Jesus summarized the commandments by saying, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." A second commandment, he said, was to "Love your neighbor as yourself." But in the last days, Paul warns that people will be lovers of themselves. This self-love leads to a whole host of wicked characteristics. People will be lovers of pleasure instead of lovers of God. Although religious and pious on the outside, their hearts will be far from God, and their religion will have no power in their lives. Timothy was to have nothing to do with them.

Instead, Timothy was to follow Paul's example. Timothy had traveled with Paul and observed his teaching and his life. He witnessed Paul's faith and endurance and experienced his love and patience for himself. He heard all the stories and knew about Paul's suffering and persecution. Such things are to be expected by anyone who seeks to live a godly life in Christ Jesus. Paul also instructed Timothy to depend on the Holy Scriptures, which he had known since he was a little child. These are the words of salvation and life. God's word is powerful and practical. It is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training, and it was everything Timothy needed to be fully equipped for the good works God had called him to do.


Application: Lord, help us to know and apply your word.
One Word: Be equipped by the word of God