A Wooden Leg

2 Timothy 3-Part 5 Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!  2 Timothy 3:10-11 NAS

LET IT GLOW

It was an every morning event-Dad putting on his wooden leg (a prosthesis) so he didn't have to hop or use crutches in order to get around. That was its purpose. And it served him well. Come to think about it, his  limp was hardly noticeable.  (His leg was cut off below the knee because he stepped on a mine in France during WWII.) He continued his work on the farm and other things, not letting his life be hindered.
What is the purpose of my life? Am I seeking to find out what God has for me daily and to do it? Is my purpose hidden like Dad's wooden leg or revealed because I'm doing it?

Paul reminded Timothy that he knew Paul's teaching, conduct, and purpose. Timothy recalled those times of teaching-sitting with listening to Paul instruct him as a younger man, the sermons and lessons he heard from Old Testament Scriptures in dozens of towns.
Timothy saw how Paul behaved himself not only in front of people, but also in private. Conduct means "manner of life."
Purpose, prosthesis in Greek, means "set before." The apostle's purpose had been "set before" God, just like the consecrated bread in the temple (Ex. 25:23-30).

So I wonder, is my teaching that of the Word  of God, the Truth? Is my conduct that of a hypocrite or sincerely a true follower of Christ? Am I fulfilling the purpose for my life that God has for it?

The next for words go together-faith, patience, love, perseverance. These are virtues of the Christian life. Did Timothy observe them in Paul's life? Yes, as Paul daily trusted in the Lord, endured with patience the criticism and vicious attacks on his character, his tender love for the foolish, and stonings, floggings, mock trials, and imprisonments with perseverance.
Does my faith, love, and patience show up as I persevere for the cause of Christ?

The apostle concluded his brief review of the past to acknowledge the hardships and to praise God for delivering him through them.
Psalm 34:19 says, Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.
2 Corinthians 1:10 says, Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us.

Timothy saw the high personal cost of ministry (Acts 13:14-14:23). Would he continue on? Will we continue on? Remember, Paul is writing this letter while he is in a dungeon, awaiting his final trip journey-to Rome for beheading.

[Reference: Swindoll's New Testament Insights on 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus]


LET IT GROW

Tradition says that the Egyptian magicians named in verse 8 imitated Moses and Aaron-turned the rod into a serpent, water into blood, grought up frogs. But when it came to the miracle of the lice, the magicians couldn't imitate it (Ex. 8:16-19). Satan is an imitator. What God does, Satan counterfeits. False religious leaders in the last day will promote lies, deny the authority of the Bible, deny the reality of sin and people's need for salvation. (Wiersbe)

Warren Wiersbe, in his book, Be Faithful, says:

Those who are truly a faithful servant of God will have these characteristics:

• Their lives are open for all to see. (verse 10a) John 18:20, Acts 26:4
• They teach true doctrine, the gospel of Jesus Christ. (verse 10b)
• They practice what they preach. (verse 10c)
• Their purpose is to glorify God. (verse 10d) Paul was a man of love who willingly gave himself to serve.
• They are willing to suffer. (verse 11-12) He didn't ask others to suffer for him; he suffered for others. His persecution was living proof that he was living a godly life.

LET IT GO

Continue with faith, patience, and love through persecution.

Stay faithful to my Savior.

Pray for those who persecute me.