Today I am studying the next chapter in sunday school. My ward will be discussing chapter 41 this week.
It is an interesting title. I was curious to see what these chapters would be about. I decided to get a head start by listening to the chapters on my phone while taking a shower.
Tip: I am a slow reader and impatient. Listening to suggested chapters is a good way to start to get in the mood to study. From there I pick certain chapters or verses that caught my attention and go into them more deeply. You can listen to chapters of scriptures as well other resources in English as well as many other languages through the church's Gospel Library app. It's Free!
This week is 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus.
In these chapters I noticed a lot of talk about the world and about sin.
1 Timothy 4 talks about "latter times" or basically life at present day. In the chapter Paul tells of how men will be seduced by "spirits and doctrines of the devil". Then he reminds the reader that people are good at heart if they will follow Christ. If they will follow christ they can know all things. Godliness is goodness.
Paul asks Timothy to work and teach, he says "neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of hands of the presbytery." in verse 14. He is talking about the priesthood here, a power and gift from god, authority to act in his name. The priesthood is really a tremendous gift. It gives me hope and comfort. I feel safe to know that the Church is lead by those who are called by God and given permission to act in his name. I can trust in leaders if they are men of God. If I know that God has sent them into my life to guide me.
Sometimes it can be hard to choose God in Today's world. Paul asks us not to waste our youth. "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." (1 Tim 4:12) I remember being young and having to choose to be faithful when many were making worldly choices. For me it was relatively easy because I had been raised in the gospel of Jesus Christ by a loving family. For many it is more difficult. We don't naturally want to be different. We don't want to be made fun of. But it is much easier is we do not despise it. I never regretted choosing good. I never hated being pure. We are often naturally curious to know what it is like on the other side of our choices. We wonder "what if". It is better to wonder "what if" than to think "I wish I hadn't".
In 2 Timothy 3, Paul speaks more of latter day men. He tells of their egotistical nature and unrighteous choices. In Verse 7 he says, "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." The study guide asks what this means and how we can be sure our learning brings us to truth. This scripture reminded me of a quote I love by T.S. Elliot "Where is the life we have lost in living? Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?" In society today I have noticed that a lot of people work for the wrong reasons. Many work to gain money or stature. Many study to appear civilized or intelligent. Men desire to deceive and work to compete. Many hearts are cold and selfish. They work for their own cause. They work to be better, not better than they were yesterday but better than everyone else. I have been guilty of this.
I dropped out of school because I couldn't pick a major. I was wasting time and money. I also had a boyfriend far away that I wanted to visit, so I needed to work up money to buy a plane ticket. Today, I still consider my education half done. Sometimes I want to study because I like to study. Often times I want to go back to school for my own sense of self worth. I feel like I am less than so many others. I feel like I need to go back and "make something of myself". I need to get a bachelors and then a masters and then cure some kind of worldwide trauma or invent something or make an incredible discovery. I need to accomplish more to keep up with so many who have accomplished so much. It is good to be learned and it is good to make a positive difference, but it must be for the right reasons. As I stress about where I am in my life right now and all the things I haven't done, I am missing out on opportunities. There are ways all around me to apply what I have already learned. If I do not use or share the information I already know I have not knowledge. And if I do not act upon the knowledge I have already received I am not wise. If I run around stressed and working to accomplish something to build myself up, I am not living. I have seen teachers before who know a lot of things but make bad choices. I have seen smart and talented students lose scholarships or athletic opportunities because they chose to drink and drive or use illegal drugs.
Some people "are ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." That truth is that Jesus Christ is our savior and through him we can be saved. Baptism in his name by those who are in authority is the gateway to purity.
As children of God we must seek purity. He needs us to be pure in order for us to return to his presence. Paul speaks to his son Titus about purity in Titus 1:15-16 "Unto the pure all things are pure; but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate."
The truth is that we are made pure through the blood of Christ. Sometimes we are distracted by things of this world, but the things of this world will not last. Money and fame is gone in the blink of an eye, but Christ is eternal. He paid a price we can not pay. The world does not always believe or accept his sacrifice, but he did. He is real.
2 Timothy 1:7-8
For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;"
John 8:31-32
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