2 Timothy 3 - Steve Wiggins Daily Devotional

“But know this: difficult times will come in the last days. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self control, brutal, without love for what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of G_d, holding to the form of religion but denying its power. From such people, turn away!” 2nd Timothy 3:1-5

The first American President I remember being aware of, was Gerald Ford. He was the only president to have not been elected, either as vice president or president. He manned the helm during a very turbulent time in our nation’s history. For that, I am thankful.

Shortly after Ford’s death, on the CBS Early Show, Charles Gibson interviewed the Ford family’s Episcopal Priest, Robert Certain. The discussion soon turned to comments Ford had made to reporter Bob Woodward, criticizing the Bush administration. President Ford had asked that his comments not be published until his passing.

As the priest and Mr. Gibson discussed Ford’s political stance on Iraq, the conversation turned towards moral issues. Soon, Mr. Certain was bashing what he called the “radical religious right”. (Let me be clear that I do not ‘carte blanche endorse anyone, or any organization. Rather, I weigh everyone’s claims by my understanding of the Bible.)

That being said, the Episcopal priest began to denounce anyone who believed the Bible’s claims against homosexuality and several other moral issues. He went on to say that the “golden rule” (do unto others…) was present in the writings of over 20 world religions, and no religion has any exclusive claims to absolute truth.

I could not believe this man was allowed to shepherd a Sunday school class, much less, a head of state!

Wearing his black suit and priest’s collar, he looked so…authoritarian. Reading 2 Timothy 3, this morning, was sobering. In the last days, men will hold to the FORM of religion, but deny its power. They are lovers of convenience, more than lovers of G_d. “From such people, turn away.”

Nobody knows when Yeshua will return, but I am convinced we are living in the last days. Thank you for your commitment to read G_d’s Word, and to share it with whomever He leads your way. It has been given to us, as it was to Paul and Timothy, to be guardians of the Gospel. We must not add-to, or take away from G_d’s Word and we must distance ourselves from those who do. This is so that the Gospel, as the L_rd has designed it, would retain its integrity, and thus its power to save in our generation.

Blessings,
~Steve Wiggins, Associate Leader, Worship Leader
Shuvah Yisrael
Daily Devotional, Monday, November 4, 2013