“For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:6-7).

Bible studies are good things, but unless they are accompanied by maturity, they do not serve their purpose.  We are to grow in faith and just doing the same thing over and over is not growing.  Do not be led astray, nor be led nowhere at all, but into the truth which is found in Christ.  Know that He who saves you has called you to come fully into the truth that makes you free now and forever.

Lord, there is that part which is my responsibility.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way You know I need to go and keep me on that path.  Help me to see that in You alone is all hope and an eternal future.  You have given me these things and I have need to be diligent in applying them in my daily life with the help of the Holy Spirit.  Guide me now and always Lord to follow You and apply what You give me to my life.

Thank You Lord Jesus for the goodness and mercy You give.  You make possible maturity in faith.  Lead me this day to see through those things that will hinder me.  Guide me according to Your grace to live fully today and learn the lesson that is before me.  In You alone do I have all the hope I need.  Lead me in the hope You give to be mature, caring, kind, and loving.  Amen.

“[H]aving the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people” (2 Timothy 3:5).

No matter the activity or society, there are those who seem to be pretending.  It is true amongst Christians as well.  Do not hang out with faithless people who are just going through the motions lest you be led astray.  Be guided by the goodness of the Lord and live into the life  of fellowship which You are given through faith.  Know that in the Lord there is more than enough to enliven you with everlasting life.

Lord, I do have my days which are up and down but let me never be so unengaged that I am lifeless.  Lead me, Lord, to have a faith that is alive and real.  Teach me to have a passionate faith and be compassionate.  Help me to live in the power You have given me.  You have given to each one of us all that we need to live lives of faith.  In what has already been given, awaken in me Your goodness.

Lord Jesus, the one thing even Your enemies knew was that You were passionate and had compassion.  You dealt with all others as they came along and did not exclude those whom the world would have excluded.  Lead me Lord by Your example to do the same.  Help me to become more like You each and every day.  Guide me in Your goodness to learn how to be good for others.  Amen.

“[H]eartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:3-4)

To have these attributes is to have the leisure and opportunity to have them.  Only in the last century has such a thing been possible.  We live in an age where so much is expected by so many who do so little.  What this means we will find out, but that the Lord knows all things and shares them is evident in these verses.  Look to the Lord and be faithful as He is faithful.  Be guided by His goodness and mercy.

Lord, You know all things and You know what is needed.  Guide me, Lord of life, in the way of truth so that I would forever be led by You and  do those things which are right and fitting.  Where I reflect the sinful world, slay my sins by rebuking them.  Where I think only of myself, bring me consider others.  Help me see where I am not living into the image of Christ in order that I may become a witness in a world filled with unrepentant sinners.

Lord Jesus, for sinners such as me, amidst all my selfishness, You have come so that we may have life in You.  Lead me away from my hard-hearted selfishness.  Guide me to speak only what is true.  Teach me self-control and gentleness.  Help me learn how to love my neighbor and to be content with my situation.  Teach me to be like You in all things, my Savior.  Amen.

“For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy” (2 Timothy 3:2)

This list has been around a long time.  These traits are all part of the human rebellion.  Ultimately, they speak of our rebellion against our heavenly Father.  Begin with yourself and see where the Holy Spirit would have you go to work.  Begin there and then see the signs of the age.  Yes, in the end times it will not be a good place to be.  But until then, live the gift of faith you have been given.

Lord, I easily become caught up in looking out and lamenting the younger generation.  Yet has this not been the case since fall of man?  I know on the one hand it will come to pass as Your word says, but then, I am also instructed to work out my salvation with fear and trembling knowing that You are at work in me.  Lead me to have the right attitude, O Lord, in order that I would walk with You.

Lord Jesus, You did not come into the world to judge it, but that through You all who believe would have everlasting life.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth so that I may be guided by You and with the grace I need.  Help me to work with Your Holy Spirit so that these rebellious attitudes are not in me.  Help me to guide younger ones such that they learn respect and reverence for You.  In all things, lead me, Lord.  Amen.

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty” (2 Timothy 3:1).

Each generation has asked whether we are in the last days.  We are closer than ever, but do not worry excessively.  Live knowing that with each generation it will become more difficult.  Even amongst those who say they are Christian; we often act more like the world than like Christ.  In spite of the difficulties, live into the life which has been given you by and through faith.  Endure through the difficulties, keeping your eyes upon the prize.

Lord, You know that all things will come to an end in their time.  Grant that I would not get caught up in the speculation of times and events, but instead would do what You give me to do.  Lead me, Lord, in the way of everlasting life and guide me according to Your goodness to see through the nonsense of this world.  Help me to hold fast to each day and the tasks You give for that day.

Lead me now and always, Lord, according to Your goodness and mercy.  Help me to know that in You is all goodness.  Guide me in that goodness to become like You such that I may witness to a world that does not know You.  Help me through difficult times not to chase after those who profit from proclaiming what they do not know.  Lord, You are Lord, and You alone know the end.  Keep me close to You until we meet face to face.  Amen.

“[C]orrecting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:25-26).

Throughout Scripture, it is clear that God is not trying to damn some and save others.  The Lord desires that none would perish.  Therefore, let us see to it that we too look at all others with compassion and seek their repentance.  The Lord calls us to love, and in love we confront the sin, but love the sinner.  Seek with gentleness for others to come to their senses and live into the life that comes through faith.

