Third Timothy

“Those who trust in the Lord will find new strength . . . they will walk and not faint.” (Isaiah‬ ‭40:31‬)

I skipped over the middle part of this verse because most of the time I am not concerned with flying like an eagle or running—I just need to somehow take the next step, to walk without fainting.

It makes me think of Jesus getting up off his knees in the garden and allowing the mob to take him away—they didn’t carry him, he walked; I think of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego standing before the fiery furnace and waiving their chance to be free if only they would bow down to the king’s statue; and Stephen declaring his love for Jesus as the crowd picked up stones to hurl at him.

It takes strength to stand firm, to walk in your faith even if not actually putting one foot in front of the other. When the moment demands a choice between life or death, it’s only God who can fill you with the confidence that comes with a promise of new life.

The trial that’s coming may threaten physical death, or it may risk the death of a relationship, or possibly worse, the death of a hope to which you’ve been clinging. Keep looking up—trust in the Lord for the strength to walk in it. It’s his hand that will pull you through.

“These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel. Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise.” (Proverbs‬ ‭1:1-2‬)

It’s fun to dream of a time when you will be invited into the inner circle of people who occupy high places, the big names who hold titles of prestige and influence, imagining that they will actually notice you and want to share inside information, possibly giving you knowledge reserved only for the few, the powerful, the mighty.

Well, today is that day. God offers the wealth of Solomon’s brilliant mind to anyone who wants to go to the next level. The problem is that these treasures are hiding in plain sight, oftentimes right on top of the coffee table in the living room or on the kitchen counter where you plopped them last Sunday. And you didn’t do anything about it then either.

It’s time to wipe the dust off your Bible and turn the pages to the book of Proverbs. It is like a pregnant woman who is three weeks overdue, ready to deliver at the first hint of opportunity. God wants you to know what’s in his mind, and he put much of it into Solomon’s. It’s there for the taking. Anyone can have it. All of it.

But I will warn you: it’s more than you can handle all at one sitting. Read one verse each day. Let it roll around in your brain; let your own mind get comfortable with brilliance, with reaching out and touching the intimate thinking of the God of the universe who has the power to create and to save lives for eternity. His words will transform you, and you will become more like him. Just like he planned it.

“Then Jesus said, ‘I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil.’” (John‬ ‭6‬:‭70‬)

The hatred of Pharaoh was used to demonstrate God’s great power and free his people from captivity in Egypt. The treachery of Judas was used to facilitate a trip to the cross for Jesus that offered freedom for all of mankind—from sin and death.

In every situation, what appears to be evil can easily be used by God to bring glory to his name and blessings to you. Perhaps not a devil, but your unruly child, your abusive spouse, your thoughtless employer—each one is being used by God to make you more like Jesus.

When everyone else would have called down fire from heaven, Jesus called, “Father, forgive them!” I believe he gathered the fullest appreciation for the plight of mankind during his final moments of torment, realizing in the spirit and the flesh their destiny without his sacrifice.

Whether or not your persecutors look to Jesus for salvation, you do! You come to him in prayer, you draw near, you grow closer as the troubles pile heavier on your back; you begin to understand the true value of God’s love for this mixed-up humanity that doesn’t even seem to know right from wrong. And your freedom tastes sweeter than ever before.

“This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.” (Revelation‬ ‭12:9‬)

There you have it: “the one deceiving the whole world.” If you feel like the world is in a tailspin morally and ethically, you are right. Satan is really good at his work.

The lifestyle choices a person makes are determined by his or her beliefs. If those beliefs aren’t grounded on anything more solid than the whims of popular opinion, the hunger in your belly, or the throbbing in your loins, it’s no wonder that there is death and destruction everywhere you look.

How do you keep from becoming a casualty of this constant onslaught against your spirit? Have better grounding. Some people just give up and give in, going along with the world because it’s easier. But you don’t have to.

You can only be deceived if you don’t know any better. Truth is not relative and ethics are not situational, regardless of social sciences that propose otherwise. The Scriptures are flawless and timeless. Stay grounded by staying in the Word. When God created the world he knew that today would happen, and that you would be in it. There is an answer for whatever you’re going through and it’s got a divine purpose that will bring not just glory to God but peace and joy to you. Stay faithful.

“God blesses you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied. God blesses you who weep now, for in due time you will laugh.” (Luke‬ ‭6:21‬)

Place emphasis on the word “now” when you read this verse. Then read it again and emphasize “will.” It’s the effect of time and it is the catalyst for hope.

No matter what you are facing now, it will change. This world seems filled with endless tragedy and can lead to feelings of despair. But it’s into this world that Jesus was born.

Jesus upsets all the calculations; all the forecasts of gloom and doom are undone by the peace and joy he brings. There can be no permanent darkness in the presence of his eternal light.

James writes about God, “He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.” Look up and see his Son. You can endure the now because of the promise that he will come again.

“They are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.” (Matthew‬ ‭19‬:‭6‬)

When you were married, you made a commitment before God. At that moment the enemy also made a commitment—to destroy this precious thing that models the unity of the Godhead, the heavenly union of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

What can come between two who are one, what can split apart what God has joined together? Well, it’s a pretty long list. Money, jobs, health, neighbors, friends, family, children, parents, addictions, pride, boredom—I’m sure I missed about a thousand others. You can add your own.

But as they say, “To be forewarned is to be forearmed.” Better to be prepared than to walk right into the trap of the enemy. Every day, every minute, countless relationships go down the tubes that could have been easily prevented with just the smallest effort.

When whatever threat that is yours rises against you, stand up and claim your identity in Christ. You are a child of God, blessed by his power and love to succeed where Satan wishes you to fail. “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). It really is that easy.

“How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you. We have never even heard of another God like you!” (2 Samuel‬ ‭7:22‬)

Can we develop in our hearts and minds the kind of perspective David had? If it makes any sense to describe the relationship like this, he recognized God as beyond his recognition—he couldn’t have imagined greatness or beauty or wisdom such as the Sovereign Lord!

“We have never even heard of another God like you!” Other peoples, nations who worshiped idols, with skilled artisans combining all their creative abilities—whose works are even now still being discovered and called priceless—were not able to craft a false god that could compare with the one and only real God.

And what a God he is! What other God loves his people before they love him, before they worship him, before they offer him any sacrifice, before they recognize him as God? What God calls us friend? What God lays down his life? There is no one like him.

David saw him when he spent time alone seeking him. The greatest obstacle to intimacy with God is . . . everything else. Remove all the distractions, find a quiet place, close this page, close your mouth, close your eyes! Then you can see him.