“So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart” (2Tim 2:22).
It seems like everybody is chasing something. Lawyers chase ambulances. Parents chase their kids. Athletes chase a ring. Actors chase an Oscar. Dogs chase cats. Cats chase mice. What are you chasing? Are you chasing your dream career? A big house in the ‘burbs? A sweet ride? A fat 401k?
In his second letter to his spiritual son, the Apostle Paul encourages Timothy to make sure he stops chasing the wrong things and start chasing the right things. “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart” (v22). It’s time to grow up. Stop the wild goose chase and start the wild God chase. Make it a priority of hanging out with folks whose hearts are focused on Jesus. Run away from kid stuff and run toward God stuff. We must be in a constant hot pursuit of the things of Jesus!
While Paul encourages Tim to get moving, the apostle isn’t going anywhere. Well, at least not physically. The man from Tarsus writes the young preacher from Death Row in Rome while wearing heavy chains (2Tim 1:16; 2:8). Paul’s race is just about over and he’s leaning toward the finish line (2Tim 4:6-7).
He pleads with his protege to hurry and see him one last time (2Tim 4:9, 21). Just in case he can’t get there in time, his mentor hurriedly scribbles down instructions for how to continue telling people about Jesus and spreading His Gospel (2Tim 2:1-4:5). 2nd Timothy is the very last thing from Paul’s pen. It’s incredibly urgent. It’s powerfully personal.
The apostle tells Tim to “flee youthful passions” (v22). It’s more evidence of the work God has done in the the dude from Lystra who was still just a kid (Acts 16:1). In his first letter to the young buck, Paul encourages him to not let anybody think he’s too wet behind the ears to lead and shepherd the church in Ephesus (1Tim 4:12).
Like so many other talented young leaders, Tim needs a reminder to put the stuff of youth in the rearview mirror. “Flee” (Gr. φευγω/pheugo) means to escape, run away, take flight, seek safety, or quickly disappear. It’s where we get our word “fugitive.” When Jesus chases a truckload of demons into a herd of pigs and they jump off a cliff, “the herdsmen fled (Gr. φευγω/pheugo)” back to town (Mt 8:33).
Paul makes the bigger point that we can’t get locked in the prison of childish activity. Grow up and escape from the juvy joint. We’ve gotta get away from “youthful passions.” Be a fugitive from immature behavior. Be on the lamb from acting like a middle schooler. And the form of the verb is what Greek scholars call present imperative. That simply means it’s a command that never ends. In other words, start escaping and never stop escaping. It’s like Richard Kimball in “The Fugitive.” He had to keep moving because the feds were always one step behind.
Run away from kid stuff and run toward God stuff.
We need to chat just a moment about what Paul is NOT saying. He’s not contradicting Jesus’ encouragement to His followers to have a childlike faith (Mt 18:3-17; Mk 10:13-16; Lk 18:15-17). That’s when we place our simple trust in our awesome and loving Heavenly Dad. He loves your more than you can imagine. He wants His best for you. That’s having the faith of a child. Never lose that.
Instead the apostle is warning his spiritual son Tim and the rest of us that there comes a time to put on our big boy and big girl pants. The bell has rung and it’s time to come in from your eternal play period. You can still play video games if you want but those marathon sessions of Doom need to stop. Guys, quit spending every waking moment away from work on the golf course or in a tree stand. It’s time to come in from recess and be a man. If you’re married, be the husband God has called you to be. If you’re a dad, lead your family. Paul himself knew there came a point when he had to grow up (1Cor 13:11). Stop the wild goose chase. Stop chasing your tail. Stop chasing rainbows.
Run away from kid stuff and run toward God stuff.
So if I’m sprinting from immaturity at top speed, what exactly am I hightailing it toward? Paul is so very glad you asked. “Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace” (v22). The apostle drops another intense and aggressive term here. “Pursue” (Gr. διωκω/dioko) paints a picture of running after, hunting down, chasing aggressively.
