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“Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.”  2 Timothy 2:23

Had any quarrels lately? I have…and they leave me feeling tied up in knots. Entangled. Caught in a net of feelings and emotions.

God’s Word speaks to the heart of every problem. 2 Timothy 2:4 tells us that, “No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.”  I don’t think this means that we don’t engage with the world, but rather we remember that God is our authority, and we aim to please Him. He is the one who enlisted us, and we should march to His orders.

Our marching orders in 2 Timothy 2:23 caution us to “Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies.”  Clearly, some things don’t merit discourse. When there is an issue worthy of discussion, 2 Timothy 2:24-25 provides instructions telling us: “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.”

How often am I more focused on making my point than on gently communicating in a way that aligns with God’s heart to grant repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth? Sadly, I know the answer to that question. When I take my eyes off my commanding officer, I am all too easily swept up in civilian concerns forgetting that through grace I have been enlisted to represent Jesus. Forgetting that I was forgiven so that I could be salt and light…not so that I could be always right!

“Lord, forgive me when I focus on winning arguments rather than serving You. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to You. May this be truer tomorrow than it was yesterday.”

For His Glory,

Ann Skalaski
TRBC Women’s Life