Scripture to Read: 2 Timothy 2:16-18
We saw in the devotion on Day 1 that we are not to get involved in arguments over things that just don’t matter. God comes back today in 2 Timothy 2:16-18 and deals again with avoiding “all irreverent babble and godless chatter” (AMP). God wants all of us to stay away from worthless conversations and foolish talk that lead to godless actions. There is quite a bit of foolish talk and worthless discussions that happen on social media every day. As Christians, we must steer clear of these conversations because it only leads to ungodliness. God goes on in 2 Timothy 2:17 and describes this kind of foolish talking spreading like gangrene. For some of the younger readers going through this devotion, gangrene, as defined in the dictionary, is a “localized death and decomposition of body tissue, resulting from either obstructed circulation or bacterial infection.” In other words, gangrene leads to death in whatever it attacks. God is telling us that getting caught up in godless conversations only leads to death and will spread quickly to others, killing relationships and destroying our fellowship with our Lord. God even has Paul mention two individuals (Hymenaeus and Philetus) who were false teachers and had turned away from God’s Truth to teach lies. These two were teaching that the resurrection of the church (the rapture) had already taken place. Because some people believed Hymenaeus and Philetus's lies, they turned away from trusting in Christ because they thought it was too late. False teaching always leads people astray. We must always stick to God’s Truth and nothing less.
Challenge & Application
1. What did God teach you today about worthless conversations and foolish talk?
2. How are you guarding yourself from getting involved in worthless conversations and foolish talk?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!