Day 17

Know Hard Times Are Ahead

from the 1 & 2 Timothy reading plan


2 Timothy 3:1-13, John 15:18-21, Romans 8:31-39

BY Melanie Rainer

When I graduated from seminary, our commencement speaker took an unusual approach to the graduation speech. He congratulated us, of course, but then proceeded to tell us (winsomely and kindly) just how difficult ministry is. Because no matter how many books we had read or talks we had practiced giving, the hands-on ministry to real people in real, hard situations would be immensely challenging. Thankfully, God is on His throne, and we are never alone. 

This is, essentially, Paul’s goal in the third chapter of 2 Timothy. He is writing to his protégé, a young pastor working in Ephesus, a city known for its prevalence of false religious teachers and its peoples’ propensity to follow them. And so Paul gives it to Timothy straight: hard times are coming. 

The “last days” (2Timothy 3:1) Paul uses here is a phrase that Peter used in Acts 2 to describe the time after Jesus’s ascension, so this isn’t referring to some future time for Timothy but rather to the on-the-ground realities of his current ministry. It also applies to us, as we are still living in the last days awaiting Christ’s return. And so what can we expect? Hard times. Particularly in regards to preserving the truth of the gospel against false teachers. 

I look at Paul’s list of characteristics, and I certainly see myself in some of those words. Likely we all do, but the point Paul is making is that when people (who as false teachers, claim Christ) are governed by those things instead of by the Word of God and a saving faith in Christ alone, we should beware. Why? Because each of those things in Paul’s list suggests a priority given to something other than Jesus Christ. The list builds on itself: first love of self, then money, which leads to pride, which leads to being ungrateful, which can lead to love and pursuit of pleasure over God, and ultimately denying the power of God in their lives. It is a gospel of self-control: if I can earn more, own more, have more fun, have more followers, then perhaps I don’t need Jesus. 

Paul urges Timothy to stand in faith and truth when his flock begins to stray, and Paul uses his own experiences as an example in verses 10–11. But Paul gives God the credit for helping him stand firm and in doing so gives Timothy an example to follow. He gives us an example as well. 

Living a godly life isn’t easy, but it is the one God calls us to. And God and his Word should be our north star, the source of our wisdom, and our roadmap for living. When false teachers or the temptations we face to pursue our pleasures over God come our way (which they will), we can cling to the example of Paul and Timothy, and the promises of God to rescue us. 

Post Comments (53)

53 thoughts on "Know Hard Times Are Ahead"

  1. Sky Hilton says:

    Life will be hard in general… but WE have GOD! But many of us only pray when we are happy… we shouldn’t treat God like that…. instead, we have to pray ALL THE TIME. Including when its hard! We shouldn’t let our feelings get in the way and we shouldn’t let the culture around us, the culture that thinks God is dead.. get in the way of us having a relationship with God.

    We should put in the work to have a good relationship with God, and I think that starts when we go to Him Every day, regardless of how it is going

  2. Lehua K. says:

    Good morning sisters… Today’s word spoke to me so much. Please pray for me today, I went to sleep with Benadryl due to an allergic outbreak last night, so I woke up really groggy and with some sinus pressure/headache but had to rush off to work. I prayed behind the wheel the whole time and made it safely to my destination, but I have a long work day ahead of me. The whole time during my drive, I kept thinking “I need to read SRT today as soon as I get there,” which I’m so glad I felt that way.. It felt like a craving for God’s Word, His Truth is nourishment for my spirit and soul. He has carried me so far and I know He won’t stop! I am so blessed and grateful, and know He doesn’t waste pain. I am comforted knowing He is with me and that Jesus led first.. We never have to suffer alone, and the suffering He went through was way worse than anything I may go through. But He did it for me. For us…

    Forgive me for rambling, ladies.. Thank you in advance for the prayers. Praying for the requests here and for our world, which sounds a lot like today’s reading. Have a blessed Wednesday, hugs!

  3. Claire B says:

    ♥️

  4. Claire B says:

    Michelle Patire…I have a friend who has an Instagram “ministry” called Provokedtoproclaim. She discusses false teacher and other pitfalls that that are not theologically sound. Check it out.

  5. Beverly Watley says:

    Amen

  6. Beverly Watley says:

    Paul tells Timothy to stand on faith and truth. That spoke to me because we really have to be aware of who we are going to listen to. Faith and truth. If you really believe. The holy spirit leads us in righteousness for this is the will of God. Hallelujah!!!

  7. Judy Carter says:

    ❤️

  8. Dorothy says:

    Romans 8 “38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” really stuck with me today. Another item that caught my attention was Melanie’s last paragraph. She really packed a lot in a small amount of words.

    This prayer was in my devotional Bible and I wanted to share it with you, my sisters, “Dear God, Give Your daughter the ability to see that no matter where she is, You are with her and will never leave her. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

    Be blessed and remember “we can cling to…the promises of God to rescue us” sisters.

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