Daily Bread_September 23, 2013

Title: What We Need in Times Like These

Text:

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

Observation:

The longer the Lord tarry His return, the more difficult the times will be. The KJV says it like this.

2 Timothy 3:1 (KJV)
¹ This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

I have had conversations with several friends recently, and the season of difficult times we are experiencing today was the topic of our discussion. What is described in this passage is not something that will happen in the future, but something that happens in every generation between the ascension of Christ, and His return.

The Apostle Paul described in His first letter to Timothy the difficulty of the times as a present condition. What he describes in that letter was happening then, and not some future times.

1 Timothy 4:1 (ESV)
¹ Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,

What should we do in times like these? How then shall we live for Christ in times like these? The Apostle gives us the answers in verse one of the text.

2 Timothy 3:1 (AMP)
¹ BUT UNDERSTAND this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear].

The answer lies in our expectation and understanding the times. In fact they are going to get exceedingly fierce. Godly love will be the exception and not the rule. You can expect most people to have the wrong kind of love.

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

2 Timothy 3:4 (ESV)
⁴ treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

This one thing I know; God does not change; I will love the Lord as long as I live no matter how difficult the circumstances around me may get. I will rely upon His promise that He will never leave me or forsake me.

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I praise and thank You that no matter how perilous the days may get that You are a God in whom I can take refuge until the storm passes by. O, if we ever needed the Lord, we show do need Him now.

Father, the times demand that we look up with hope, and not look down in discouragement and defeat. Father, I thank You for providing the source and the means for living the overcoming Christian life. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

"In times like these you need a Savior
In times like these you need an anchor;
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock! "

http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/sounds/Hymns/in_times_like_these.htm

 

--

Acts 6:4 (KJV)
⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/