Week 50: A Voice in the Darkness | Day 2

Tasks for this week:

  1. Watch all three parts of A Voice in the Darkness
  2. Complete daily Bible reading
  3. Memorize 2 Timothy 2:1-2 and 2 Timothy 2:15

Week 50: Day 2

Today’s F260 Bible reading: 1 Timothy 4-6

4:1 Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the later times some will desert the faith and occupy themselves with deceiving spirits and demonic teachings, 2influenced by the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared. 3They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4For every creation of God is good, and no food is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. 5For it is sanctified by God’s word and by prayer. 6By pointing out such things to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, having nourished yourself on the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7But reject those myths fit only for the godless and gullible, and train yourself for godliness. 8For “physical exercise has some value, but godliness is valuable in every way. It holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.” 9This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance. 10In fact this is why we work hard and struggle, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of believers. 11Command and teach these things. 12Let no one look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in your speech, conduct, love, faithfulness, and purity. 13Until I come, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14Do not neglect the spiritual gift you have, given to you and confirmed by prophetic words when the elders laid hands on you. 15Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that everyone will see your progress. 16Be conscientious about how you live and what you teach. Persevere in this, because by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you. 5:1 Do not address an older man harshly but appeal to him as a father. Speak to younger men as brothers, 2older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters—with complete purity. 3Honor widows who are truly in need. 4But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn to fulfill their duty toward their own household and so repay their parents what is owed them. For this is what pleases God. 5But the widow who is truly in need, and completely on her own, has set her hope on God and continues in her pleas and prayers night and day. 6But the one who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. 7Reinforce these commands, so that they will be beyond reproach. 8But if someone does not provide for his own, especially his own family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 9No widow should be put on the list unless she is at least sixty years old, was the wife of one husband, 10and has a reputation for good works: as one who has raised children, practiced hospitality, washed the feet of the saints, helped those in distress—as one who has exhibited all kinds of good works. 11But do not accept younger widows on the list, because their passions may lead them away from Christ and they will desire to marry, 12and so incur judgment for breaking their former pledge. 13And besides that, going around from house to house they learn to be lazy, and they are not only lazy, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things they should not. 14So I want younger women to marry, raise children, and manage a household, in order to give the adversary no opportunity to vilify us. 15For some have already wandered away to follow Satan. 16If a believing woman has widows in her family, let her help them. The church should not be burdened so that it may help the widows who are truly in need. 17Elders who provide effective leadership must be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard in speaking and teaching. 18For the scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker deserves his pay.” 19Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it can be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 20Those guilty of sin must be rebuked before all, as a warning to the rest. 21Before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, I solemnly charge you to carry out these commands without prejudice or favoritism of any kind. 22Do not lay hands on anyone hastily and so identify with the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. 23(Stop drinking just water, but use a little wine for your digestion and your frequent illnesses.) 24The sins of some people are obvious, going before them into judgment, but for others, they show up later. 25Similarly good works are also obvious, and the ones that are not cannot remain hidden. 6:1 Those who are under the yoke as slaves must regard their own masters as deserving of full respect. This will prevent the name of God and Christian teaching from being discredited. 2But those who have believing masters must not show them less respect because they are brothers. Instead they are to serve all the more, because those who benefit from their service are believers and dearly loved. Teach them and exhort them about these things. 3If someone spreads false teachings and does not agree with sound words (that is, those of our Lord Jesus Christ) and with the teaching that accords with godliness, 4he is conceited and understands nothing, but has an unhealthy interest in controversies and verbal disputes. This gives rise to envy, dissension, slanders, evil suspicions, 5and constant bickering by people corrupted in their minds and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a way of making a profit. 6Now godliness combined with contentment brings great profit. 7For we have brought nothing into this world and so we cannot take a single thing out either. 8But if we have food and shelter, we will be satisfied with that. 9Those who long to be rich, however, stumble into temptation and a trap and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is the root of all evils. Some people in reaching for it have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains. 11But you, as a person dedicated to God, keep away from all that. Instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness. 12Compete well for the faith and lay hold of that eternal life you were called for and made your good confession for in the presence of many witnesses. 13I charge you before God who gives life to all things and Christ Jesus who made his good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14to obey this command without fault or failure until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ 15—whose appearing the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, will reveal at the right time. 16He alone possesses immortality and lives in unapproachable light, whom no human has ever seen or is able to see. To him be honor and eternal power! Amen. 17Command those who are rich in this world’s goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. 18Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others. 19In this way they will save up a treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the future and so lay hold of what is truly life. 20O Timothy, protect what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the profane chatter and absurdities of so-called “knowledge.” 21By professing it, some have strayed from the faith. Grace be with you all. (NET Bible)

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB),
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1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Used by permission. www.Lockman.org