Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive His approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
Every couple wants to have a strong marriage. After all, surely no couple on their wedding day plans for their marriage to be weak and hurting. To have a strong marriage, some couples plan date nights, buy each other gifts, write letters to each other, or do thoughtful things for one another. While all of these are helpful and good things, the truth is that a marriage is only as strong and deep as our own personal relationships with God.
2 Timothy 2 encourages us as we seek to strengthen our relationships with God. In these verses, the Apostle Paul writes to his mentee, Timothy. He instructs him to work hard to present himself to God. His desire for Timothy is that he will be blameless before God and that he will know Scripture well. He desires that Timothy know God deeply. When this happens, he will be able to stand before God with integrity. Don't you, like Timothy, want to be able to live in such a way that you know God and Scripture well that you are blameless before God?
Seeking God with everything we have is a discipline we are all called to practice. There are no exceptions. If you are single, the best thing you can do with your life is to seek God with white-knuckle intensity. If you are married, the best thing you can do is seek God with white-knuckle intensity. You see, the more you and your spouse seek God, the more you will know Christ, and the more you will be transformed to be more like Him. If you and your spouse seek God together, you will be an unstoppable force for the kingdom. Let's determine to chase after God with everything we have. Our lives will never be the same as a result.
Whether you are single or married, God's desire for you is to have a deep, strong relationship with Him. Think of one habit to pick up today that will help strengthen your relationship with God. Maybe that habit is to wake up 15 minutes earlier than usual to ensure you have time with God before you begin your day. Perhaps it means that instead of spending time on your phone in the evening, you read your Bible. Maybe for you, it means praying more often. It could even mean starting a prayer journal. If you are married, this is a good time to adopt a habit together that will help you both strengthen your relationship with Him. As you do this, your marriages, and all of your relationships, will be impacted for the better.
Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior. This kind of talk spreads like cancer, as in the case of Hymenaeus and Philetus. They have left the path of truth, claiming that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; in this way, they have turned some people away from the faith.
But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.”
In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.
Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.
Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.
