Daily Devotions
2 Timothy
"Pursue righteousness..."
Text: 2 Timothy 2:22
THE PURSUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
It is an important thing to flee “youthful lusts”. But that is not sufficient in itself. There is another vital thing that must be considered.
“But pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those
who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
2 Timothy 2:22
1. “But pursue”
a) There is no mistaking the strength of this admonition.
b) Paul wrote using the imperative tense to communicate the need to obey this word.
2. Things to pursue
a) This is not meant to be an exhaustive list of things.
b) But it is an effective list of things to focus on.
c) These words remind us of the Lord Jesus teaching His disciples to seek the practice of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5: 3-12).
3. “Righteousness”
a) This is a reference to personal righteousness.
b) Righteous living should be the hallmark of a good servant of the Lord.
4. “Faith”
a) This was something the Lord Jesus challenged His disciples to pursue.
b) Nothing less than “a great faith” should be the life-long goal of the true servant of God.
5. “Love”
a) This was something the Lord Jesus Himself emphasised.
b) The pursuit of the love of Christ should be a clear and distinct goal.
c) Paul extols the virtue of love wonderfully in 1 Corinthians 13.
6. “Peace”
a) With fellow-minsters.
b) With the brethren in church.
c) With all believers who call on the Lord with a pure heart.
d) Not all who profess faith in the Lord have “pure hearts”.
This word of admonition is relevant, important and applicable to us today!