Seek Faithful Teachers

Seek Faithful Teachers By Kirk Hunt

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;  and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 NKJV

Too many, including myself, have put the blame on the false teachers.  Suddenly, I understand that the students and followers should be held accountable.  You have to want the truth, in the first place.

I am guilty of not always wanting to hear the truth.  Scripture has a way of roughing up God’s men and women.  Still, find a faithful Bible teacher and dig in.  Do your homework and follow along in your own copy of the Bible.

A faithful Bible teacher has one agenda: To teach God’s truth from God’s Word.  A faithful Bible teacher does not care about your political leanings, cultural bias or level of sensitivity.  A faithful Bible teacher cares only that you hear the pure and untainted Word of God. 

Also, you must make the effort to learn from God’s Word for yourself.  Your Bible teacher cannot have a relationship with God for you.  You must seek Him and His truth for yourself.  And there will be times in your Christian journey when only God’s voice will satisfy you.

It is your soul and therefore your responsibility.  If you can read and understand this devotional, then you can read and understand the Holy Bible.  Do your part of the hard work of learning God’s Word.

Think:       It is my responsibility to find and support a faithful Bible teacher.

Pray:         “Lord, help me to learn Your Word as deeply as I can.”

 

Copyright © November 2018, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is brought to you courtesy of CadreMen Press.  You can purchase a copy of Blessed and Blessing: Devotionals For Gospel Champions from your favorite bookseller or directly from CadreMen Press.

Their Own Desires

Their Own Desires By Kirk Hunt

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;   and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 NKJV

 

The classic strategy of a swindler is to promise “something for nothing.”  The desires and lusts betray the “victim” more powerfully than the confidence man or woman.  Unfortunately, this applies to God’s people as much as anyone else.

 

If you want anything more than God, it is a lust.  If you want something enough to alter or deliberately misinterpret God’s Word, it is a lust.  The desires for control, ego or status can be lusts, just like money, sex or power.

 

And there is always someone out there who will tell you what you want to hear.  False teachers (read: con artists) will gear their lessons to the biggest paychecks, not your well-being or Godliness.  Local or national, near or far, the false teachers we heap up for ourselves preach false stories that lead to destruction.  

 

Why do you want what you want?  What does the Bible say about what you want?  What does the Bible say about how you are working to get what you want?  The honest answers to these questions will tell you what you need to know about your desires.

 

Read and study the Bible yourself.  Compare every “teacher” you hear to the Bible, our one true source.  Do not let your own desires lead you astray.

 

Think:        My own desires and lusts will lead me astray, if I let them. 

 

Pray:           “Lord, help me keep my desires on You.”

 

Copyright © April 2017, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is brought to you courtesy of CadreMen Press.  You can purchase a copy of Blessed and Blessing: Devotionals For Gospel Champions from your favorite bookseller or directly from CadreMen Press.