2 Timothy – Week 5 – Day 2

READ 

2 Timothy 2:25-26 

25 Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. 26 Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants. 

On the one hand Paul said to pass on his teaching to faithful people who will pass it on to others (see 2 Timothy 2:2). Here he encourages Timothy to “gently instruct” those who “oppose the truth.” Note it is not the Lord’s servant who can change hearts; it is only God who can change hearts and cause them to “learn the truth.” The hope is they will escape the grasp that the devil has on their lives. 

REFLECT 

Do you have a difficult person in your life you are trying to teach? If so, count on God to change the individual’s heart and mind even though you cannot. 

RESPOND 

Talk with another believer about how in witnessing you sometimes only get a blank stare in return. Read 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 to see what keeps them from believing.