Next Week

Hi Everybody. Just writing to let you know that there will be no posting next week. Becky and I are going camping in Nor-Cal near where this picture was taken. We plan to do some hiking, play in some water, eat lots of good food....and frequent the North Coast Brewing Co's. public house as much as possible (while maintaining sobriety of course). That being said, I hope you have a good week, and I'll catch you on the flip side!

II Tim 3: Where the power lies.

II Tim 3 can be found here at Bible Gateway.org

In the deliberation between Pharaoh, Moses, and Aaron there is a clear underlying question being addressed. Who has more power? What followed was a showdown of spiritual authority to establish once and for all where the true power lies. Paul refers back to this episode of the Exodus in v. 8. Jannes and Jambres are the extrabiblical names given to the Egyptian magicians in Exodus 7:8-13. To be honest, this passage is tough to teach without being able to ask questions. So I'm going to go the simple, minimalist route here.

Looking at vv 2-5 where do you see yourself? Sadly, I can't find a statement that doesn't ring true in some area of my life. Looking beyond the actions, Paul draws us to the source of the problem. Our sin lies first within the affections of our hearts, and then moves outward into our thoughts and actions.

Moving on to vv6-7 we see what could be our future if we are not mindful of our current state. Here's how this happens: living in sin as a Christian is bound to result in some sort of confrontation, when push comes to shove who are we going to love? The picture Paul gives us in this passage hearkens me back to The Fellowship Of The Ring by J.R.R Tolkien. To illustrate the power of the ring to Frodo Gandalf narrates the transformation of a hobbit like creature named Smeagol. As we know Smeagol eventually withdrew into the Misty Mountains to be alone with the One Ring, his precious, and became the character we know as Gollum. If we retreat from fellowship to be alone with our affections, that is, to be alone with our sins; we will eventually believe anything we set our minds to.

But thankfully, God is more powerful than our wills, and our affections. Just as Aaron's staff consumed those of Jannes and Jambres so also is our power thwarted by Jesus Christ. You and I, like Timothy, are being called by God to live in the light in vv.10-17. As if dying for our sins weren't enough God has also set examples like Paul before us. We have access to mentors when we invest ourselves in a church body. But more than that He has given us his written word. Which, by merit of being his word, is universally applicable to everybody. So, in the end it all comes down to a question of what we want to pursue. We may suffer as we walk along the road of Godliness, but we will progress in the liberty provided by God's grace.