by Suzanne Benner
**These are troubling times, seemingly hopeless situations, and devastation around the world. Where is God in all of this? http://thelife.com/study/understanddisaster.html
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days” (2 Timothy 3:1).
There is much uncertainty in the world. On the news we hear of wars and natural disasters, poverty and sickness making us think that these last days are near.
But listen to how Paul describes the terrible times:
“People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them” (2 Timothy 3:2 – 5).
Paul’s portrayal of terrible times has nothing to do with terrorism or disease or earthquakes, but it clearly characterizes our generation.
It is all about people’s attitudes and behavior.
We don’t have to look far to see people who are ungrateful, unforgiving, without self-control, boastful or conceited, perhaps no farther than the mirror.
Undeniably in our society, but maybe also in our churches and our homes, there are lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.
Yet most condemning to us who say we are Christians is the description, “having a form of godliness but denying its power”.
May it not be so!
Let us not simply do the Christian “thing” by talking the lingo or buying the books or doing the duties. Instead let us allow the power of Jesus’ resurrection to transform our lives.
These are challenging and often terrible times we live in, but when we surrender our will to God’s the power of His love and grace changes us. When His truth is alive in us, we become light in this dark world.
~ Oh Holy God, I don’t want my life to have simply a “form of godliness”; I want real godliness. May the truth of Your love and Jesus’ sacrifice shine powerfully in my life.
Questions: Where do you see “terrible times” in your own life? Why is surrender to God necessary for His power to be demonstrated in our lives?
About the Author: http://talk.thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/authors/suzanne-benner/
8 Comments
Feed for this entry
Trackback Address
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:08 am
We must be focused on God and not be drawn into speculation but into obedience.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:21 am
I always Reach to God and wait for Him for the answer… Knowing that I will grow closer to him cause I allow Him …. In My terrible time to be My God
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:37 am
S
September 3rd, 2008 at 12:50 pm
thank you for the devotional i truley think we are in the end times.
September 3rd, 2008 at 4:45 pm
In our area, i believe our churches are in terrible times. There is a lot of sickness in this area to start with. Churches have split because of disagreement. We have been through a terrible time in our own church. The sad thing is everyone of these people would probably say that they love Jesus. If we all worship the same God and say we love Jesus why is there so much disagreement.
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:44 pm
God is in control and we are not! Troubling times make me realize how much we/ I need him. What a comfort that God knows the beginning to the end! Jesus is the Prince of Peace! and Jesus is coming back again! He is trustworthy
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:55 pm
suzanne, thank you for the stark but very real thoughts in this devotional. as i feel i am a Christian, i now feel that it is absolutely vital that i know that i am ready for the Lord’s return. in receiving Jesus as my Savior, i do not fear the second coming of Christ because i know now in my heart and soul that it is a certain as His first.
these are indeed troubling times and accept it or not, all the negativity described within the paragraphs of this devotional are true as God is real. we are a selfish people and God has been very patient with us. He sacrificed His only Son to show us His love for us. His Son died so that we could live. and this is how we re-pay the Lord-through greed. i am one of the many who are guilty yet i called to the Lord for salvation from those negative actions. He heard me, He took me in His arms. i no longer felt alone, i felt alive once more. when i see the Day approaching and it will, i will, i pray, find myself in anticipation of His appearing
”The Lord Himself will descend from heaven…then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up.”–1 Thess. 4:16-17
September 14th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
We have not been getting our daily devotioals regularly for the pass wk
Is there something wrong with our Shaw cable station? My friend in Med Hat has asked
the same question Her name is Wendy Bus Can someone look into what is happening
please sincerly lorna