Where do wars and fights come from…?” Verse 2 in the Amplified says, “You are jealous and covet (what others have) and your desires go unfulfilled…You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain (the gratification, the contentment, and the happiness that you seek), so you fight and war…” What a display of our flesh.

Paul went on to charge his son in the faith. 2 Timothy 2:3 says, “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” Our trials are warfare. God has designed them to bring up hidden dross that would weaken and undermine our faith.

However the enemy of our soul seeks to derail us. He uses temptations to turn us from walking in the Spirit to walking in our flesh. Therein lies the battle for our mind. James 1:3 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.”

Jesus endured the cross because of the joy set before Him ~ us. Joy is an irrevocable gift. Don’t let the dirt of grumbling and complaining cover it. Hebrews 10:36 says, “For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.” Grace-strength comes as we embrace humility.. The same grace that saved us keeps us.

Paul’s last recorded words are in 2 Timothy. Paul lived under a canopy of God’s sufficient grace. 2 Corinthians 12:9. Each of his epistles ended with a benediction of grace. 2 Timothy 2:1 says, “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”

As we abide in Him, His grace flows to and through us. We need His grace to endure our trails. Romans 5:3 Amplified says, “Moreover (let us also be full of joy now!) let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance.”

2 Timothy 1:16 says that Onesiphorus was not ashamed of Paul’s chain. In Romans 1:16 Paul wrote, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation  for everyone who believes…”

Psalm 34:5 says, “They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed.”

God’s way was written in 2 Corinthians 3:18. It says, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

Spending time basking in God’s love for us ~ knowing that our hearts are naked before Him without shame. Here is the first part of a new song called Extravagant Oil Of Joy. 

I lift my unveiled face to gaze into Your face. Face to face I behold You as You behold me. No veil separates us. No fear of being known. We have intimate communion. Our hearts are knit as one.

I stand O Lord in Your presence unashamed. All guilt is washed away. All condemnation is cleansed. Through the blood. Through the shed blood of Jesus.