Apples Come from Apple Trees

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:6-7 "For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."

Observation: These verses follow on the heels, and are really the conclusion of, a long list of sins that characterize men and women who claim the label Christian but who have never actually "come to the knowledge of the truth."

"The truth" is used as a term for something specific here. It represents more than an understanding and extends into an applied realization that changes how we see the world and those in it. This is a change that should be so clear and radical that it brings the guilt-driven assaults of those offended by God's existence - the truth. Paul says in vs 12 that "all who desire to live Godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."

Application: A life of faith responding to the truth is not about gathering knowledge and will not earn me the accolades of the world. The work I do, the actions of faith, will only be received by the world so far as they don't accompany the words of the truth of man's sinfulness and desperation concerning eternal condemnation. [The world is ready to accept that we as a nation need to take actions to prevent repeats of the Newtown elementary school massacre, but they don't want to hear that the true source of the killer's actions were his sin nature because acceptance of that truth also means acceptance of the fact that each and every one of us shares in the same nature and are capable of the same atrocious acts. No, we would rather be in the position of needing to condescend to help those afflicted by such maladies (the love of God implores us that help we should) that they also may live the level of "goodness" that normal humans do.] Paul says in vs 12 that "all who desire to live Godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

Prayer: I acknowledge my apathy and pray for more faith. Thank you for the truth, for calling and saving me. Please use me as an instrument to declare your glory to those around me.