John uses this verb when the religious police “were persecuting (Gr. διωκω/dioko) Jesus” for breaking their manmade Sabbath rules (Jn 5:16). Our Savior repeatedly said that being intensely harassed pursued for following Him is actually a good thing (Mt 5:10-12). Luke uses this same word when describing Saul’s relentless hunt for the followers of Jesus in order to wipe them off the face of the earth (Acts 9:4-5; 22:4-8; 26:11-15).
But you can also turn “pursue (Gr. διωκω/dioko)” around when talking about the non-stop chase of “righteousness, faith, love, and peace” (v22). If you want to hunt something, the season is open and there’s no bag limit. Race after them. Chase after them. Don’t walk, RUN! And like the previous command, this is also in the present tense. That means we are to never stop pursuing. Think of a linebacker who’s always around the ball.
Run away from kid stuff and run toward God stuff.
Let’s take a quick look at the God stuff lineup. First out of the gate is “righteousness” (v22). Ultimately this is being perfect in the eyes of God. You DO realize that’s not happening, right? Not on your own, at least. Take a page out of Abraham’s playbook. He placed his trust in God’s goodness and God “credited to him as righteousness” (Gen 15:4-6; Rom 4:3; Gal 3:6; James 2:23).
While we can’t earn spotless perfection, there’s good news. Or I should say Good News. Jesus gives us what we could never get on our own. Our Heavenly Father allowed His sinless Son to take our sin “so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2Cor 5:21). It’s the Gospel of grace in concentrated form. Martin Luther liked to call it the Great Exchange. Even that might be an understatement.
Paul tells us we should also be in hot pursuit of “faith” (v22). This isn’t just the random belief that good stuff is going to happen. It’s trusting in who Jesus is and what He has done. I place my faith in the fact that the Lord lived the perfect life I’ve failed to live. He died the substitutionary death for my sin I should have died. He rose to a spectacular new life I don’t deserve. We chase faith by diving into the deep end of the pool of the Gospel. It doesn’t just get us into God’s kingdom. It’s what keeps us there too!
Number three in the pursuit of God stuff is “love” (v22). One of the megathemes of Scripture is that this sort of “love” (Gr. αγαπη/agape) is anything but a warm and fuzzy for someone. This is love in action. Love that’s demonstrated. Love that’s expressed. It’s a love that does. Love with hands and feet.
This kind of love is at the very core of God’s personality (1Jn 3:8, 16). We put love into action because we’ve been loved in the very same way. God loved us first when we were totally unlovable (Jn 3:16; 1Jn 3:19). That means we’re to also love the unlovable. Jesus demonstrated it for us practically time and time again. He did it when He rolled up His supernatural sleeves and washed the disciples’ filthy feet (Jn 13:1-20).
Christ said that our love for each other will be signal to the world that we’re His followers (Jn 13:34). I don’t know about you but this would be a great place to start. Stop throwing fellow believers under the bus and start loving on them where they are. I have a sneaking suspicion our neighbors would wonder what got into us.
Batting cleanup in the God stuff lineup is “peace” (v22). The peace Paul’s describing is a whole lot more than just the lack of fighting and war. Let’s just say, that’s a GREAT place to start! If you’ve got a beef with someone, take a long, hard look at what’s behind it. Step one: stop fighting. Step two: forgive. Step three: attempt reconciliation.
But anytime we see the writers of the Bible talking about peace, they’re pointing to the Hebrew word “shalom” used in the Old Testament. Shalom is the unspoiled and perfect rhythm of life. It’s when the world is humming on all cylinders. There’s just one BIG problem. Our sin jacked up the engine of God’s flawless creation. He gives us His gracious Gospel not just as a tuneup and an oil change. It’s a NEW CAR! (Read that again using your game show announcer voice.) Let’s do everything we can to seek His peace in everything we do. Let’s face it, everyone loves that new peace smell.
Want to know what to pursue? Try this Fantastic Four. Righteousness. Faith. Love. Peace. Chase these and you’re doing what Jesus commands. “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Mt 6:33).
Run away from kid stuff and run toward God stuff.
