Hello and welcome to Wednesday’s Daily Podcast. This week we are talking about truth as we look at the 2nd letter to Timothy in the New Testament of the Bible. Yesterday we talked about how it’s only faith in a real God, with real power to transform our hearts that will make a difference and help us find our God given purpose on this earth. All the fake versions of the gospel will leave us burned out. Today, we are going to think again about how we can live consistently with the truth we have discovered in Jesus.

REFLECTION:

Here is what I mean by that… It is one thing to know who Jesus is. It is another thing entirely to live the Better Life and follow him. Remember in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 8, even the demons recognise Jesus’ lordship, they call him the Son of God, the Holy One of God who has come to destroy the schemes of the Evil One. We also know a chapter earlier in Matthews gospel, chapter 7, Jesus’ very words say: “For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Knowing Jesus and following Jesus are two very different paths.

We touched on this very briefly at the end of yesterdays podcast as a way of setting up today’s thought. It is true we are saved by faith not not simply by knowledge. Faith is lived out understanding of the lordship of Jesus. Life does not stop when faith begins. The exciting thing about Christianity is that new life begins when we get faith… becoming a disciple and making other disciples is one of life’s greatest adventures. That is the heart behind our Church… making disciples. That is the heart behind these podcasts… making disciples… not just talking about it but suggesting ways to apply the faith… and praying together.

So what does today’s reading have to say about living consistently with the truth we believe?  I’m going to read from verse 14 & 15 of today’s passage. “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.”

A specific focus of Paul’s to Timothy is the importance of the Bible to living out our faith. The Bible is key to helping us live consistently as a disciple of Jesus. Now more than ever, as restrictions mean we are forced to take on new rhythms during this lockdown phase. And it is a phase, it will not last forever.

I’ve been so encouraged to see how many of us have taken up a more disciplined habit in reading our Bibles. To listening to the daily podcast. To prayer, either in groups online or alone. I have certainly noticed better habits in myself. I’ve not taken upon myself much more than I already did… in fact things are a probably a lot less or at a much slower pace. I have a fresh energy and more time to sit with the Bible and to think. Certainly there are things that have been taken away by the times we are in and it is right and emotionally healthy to process that loss. But there are also unique and daily opportunities that these times are affording us. For me, some of these things are even a timely blessing.

As our passage describes today, the Bible is enough to give us wisdom that leads to salvation in the messiah Jesus. The whole point of the Bible is that is a unified story leading us Jesus as the hope for the whole world.

What is written in this book is what God wants us to hear… v16 tells us…

1. It teaches us new things, telling us things we didn’t know.
2. It is useful for challenging us, asking the tough questions of when we talk the talk but don’t walk the walk.
3. It also corrects us, showing us our messed up pattern of thinking
4. And finally, it trains us in righteousness… this better life and this new way to be human.

God is real and so is his love.

What Jesus said he did was true and trustworthy.

The Bible helps us to live it out.

Here is what that means for us… keep going with the Bible. Well done for committing to listen in to this podcast. Keep going with the Bible. It’s more important and useful than we even know. It’s Gods main way of talking with us. It is our daily bread when other shelves might be empty. Mine this book for all it is worth. Share it with the world. These really are the words that can make us wise to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

PRAYER:

God thank you for your Holy Spirit and the Holy Scriptures. Renew our love for this book. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

BIBLE READING: 2 Timothy 3:10-17

You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings – what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 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. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.