“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient of parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away. For this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 3:1-7
“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” Proverbs 23:7
Our weekly Christian devotional
I’m the kind of girl who’s quick to pick up a paperback and feels like a traitor when glancing at a Kindle. I’ll always prefer a hand written card to a ‘Thank you’ email; I really can’t imagine myself going there–even in desperate times.
Of course, when it comes to technology, I also consider myself a late bloomer. I’m going to sound so ‘old school’ when I say this—but many times I find myself bucking these changes because a part of me feels these advances play a huge part in syphoning the humanity right out of us.
Have you noticed many people just can’t seem to relate to others in that simple, old fashioned, eye-to-eye way anymore? We’re all so ‘connected’ yet somehow, strangely disconnected …Welcome to generation ‘Selfie’.
My girlfriend is on a mission: to get me hooked on Instagram. While scrolling through her account, selfies seemed to dominate in such an alarming way. It felt as if the prophecy of 2 Timothy 3:1-7 was written between the lines of most updates.
Please read through that verse slowly. Here is the list of people that 2 Timothy predicts will dominate the end times: lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient of parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.
If that list doesn’t paint a vivid description of the days we’re currently living in, I’ll let you borrow my frying pan.
Listen, I’m not saying it’s a horrible thing to try and stay current with what’s going on. But when Believers begin saturating themselves in a culture that follows themselves (yes, people do this) Alba, Eminem and Beyoncé’; while at the same time putting Jesus aside for an occasional Sunday morning, we’re forging a very dangerous path.
In the heart of a true Believer, Jesus is never a side note. He isn’t the God who blesses your chicken wings while looking past the state of your heart and it’s true passions. He is a God worthy of our complete worship. This means He deserves our attention, time, devotion and commitment.
Just so you know–this battle for our affection isn’t a new problem. In fact, all throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites continually turned their hearts away from God, onto more ‘hip’ gods. I’m sure if Twitter were around, there would have been hash tags of Baal, golden calves and other Egyptian gods and goddesses.
In today’s postmodern world, most of us don’t look at the things and people we admire as actual ‘gods’. But, with the kind of emphasis and attention we give to them, they’re certainly lifted up to a god-like status. Look at Jay Z, Gaga and Bill Maher. How many of us religiously subscribe to posts or tune into channels that these folks are on?
It’s sad to consider that many Christians wouldn’t think twice about skipping out on church; but heaven forbid they miss the Tonight Show or the latest episode of Orange is the New Black! I wonder how God feels about not only sharing the limelight—but actually being shoved right out of it?
In a world that celebrates ‘Self’, true Christians are called to die to it. This means dropping our need to identify so closely with this world’s lusts, pleasures and distractions.
As Christians, our identities should reflect The One who endured the humiliation and pain of the cross to actually save us from ourselves. Jesus is counting on us to be the light in a very dark world. Don’t hamper Him from shining through you; Don’t let your selfie get in the way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vs1XRyIvEfU
“Dear Heavenly Father,
It’s so easy to get tangled up in the things of this world. There will always be magazines and status updates that make me feel like I’m not enough or that I’m missing out.
The reality is I’ll always be missing out on something. I can choose to look away from the temptations of this life and focus on you, or I can choose to focus on things that will quickly blow away with the passing of time and trends.
Help me to honor you with the life you’ve given me. Not with empty words, but with a life that reflects what Jesus would really do. How He would actually live. Jesus really is living on the inside of me! Give me a deep awareness of this reality.
Christ gives me the power to overcome my old nature. But, I can’t fully enjoy the newness that Christ died to give me if I continue resurrecting the passions and idols that keep pulling my heart away from The One, true God.
Show me any idols I’ve lifted up in my heart. In the name of Jesus, I repent for worshiping anything other than you, Lord.
Purify my heart and help me to serve you with all of it, Amen.”
Thank you for reading our weekly Christian devotional on verses: 2 Timothy 3:1-7, Proverbs 23:7
Please check back and see what we have for you next week!
Author: Julia Shalom Jordan