2 Timothy 2:24-26, “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.”
It is not always easy maintaining gentleness with those who least deserve it when you see something that needs correcting, because you haven’t seen any progress. A leader, leading like Jesus, must not be setting out to pick fights or energized from arguments. I think we all know people that have that bent. Know-it-alls are everywhere in thinking they are experts in everything. Paul must have had a tremendous amount of patience in handling those that opposed him. He was teaching Timothy to do the same. Paul did not say it was wrong to confront those in error that need to be confronted, but it must be done without self-pride, and again, the word “gentleness” is used. How does one do so with humility and from a nurturing motive? I think asking probing questions is needed in these instances and knowing when to walk away and agree to disagree. Jesus was our example, in Matthew 12:19 as it says of Jesus, “He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets.” Jesus used gentleness in dealing with people. That was his character which was the pattern he used, as Matthew 11:29 stated, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” That was what David did when his oldest brother Eliab ridiculed him, told him he was conceited, and insulted him before a crowd. He harshly misjudged David’s intentions. David simply repeated his question to Eliab, turned his back on him, walked away from the quarrel and disagreement. Then David continued to do exactly what God called and purposed him to do, in killing Goliath, who defied the armies of the living God.
David Guzik’s commentary states on 2 Timothy 2:24-26: “. . . repentance will never happen apart from a work of God in their heart. . . The idea is not, “Maybe God will or maybe God won’t grant them repentance.” The idea is more, “It’s remarkable thing to see this work of God, and I won’t presume upon it happening.” Repentance flows as someone comes to the truth in this way. Those who are in opposition to God’s work, whether they know it or not, are bound in a demonic deception, and are doing the devil’s work. They need to escape the snare of the devil, and God is ready to set them free.”
Every person has a choice to serve God or not. 1 Timothy 2:3B-4 declares, “God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Pray for those you work with, family members, and those you come in contact with to “come to their senses,” recognize and admit they are a sinner, repent, and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. All the while praying for the Holy Spirit to work so that they will see the truth by their own eyes and that you would see and walk in the truth shown to you before them.
What has God been teaching you this week? What lessons did He want you to learn from the truth from His Word He has shown you? The following truths in these verses restrained me from responding in anger recently:
- Proverbs 12:18, “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
- Proverbs 15:28, “The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.”
- Proverbs 10:19, “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.”
- Proverbs 12:16, “The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.”
I believe Satan uses conflict to trip us up and hurt our relationships with those we are trying to be a witness to, especially when they have ignited one of our triggers that set us off. As Louie Giglio has said, “Don’t give the enemy a seat at your table!”
Pray for the lost on your prayer list to see the truth of the gospel, believe, repent, and come to their senses of Christ’s saving grace, a free gift they need to accept to be taken out of the devil’s snare. Focus on your calling, your purpose in life. Do it to the best of your ability in pursuing righteousness, faith, love and peace, with gentleness. Then leave the results to God.
Listen to Phil Wickham – Look To Jesus. March 24, 2022.
Oh how I love this. What beautiful reminder that how we conduct ourself is a example of our own relationship to Christ. I pray my attitude will always be one of humility even in the the difficult conversations.
Thank you, Lynn! I have to remind myself of this often recently. I read somewhere recently that our attitude is the only thing we can control. I have had to agree.