Which Way?

I discovered I don't have permission to forward on to you the Daily Bread as it is copywrited.  However, today's was very good and cut to my heart!

 

The passages it covers are:

 

2 Timothy 4:1-8 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: (2) preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. (3) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, (4) and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. (5) But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

(6) For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. (7) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; (8) in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

This is Matthew Henry's Commentary:  2Ti 4:1-5 - People will turn away from the truth, they will grow weary of the plain gospel of Christ, they will be greedy of fables, and take pleasure in them. People do so when they will not endure that preaching which is searching, plain, and to the purpose. Those who love souls must be ever watchful, must venture and bear all the painful effects of their faithfulness, and take all opportunities of making known the pure gospel.

Notice verse 5, "...do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."  This is why Frank and I feel it is critical that we share the Gospel whenever our Youth Group meets. 

Verse 3 - "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine..." This was to be the case in the Early Church and is quite literally the case in the world we live in today.  "...but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,"  this portion of this verse reminds me of  Proverbs 14:12 "There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death."

Too many of our mega-churches (and even little churches) have focused on telling people what they want to hear, rather than teaching/preaching the Word of God.  This is a very slippery slope that misleads millions of people into being comfortable with their lifestyles and focuses on man, rather than God.

I don't know about you, but I don't want my ears tickled!  I want to hear the Word of God preached!  I hunger and thirst to know God as He reveals Himself to us in Scripture and through the instruction of the Holy Spirit!

Our way, without God at the center of it, leads to our destruction.  My way is always wrong.  God's way is always right!

Which way are you following today?  If you aren't following Jesus - you're headed in the wrong direction.

Read what Jesus said - Matthew 7:13-14 "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. (14) "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.