Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

June 7
Friday



GUARDING
HEARTS

READ:
2 Timothy 2:10-18
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For years I taught adult Bible-study classes in a local church and took great pains to consider Scripture carefully before answering questions during the lessons. Later, during a lecture in my first semester of seminary at age 40, I learned that I'd given a woman who had attended one of my classes a terrible answer to her heartfelt question. I was certain my response had been causing her distress over the 2 years since I had seen her, and I was eager to correct myself for her sake.

Racing home, I called her and instantly burst into an apology. A long pause was followed by her saying in a puzzled tone: "I'm sorry, but I'm having trouble placing you right now." I was neither as memorable nor as damaging as I had believed! It was then I realized God is at work guarding His truth even as we grow in our understanding of His Word. I'm thankful He protected this woman's heart.

We are human and will make mistakes sometimes as we share God's Word with others. But we have an obligation to diligently seek His truth and exercise care when we talk about it (2 Tim. 2:15). Then we may boldly proclaim Him, praying that His Spirit will guard not only our hearts but also the hearts of those we seek to serve. God and His word are deserving of the greatest care. __Randy Kilgore

```````````````The words I spoke but yesterday`````````````````
``````````````Are changed as I read your Word;````````````````
`````````````I see more clearly Your perfect way,``````````````
```````````And my heart is deeply stirred. __Kilgore````````````
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Let God's Word fill your memory, rule your heart,
and guide your words.

**************Today's Bible Reading __ 2 Timothy 2:10-18*******************

10 Therefore I endure all
things for the sake of the
elect, that they also may
obtain the salvation which
is in Christ Jesus with
eternal glory.

11 This is a faithful saying:
For if we died with Him,
we shall also live with Him.

12 If we endure, we shall
also reign with Him. If we
deny Him, He also will
deny us. 13 If we are
faithless, He remains
faithful; He cannot deny
Himself.

14 Remind them of these
things, charging them
before the Lord not to strive
about words to no profit, to
the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be
diligent to present yourself
approved to God, a worker
who does not need to be
ashamed, rightly dividing
the word of truth. 16 But
shun profane and idle
babblings, for they will
increase to more
ungodliness. 17 And their
message will spread like
cancer. Hymenaeus and
Philetus are of this sort,

18 who have strayed
concerning the truth, saying
that the resurrection is
already past; and they
overthrow the faith of some.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The necessity of guarding our words is an often-repeated theme
of Scripture. In today's reading, Paul says that "profane and idle
babblings" lead to ungodliness (v.16). Proverbs 10:19 says, "In the
multitude of words sin is not lacking but he who restrains his lips is
wise." In a similar fashion, James warns about the ease with which
the tongue causes us to stumble. "For we all stumble in many things.
If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also
to bridle the whole body" (James 3:2). Though difficult, even the
tongue can be tamed by surrendering it to the Holy Spirit