Tough Times...

Read 2 Timothy 3:1-17

Paul writes his second letter to Timothy and we see some very strong words written to this young pastor and what will be faced as the end times come.  He writes there will be times, terrible times in the last days when people will put themselves first, love money, show pride and be abusive, ungrateful and unholy.  He says they will be unforgiving, slanderous, not lovers of the good and having a form of godliness but in reality they will be denying its power.  Then he says - have nothing to do with them.


How does this work?  How can we tell when to say enough or to press on and continue trying to reach this lost world.  I believe Paul wants Timothy to understand when facing such opposition to the truth you can tell when you're just wasting your time because there's this on-going denial of God and His truth.

Approach passages like this with caution - be sure we're studying it to make sure we're not operating on what we think is truth but instead on what God says is true.  Read passages like this with prayer and ask God to reveal how He wants you to respond.  Verse 17 says God wants us to be thoroughly equipped for every good work.  Read, study, pray and live the words of God. 

Hebrews 4:3 warns the message we hear may be of no value if we do not combine it with faith.  Combine the word of God with the life God wants you to live by faith and tough times will be managed with the Holy Spirit's direction.  Tough times are a part of life, but God's word will last so lean into His truth to deal with whatever you're facing today.