Paul gives Tim and his readers one last and very important tip. Don’t chase these things by yourself. Get yourself a posse and do it “along with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart” (v22). While Jesus comes to save each one of us individually, we need to remember that faith is a team sport. We need each other. I need you. You need me. Collectively we’re His body. His hands. His feet. His heart. We can’t do it alone. Intentionally associate with people who love Jesus with all that they are.
If you’re a fan of racing you know that competitors always go faster when they run together. Race cars go faster when they draft. The pack of cyclists in the peloton can collectively chase down a breakaway leader. It’s the same with following Jesus. Don’t chase Him alone. Intentionally get together with others “who call on the Lord with a pure heart” (v22).
It seems like everybody is chasing something. Lawyers chase ambulances. Parents chase their kids. Athletes chase a ring. Actors chase an Oscar. Dogs chase cats. Cats chase mice. What are you chasing? Are you chasing your dream career? A big house in the ‘burbs? A sweet ride? A fat 401k?
In his second letter to his spiritual son, the Apostle Paul encourages Timothy to make sure he stops chasing the wrong things and start chasing the right things. “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart” (v22). It’s time to grow up. Stop the wild goose chase and start the wild God chase. Make it a priority of hanging out with folks whose hearts are focused on Jesus. Run away from kid stuff and run toward God stuff. We must be in a constant hot pursuit of the things of Jesus!
While Paul encourages Tim to get moving, the apostle isn’t going anywhere. Well, at least not physically. The man from Tarsus writes the young preacher from Death Row in Rome while wearing heavy chains (2Tim 1:16; 2:8). Paul’s race is just about over and he’s leaning toward the finish line (2Tim 4:6-7).
He pleads with his protege to hurry and see him one last time (2Tim 4:9, 21). Just in case he can’t get there in time, his mentor hurriedly scribbles down instructions for how to continue telling people about Jesus and spreading His Gospel (2Tim 2:1-4:5). 2nd Timothy is the very last thing from Paul’s pen. It’s incredibly urgent. It’s powerfully personal.
The apostle tells Tim to “flee youthful passions” (v22). It’s more evidence of the work God has done in the the dude from Lystra who was still just a kid (Acts 16:1). In his first letter to the young buck, Paul encourages him to not let anybody think he’s too wet behind the ears to lead and shepherd the church in Ephesus (1Tim 4:12).
Like so many other talented young leaders, Tim needs a reminder to put the stuff of youth in the rearview mirror. “Flee” (Gr. φευγω/pheugo) means to escape, run away, take flight, seek safety, or quickly disappear. It’s where we get our word “fugitive.” When Jesus chases a truckload of demons into a herd of pigs and they jump off a cliff, “the herdsmen fled (Gr. φευγω/pheugo)” back to town (Mt 8:33).
Paul makes the bigger point that we can’t get locked in the prison of childish activity. Grow up and escape from the juvy joint. We’ve gotta get away from “youthful passions.” Be a fugitive from immature behavior. Be on the lamb from acting like a middle schooler. And the form of the verb is what Greek scholars call present imperative. That simply means it’s a command that never ends. In other words, start escaping and never stop escaping. It’s like Richard Kimball in “The Fugitive.” He had to keep moving because the feds were always one step behind.
Run away from kid stuff and run toward God stuff.
We need to chat just a moment about what Paul is NOT saying. He’s not contradicting Jesus’ encouragement to His followers to have a childlike faith (Mt 18:3-17; Mk 10:13-16; Lk 18:15-17). That’s when we place our simple trust in our awesome and loving Heavenly Dad. He loves your more than you can imagine. He wants His best for you. That’s having the faith of a child. Never lose that.
Instead the apostle is warning his spiritual son Tim and the rest of us that there comes a time to put on our big boy and big girl pants. The bell has rung and it’s time to come in from your eternal play period. You can still play video games if you want but those marathon sessions of Doom need to stop. Guys, quit spending every waking moment away from work on the golf course or in a tree stand. It’s time to come in from recess and be a man. If you’re married, be the husband God has called you to be. If you’re a dad, lead your family. Paul himself knew there came a point when he had to grow up (1Cor 13:11). Stop the wild goose chase. Stop chasing your tail. Stop chasing rainbows.
