9 FEB 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional
“A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.” 2 Tim. 2:24-25
In our flesh or nature, we like to argue, fuss, and fight. Just look at the state of the Union address this past week. It makes the flesh feel good to scrap and mix it up a bit if we are honest. Paul states that the flesh and the Spirit war within us because our old nature doesn’t like the new person we have become.
The Spirit of the Lord changes the believer immediately and will on one hand start removing the taste for sin in our lives and convict us when we entertain it. We experience love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are gifts to the believer that are supernaturally strengthened by routine opportunities to practice orchestrated by the Holy Spirit.
Paul lets Timothy know that he will run into difficult people in the church and outside of it. The Holy Spirit will give you plenty of practice. Can I get a witness? Right? We can learn to rest in God’s sovereignty that He can and will change some of these people through the means of the truth of His word. Learn to be patient and gentle with others and the revelation of God’s plan for them takes time. Continue to pray, care, and share for those difficult ones.
Do you have difficult people in your life?
Reading Plan: Psalm 83; Isa. 60:1-17; 2 Tim. 2:14-26; Mark 10:17-31
Daily Office Year 1
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