Good morning. Paul
continues: nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal,
"the Lord knows those who are His," and "Let everyone who names
the name of the Lord abstain from wickedness." Almighty God, ruler of the
universe, knows you are His. Other people should also know that we are
His. And so we should abstain from wickedness so that others will not speak
badly about Him. Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels,
but also vessels of wood and earthenware, and some to honor some to dishonor.
Therefore, if a man cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for
honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. God
cannot use a dirty vessel. Note: you have to cleanse yourself. So what if we
are a clay pot? We can still be a vessel for honor. Then Paul tells Timothy to
flee from youthful lusts. But you don't just flee from something. Pursue
righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a
pure heart. We are to go after those things. Then we will be a vessel for
honor. But we don't do it just to get a merit badge. We do it with a pure heart.
Father thank You that the reader is a vessel for honor. He/she is sanctified
and useful to You. He/she pursues righteousness, faith, love and peace with a
pure heart.
Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me
Good morning. Paul then gives a list of a lot of things that he has gone through as an apostle. I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. There could be many people that you listen to either in church or through the Internet or other means; but there was only one person (as a general rule it was a person) that lead you to Christ. Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me. He was saying that just like a child imitates his or her father, they were to imitate him. He says that again seven chapters later. Since it is easy to forget some things about people we have not seen in a while, Paul says that he sent Timothy to them to remind them of his ways which are in Christ, just as he taught everywhere in every church. Some have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. I shall find ou...
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