40 Days of Truth - 20
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days of TRUTH
Day 20 | HANDLING THE TRUTH
40 Days of TRUTH
Day 20 | HANDLING THE TRUTH
HANDLING THE TRUTH
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.” (ESV)
Years ago – 1992 to be precise – there was a popular movie I remember watching; “A Few Good Men” with Jack Nicolson and Tom Cruise. In one scene, Nicolson (playing a Colonel) was arguing in court with “attorney” Tom – and finally in anger said, “You can’t handle the truth!”
Sometimes in life, there are truths that we can’t handle, but usually it’s because we’re too young. For example: little children wanting to know where babies come from, depending on their age, are probably too young to be able to handle that truth, so we make up something simpler so that they can get an answer, but one they can handle.
2 Timothy 2:15 in the Amplified reads: “Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.”
Timothy was a YOUNG Christian, but Paul was challenging him to STUDY and DO HIS BEST (regarding the Word of Truth). He was told to “accurately handle … the Word of Truth.”
Surprisingly, I find many Christians are almost afraid of the Bible… the Word of Truth.
Sometimes when I ask, “Why don’t you read the Bible more?” I hear things like “Well, I don’t understand it.” Sometimes I hear, “I’m busy” or “It’s boring” and so on.
Perhaps these are honest statements, but they’re hardly in keeping with this singular verse from 2 Timothy.
You see, if you’ve been a Christian for more than a week, you should be able to share SOMETHING from God’s Word to someone else who knows less than you do.
Consider that nearly 1/3 of the world considers themselves “Christian.” That means that 2 out of 3 people that you meet, walk past, live next to, or know… know little or nothing about the TRUTH of the Scriptures. (Perhaps one of these many people in your “circle” are to be your mission field.)
Oh, if that were the case… WHAT WOULD YOU SHARE?
If you had someone you know walk up to you tomorrow and he or she said something like: “You know, everything that’s going on has really gotten me down. You go to church don’t you? Can you share anything with me about God? I’m desperate.”
What would YOU share? (Hopefully something besides: “Let me call my pastor.” )
“Always be eager to present yourself before God as a perfect and mature minister, without shame, as one who correctly explains the Word of Truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15, TPT)
If you’re a Christian, then you are also a MINISTER. You may not be a PASTOR, but every Christian should be prepared to MINISTER to others who are in need. And the basic need that everyone has, is for the good news of the Gospel: that Jesus Christ came so that we might have a relationship with the Father through Him, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life.
Prayer: Lord, help me to take Your Word more seriously and to read it for more than just my personal comfort. Help me to be prepared to MINISTER to others – as you lead them into my life. Amen.
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.” (ESV)
Years ago – 1992 to be precise – there was a popular movie I remember watching; “A Few Good Men” with Jack Nicolson and Tom Cruise. In one scene, Nicolson (playing a Colonel) was arguing in court with “attorney” Tom – and finally in anger said, “You can’t handle the truth!”
Sometimes in life, there are truths that we can’t handle, but usually it’s because we’re too young. For example: little children wanting to know where babies come from, depending on their age, are probably too young to be able to handle that truth, so we make up something simpler so that they can get an answer, but one they can handle.
2 Timothy 2:15 in the Amplified reads: “Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.”
Timothy was a YOUNG Christian, but Paul was challenging him to STUDY and DO HIS BEST (regarding the Word of Truth). He was told to “accurately handle … the Word of Truth.”
Surprisingly, I find many Christians are almost afraid of the Bible… the Word of Truth.
Sometimes when I ask, “Why don’t you read the Bible more?” I hear things like “Well, I don’t understand it.” Sometimes I hear, “I’m busy” or “It’s boring” and so on.
Perhaps these are honest statements, but they’re hardly in keeping with this singular verse from 2 Timothy.
You see, if you’ve been a Christian for more than a week, you should be able to share SOMETHING from God’s Word to someone else who knows less than you do.
Consider that nearly 1/3 of the world considers themselves “Christian.” That means that 2 out of 3 people that you meet, walk past, live next to, or know… know little or nothing about the TRUTH of the Scriptures. (Perhaps one of these many people in your “circle” are to be your mission field.)
Oh, if that were the case… WHAT WOULD YOU SHARE?
If you had someone you know walk up to you tomorrow and he or she said something like: “You know, everything that’s going on has really gotten me down. You go to church don’t you? Can you share anything with me about God? I’m desperate.”
What would YOU share? (Hopefully something besides: “Let me call my pastor.” )
“Always be eager to present yourself before God as a perfect and mature minister, without shame, as one who correctly explains the Word of Truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15, TPT)
If you’re a Christian, then you are also a MINISTER. You may not be a PASTOR, but every Christian should be prepared to MINISTER to others who are in need. And the basic need that everyone has, is for the good news of the Gospel: that Jesus Christ came so that we might have a relationship with the Father through Him, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life.
Prayer: Lord, help me to take Your Word more seriously and to read it for more than just my personal comfort. Help me to be prepared to MINISTER to others – as you lead them into my life. Amen.
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