The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 26 November 2019 – Shun Profane And Vain Babblings
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TOPIC: Shun Profane And Vain Babblings
READ: 2 Timothy 2:14-26 (NKJV)
14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.
17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort,
18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.
19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.
21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.
24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,
25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,
26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
THE MESSAGE:
To shun means to avoid something. Profane is showing a lack of respect for God or holy things or people. Vain means useless or empty. Babble is childish, disordered or foolish talk. “Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools talk because they have to say something” – Plato. In I Timothy 6:20, profane and vain babblings seem to have constituted a dominant element in the problems facing the Ephesian Church. The best way of dealing with this kind of situation is to avoid or shun such teachings. As in verse 16, particular attention is paid to the devastating influence of these vain babblers, whose trivialities lead to increasing ungodliness.
Most of the massive amounts of information spread via internet are bankrupt in virtue, praise and godliness. Some of those who post on social media like facebook, whatsapp, etc., commonly circulate ideas that are empty and devoid of lasting value. So we should be careful not to be involved in discussions that have no eternal value or have the tendency of scattering the flock of Christ rather than uniting her.
PRAYER: Almighty God, help me not to engage in foolish talk that will scatter Your flock, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