Lord, Keep me in my right mind and let me not be enticed nor carried away by the insanity of this world.  Guide me, Lord, according to Your goodness so that I would now and forever live in the hope You give through faith.  Help me learn how to forgive as You forgive.  Guide me to learn to love as You love.  Help me to see that You desire that all would come to You through repentance and belief in the Good News.

Lord Jesus, in You alone is all hope.  Lead me, Lord, today and every day, that I would be guided by Your goodness and mercy.  Help me to know that You desire the same grace that You have given me to be given to all others.  Use me as Your instrument so that I would share Your grace in word and deed with all whom I meet, seeking their repentance as You sought and called for me to seek mine.  Amen.

“And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil” (2 Timothy2:24)

Listen carefully to this and then understand why few are to be teachers (James 3:1).  The church is filled with quarrelsome people.  There are those who want you to think like they do.  But the servant of the Lord is kind to everyone.  The servant of the Lord learns how to be patient.  All must learn to endure the constant evil of this age.  Endure, yes, but never accept, promote, or even tolerate what is not from the Lord.

Lord, You walked this earth and You know how difficult it can be amidst all the noise and distractions to live a life of thanks, praise and commitment.  You, Lord, who knew no sin have had compassion on us who walk in this age and do not know what You know.  Lead me and all those who seek You out of the insanity of this age.  Lead me to not be quarrelsome, nor unkind, but to be firm in the faith You have given me.

Lord Jesus, You came to save all who believe from the evils of this world.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of everlasting life.  Guide me by Your goodness so that I would now and always walk humbly with You.  Guide me to be kind to all whom I meet, friend or foe.  Lead me away from the quarrels of this age.  Teach me how to teach in order that I may share the truth of the Gospel You have shared with me.  Amen.

“Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels” (2 Timothy 2:23).

The church is filled with quarrels.  That is just the way the wicked one likes it.  Yes, they exist, but do not be wrapped up in them.  When the Lord sent us into the world with His peace, it was to share the truth of the reconciliation with our Father that comes through grace.  This world is filled with dissensions and distractions.  The Lord has come to clear the way.  Do not be distracted but walk in the truth and concentrate on “the one thing necessary.”

Lord, that which is, reality, is what You have created.  Help me to not get caught up in the endless, distracting, noise of this age, but to seek the truth of the reality You have created.  Guide me, Lord, in all truth so that I may now and always walk humbly with You.  In Your goodness, lead me in the way You know I need to go to avoid the continuous quarrels of this age.

Lord Jesus, You have come in order that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Guide me, O Lord, in all truth.  Your Word is truth.  Lead me in You, for You are truth.  Keep me from speculating on the things I do not need to know.  Keep me from claiming I know when I do not.  Guide me, Lord, to live into the life You have given me by grace.  In You I have all hope.  Keep me now and always in that hope.  Amen.

“So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22).

Youthful passions only lead us into what we are feeling.  Look at the world around you.  People are chasing feelings.  The problem is that the more they chase them the less they feel.  They are chasing feelings until they are numb.  Do not be guided by what you feel, but by the Lord who has given you the words of everlasting life.  Come then, and be guided by the Lord, His Word, and the truth.

Lord, You know when and where I am carried away by my passions.  Lead me, Lord, in the way You have established so that I may be guided by truth and not by the lies of this world.  Help me to see what is true and to hear Your voice when You speak. Lead me to have a pure heart.   Guide me now and forever in the way of salvation unto eternal life.  Help me to be like You, Jesus.

Lord, the way and truth of life, guide me from this day forward through all the temptations that come my way.  Lead me to know that in You alone is all hope and an eternal future.  Guide me so that I see these tempting things for what they are and do not fall into the sins which are so common in this age.  Grant that I remain humble but observant; fervent in faith and love, disposed to be kind and always looking to You alone, Lord,  for guidance.  Amen.

“Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work” (2 Timothy 2:21).

Do a shift here and stop thinking in literal physical terms.  The Word is preparing us to understand something significant which is often not understood.  We, who are not clean, cannot clean ourselves.  We need that which is clean to be cleaned.  Without Christ it is hopeless.  Only by grace are we saved.  He has and will make us clean.  That is the promise of salvation.  The point goes farther in this text as the case is made to not give in to what we feel.  Our feelings can drive us to that which is dishonorable.  The Lord is bringing us to the place where we are always honorable.  Come then and live into the life you have been offered in grace.  Be guided by the goodness of the Lord and not by the fickle ways of this world.  Know that He gives eternal life.

Lord, I see around me so many who are working so hard.  Guide me Lord to not work so hard, but to trust You.  You give the words of everlasting life.  Lead me, Lord, in this way so that I may not try to clean myself on my own, but see that it is You alone who are able to do this.  Guide me Lord in the way of truth and help me to share this truth with others.  You alone have shown me what is true for You alone know.

Lord Jesus, Your name means salvation.  Lead me and keep me from the temptation of leading myself.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of living my life such that I would now and forever be guided by You.  Of course, I cannot make myself clean with filthy hands.  But You cleanse me so that I may help others come to You as I come to You.  In the truth You have revealed once for all, lead me to know that I am in You, now and forever.  Amen.