The Virtuous Life – Day 207 – 2 Timothy 2-24-26 – Kind To Everyone – Growing As Disciples
And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting 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 2:24-26 (ESV)
An Opportunity
Do you want to serve me well? Do you want to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name? Do you want to shine brightly for me, like a star in the universe, in the darkness of this world? Do you want to be able to store up treasure in heaven with me? Do you want to be able to have a powerful ministry in the lives of others? Do you want to hear me one day say, “Well done, good and faithful servant? Yes, of course, I want all these things to be true in my life. Why are you asking me all these questions? Do you have some point you want to make with me? Is there something that I am missing? Is there something standing in the way of all these things being true in my life? Do I need to make a course correction in the way that I am thinking or speaking or acting? You have answered my good questions with your own good questions. Yet, you do know the answers to both my questions and your questions. You already know the course corrections you must make in the way you are thinking and speaking and acting toward others, isn’t that true? Yes, that is true.
Tell me your thoughts. I am a debater. I have been quarrelsome. I have not been kind to everyone. I have not patiently endured evil that has been done against me. I have lost sight of what is ultimately important. What is ultimately important? Every one of your questions points me towards what is ultimately important. How so? I could ask myself, “Do I want to win a debate or argument or see someone come to know and love and follow and serve you? or “Do I want to store up treasure in heaven with you or win debates and arguments down here on earth?” or “Do I want to be a champion debater or bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name?” I know that I have not been exceedingly gentle with all my opponents. Forgive me. You are forgiven. All is not lost. You can begin again. You can start over. You can still be powerfully used by me. All that you hope to be true of your life, all we are discussing here, can still be true for you. Will you be gentle with all your opponents? Will you allow me to use you to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. Thank you, Lord.
Lord, help me to serve you well. I will be kind to everyone. I will not be quarrelsome. I will patiently endure evil. I will teach and correct others with the greatest amount of gentleness. Use me to lead others to the truth so that they will come to know you. Amen
Key Question… When has someone willingly listened to your words because of the gentle way you dealt with them?
Living It Out… Continually be gentle and kind to your opponent’s so that you will have an opportunity to minister to them.
Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will have an opportunity to minister to others as you continue to be gentle and kind to them.
Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you have patiently endured evil and been kind to your opponents.
Prayer To Bless Others… May you not be quarrelsome, but rather be kind to everyone, so you can have a ministry in their lives.
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