ESOCS Devotional 3 October 2023 – Your Camp Determines Your Identity in the Last Days
MEMORY VERSE: “For men shall be lovers of their own selves … lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;” 2 Timothy 3:2a, 4b
TEXT:2 TIMOTHY 3:1–17 (NIV)
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents,ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9 But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.
10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
Apostle Paul told Timothy, that in the last days, it is going to be very difficult to be a Christian. Christianity will be a religion many will identify or associate with but will not conform to by inward character traits and outward character exhibitions. This is because there are going to be two identifiable camps – those who love their own selves and pleasure and those who love God.
According to the passage, in the last days, which we are already in now, there is going to be a breakdown of morality. That is, gross wickedness and immorality will be the order of the day. We are witnessing it as the days go by. And as stated by the Word of God it will get worse.
Why is it going to be worse off with each passing of the day? It is because men and believers who claim to be Christians and men of God will be lovers of themselves and pleasure. And they will hold deceptive and corrupting influences over those who follow them, thereby reproducing their own selves in their followers. These followers who unfortunately would claim to be Christians would continue to exhibit characters lacking in morals, they will be very ungodly. While on the other side, those who love God would continue to produce goodness, joy, love and all beautiful godly characters. Everyone who loves Go, will fear God and will obey Him. God is not an author of evil, wickedness and lawlessness. Our Lord Jesus Christ said, “If you love me keep my commandment” (John 14:15). Jesus said a new law I give you – love one another.
Therefore, to escape the corruption that will continue to bedevil characters in these last days, every professing Christians must take sincerely and wholesomely to the Word of God. You must also align and examine every spiritual influence over you with the Word of God. As a Christian, you should always ask yourself, “who am I hearing from?” Is his/her character consistent will godliness, does it show love for God characterized by the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance? Ask yourself, the more you hear and follow this group/person, does your love for God, His Kingdom expansion and righteousness increase or improve or diminish? In light of the above, Paul boldly told Timothy that as long as this last day and Christianity are concerned who you follow matters. He said to Timothy, “But you know from watching me that I am not that kind of person. You know what I believe and the way I live and what I want. You know my faith in Christ and how I have suffered. You know my love for you, and my patience. …But you must keep on believing the things you have been taught. You know they are true for you know that you can trust those of us who have taught you” (2 Tim. 3:10 – 14 TLB).
However, 2 Timothy 3:1–9, 13 describes the nature of those who do not love God. They are vile in nature and action. Beloved, understand that your camp will determine your identity in these last days. If you belong to the camp of those who love their own selves and pleasure, know that you are not a child of God. But if you love God, you will be a true child of God.
- Thoroughly and sincerely assess yourself – which camp do you think you belong to?
- Father, in your mercy help me to keep my heart purely in love with you.
FURTHER READING: Isaiah 5:1–end; 61:1 -7; 2 Timothy 4:5–15
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ESOCS Devotional 3 October 2023
