2 Timothy 2:22-26

 22Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace,
along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23Don’t have anything
to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce
quarrels. 24And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind
to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25Those who oppose him he must
gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to
a knowledge of the truth, 26and that they will come to their senses and escape
from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

Meditation:
1. Slowly read these verses.  Imagine Paul is sitting beside me, speaking these
words to me directly.  How do I feel when I hear them?  What part of the
passage resonates most with me?  Why?  Maybe the “evil desires of youth”
seem a little patronizing.  Maybe I just like to have “foolish and stupid
arguments”, or there is still bitterness in me that I get into “quarrels” a lot.
Perhaps Christian maturity such as “be kind to everyone, able to teach, not
resentful” seems impossible or defeating.  Maybe with some people I’ve lost
hope that they might “come to their senses”.
2. Continue to sit in a comfortable position being as still and silent as possible.
Silent, still.  Listen for the gentle whisper of God’s voice in the midst of
the silence.  Maybe he will show me a spot of childishness or one of
righteousness.  Maybe he will offer me hope.
3. Continue to sit in silence and explore what God might want me to do with
this instruction.  How am I to live it out today? This week? This month?

Personal Note:
I am challenged to pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart v.22.  I find that unless I hang out with brothers and sisters with the same passion, my faith and passion fades away very quickly.  I recall in TC, we are all applying this verse, and the passion and energy was there to pursue after God.

Regarding a pure heart, as I reflected upon my own journey and given the fact that there is a "No Macking" rule in TC, I realize that I never really pursue after Christ with a pure heart.  I came to God because I wanted a girlfriend.  I came to God because I wanted to be rich and successful.  I came to God because I am desperate in leading the church.  The only pure motivation for pursuing faith, love, and peace, etc is out of the love for God in response to the love that God has for me.

I know that I will never ever be totally pure when I come to God.  I am willing to lay down my sins by the grace of God and be shaped and used for His purpose.