STAY THE COURSE

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

2 Timothy 3:14-15, 4:5

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Yesterday was an election day in America in some parts and it increasingly amazes me how so many people allow themselves to rise and fall based on the results, many pof which are Christian believers. These reactions and the associated ebbs and flows show that we have allowed our hearts and attention to be diverted from the Lord, His sovereignty, the authority of His word, and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Here’s a news flash: We live in a sinful world which has an evil leader named Satan. His sole mission is to turn every single person he can away from the Lord’s ways and will toward his ways and will. He wants the world to do his bidding by pushing liberalism and there’s no shortage of people taking the bait. We see it in the prevailing attitudes that are “me-centered” vice “God-centered”.

People are ever encouraged to “just do you”. They are convinced that their body is their own to control and this means having sex with whomever they want whenever they want. And if a pregnancy occurs, it’s okay to just dispose of that developing child like you would toss something in the trash, even though the Bible makes it clear that every conceived person is done so in the image of God, a God who commanded that no one should murder another.

As the election results came in last night and liberals in the United States started doing victory laps for the successes they achieved, largely on the basis of abortion approval, the natural tendency is for Christian believers to be saddened and discouraged, even feeling defeated. Given this, I think today’s scripture passage from 2 Timothy, chapter 3, couldn’t come at a better time. Look again at the words of the Apostle Paul here:

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Vv. 14-15

Having just finished reminding Timothy of the persecution and suffering that were sure to come as he walked with Jesus every day for the cause of the Gospel, here we find words of encouragement to carry on and continue to stay the course, to continue to answer the Great Commission calling of Christ by continuing in what he had learned and was convinced of.

Simply put, Paul was telling Timothy (and I believe all other Christian believers from that point forward) to stay the course, no matter what opposition might arise. The power to persevere through adversity would come through the wisdom found in the Holy Scriptures which in Timothy’s case had been taught to him since infancy.

Friends, the world is going to behave in ways that are counter to the Bible that so many believers cherish and vow to uphold. There will be defeats here on this earth but the battle is the Lord’s so we don’t have to be afraid or discouraged (2 Chronicles 20:15). He has already gained the victory over our enemy and we share in that victory when we accept Him as Savior.

So the scriptures are encouraging all who believe in the Lord and His Word and Way to stay the course, now and forever more. Don’t give up standing up for what is right, even when it seems that wrong is somehow winning out. Never stop proclaiming what’s most important in life and that’s God’s free gift of salvation through His Son Jesus.  

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.