Begin with 2 minutes of silence and stillness before God.

In this 3rd Chapter of 2 Timothy, Paul is awaiting execution for his faith.

On April 20, 1999, Cassie Bernall and Rachel Scott, both victims of the Columbine Massacre, were asked if they believed in God? When answering yes, each of them died as a martyr for their Christian faith.

This world certainly seems to be approaching the last days.

"In the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.  2 Timothy 3:1-5"

What evidence do you see around you that points to the present reality of this scripture? Just in the last 20 years, have you seen an increase in godlessness; people who choose pride over humility; disobedience over obedience; ungratefulness over thankfulness; and lovers of pleasure over godliness? How about in the last 2 years?

We as Christians must take a firm stand. We must ensure that we are preparing our children and our children’s children for these times that are to come. No one knows the time or the day when Jesus will return, but we are to live with urgency and expectancy. Let us live so that our obedience, love, and faithfulness point others to our Savior. 

Take 2 minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• How can we help overcome godlessness within our family unit?
• Stay connected intentionally with Christian friends and families. Consider House Church as a great way to forge these friendships! 
• So many of us are known by our professions or our families. What if our identity could be changed so that Christian came before [insert said identity here] Christian teacher, Christian doctor, Christian mother, etc.

Family Devo: 2 Timothy 3

By: Kaylee Collins

When partnering with your family to know, love, and follow Jesus, we strive to create and share content filtered by the Head-Heart-Hands model.  

Head: the knowledge of God and His Word | Heart: the personal connection from scripture | Hands: a missional mindset  

Head

Throughout this chapter, Paul describes various ways that people will demonstrate counterfeit faith. This means that these individuals “will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly”. Some of the ungodly actions that these people will take include being prideful, betraying friends, not obeying their parents, being unloving and unforgiving, etc. Paul even tells us that these evil people will flourish; meanwhile, those who strive to live a godly life will face persecution. However, we are told that these evil people will not get away with their actions for long and that we are to remain faithful despite the trials that we will face. Paul teaches us that by trusting in Jesus, we are given the wisdom to receive salvation through Him.  

Heart

Do you ever catch yourself living with counterfeit faith? Sometimes it can be difficult not to fall into this trap of ungodly/worldly behavior. Maybe you had a bad day at work, failed a test at school, or overheard someone talking poorly about you. These undesirable situations can cause us to spiral down a path of sin. We may blame our coworkers, lash out at our family members, or even start rumors about our own friends. So, what can we do to change the way we react to these tests and trials? Well, Paul reminds us that we have been taught the holy scriptures which gives us the wisdom we need through Jesus. Therefore, reading our Bible is how we gain the tools necessary to fight and overcome these battles. By reading God’s Word, we begin to have a clearer understanding of right versus wrong. After all, “God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”  

Hands  

We just learned that the Bible gives us the wisdom we need to overcome difficulties. Set aside time in your daily routine and use that dedicated time to read scripture and reflect on God’s Word.  

Prayer: We just learned that the Bible gives us the wisdom we need to overcome difficulties. Set aside time in your daily routine and use that dedicated time to read scripture and reflect on God’s Word.