August 13
Kind to the Opposition
2 Timothy 2:24-26

  1. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
  2. In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
  3. And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

As a servant of the Lord we are not to be argumentative, but rather we are to be gentle and kind to everyone, able to teach and patient when wronged.  When there are those who oppose us, we’re to instruct or correct them gently in hopes that they will repent and acknowledge the truth.

Those who oppose us are really not opposing us personally but they are opposing God and the Truth of the Word of God.  In doing so they are working against themselves!  Rather than argue with these people we are to respond to them kindly (no matter how they treat us), and be willing and able to teach them the Truth of the Word gently.

Our hope should be that they would repent and acknowledge the Truth of the Word of God and by doing so they are recovering themselves from the snare of the devil.  As long as they disagree with the Truth of God’s Word they are in a snare and held captive by the devil.

We should be moved with the love, compassion and mercy of God and treat them kindly and instruct them gently rather than take offense and become argumentative with them.

 

Confession:

I will not be argumentative with those that oppose the Word of God.  Instead I will be kind to everyone.  I will be patient when I am wronged.  I will correct those who are in opposition gently, hoping for repentance on their part.

 

 

Obedience is a tree of life!