Run away from kid stuff and run toward God stuff.
So if I’m sprinting from immaturity at top speed, what exactly am I hightailing it toward? Paul is so very glad you asked. “Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace” (v22). The apostle drops another intense and aggressive term here. “Pursue” (Gr. διωκω/dioko) paints a picture of running after, hunting down, chasing aggressively.
John uses this verb when the religious police “were persecuting (Gr. διωκω/dioko) Jesus” for breaking their manmade Sabbath rules (Jn 5:16). Our Savior repeatedly said that being intensely harassed pursued for following Him is actually a good thing (Mt 5:10-12). Luke uses this same word when describing Saul’s relentless hunt for the followers of Jesus in order to wipe them off the face of the earth (Acts 9:4-5; 22:4-8; 26:11-15).
But you can also turn “pursue (Gr. διωκω/dioko)” around when talking about the non-stop chase of “righteousness, faith, love, and peace” (v22). If you want to hunt something, the season is open and there’s no bag limit. Race after them. Chase after them. Don’t walk, RUN! And like the previous command, this is also in the present tense. That means we are to never stop pursuing. Think of a linebacker who’s always around the ball.
Run away from kid stuff and run toward God stuff.
Let’s take a quick look at the God stuff lineup. First out of the gate is “righteousness” (v22). Ultimately this is being perfect in the eyes of God. You DO realize that’s not happening, right? Not on your own, at least. Take a page out of Abraham’s playbook. He placed his trust in God’s goodness and God “credited to him as righteousness” (Gen 15:4-6; Rom 4:3; Gal 3:6; James 2:23).
While we can’t earn spotless perfection, there’s good news. Or I should say Good News. Jesus gives us what we could never get on our own. Our Heavenly Father allowed His sinless Son to take our sin “so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2Cor 5:21). It’s the Gospel of grace in concentrated form. Martin Luther liked to call it the Great Exchange. Even that might be an understatement.
Paul tells us we should also be in hot pursuit of “faith” (v22). This isn’t just the random belief that good stuff is going to happen. It’s trusting in who Jesus is and what He has done. I place my faith in the fact that the Lord lived the perfect life I’ve failed to live. He died the substitutionary death for my sin I should have died. He rose to a spectacular new life I don’t deserve. We chase faith by diving into the deep end of the pool of the Gospel. It doesn’t just get us into God’s kingdom. It’s what keeps us there too!
Number three in the pursuit of God stuff is “love” (v22). One of the megathemes of Scripture is that this sort of “love” (Gr. αγαπη/agape) is anything but a warm and fuzzy for someone. This is love in action. Love that’s demonstrated. Love that’s expressed. It’s a love that does. Love with hands and feet.
This kind of love is at the very core of God’s personality (1Jn 3:8, 16). We put love into action because we’ve been loved in the very same way. God loved us first when we were totally unlovable (Jn 3:16; 1Jn 3:19). That means we’re to also love the unlovable. Jesus demonstrated it for us practically time and time again. He did it when He rolled up His supernatural sleeves and washed the disciples’ filthy feet (Jn 13:1-20).
Christ said that our love for each other will be signal to the world that we’re His followers (Jn 13:34). I don’t know about you but this would be a great place to start. Stop throwing fellow believers under the bus and start loving on them where they are. I have a sneaking suspicion our neighbors would wonder what got into us.
Batting cleanup in the God stuff lineup is “peace” (v22). The peace Paul’s describing is a whole lot more than just the lack of fighting and war. Let’s just say, that’s a GREAT place to start! If you’ve got a beef with someone, take a long, hard look at what’s behind it. Step one: stop fighting. Step two: forgive. Step three: attempt reconciliation.
But anytime we see the writers of the Bible talking about peace, they’re pointing to the Hebrew word “shalom” used in the Old Testament. Shalom is the unspoiled and perfect rhythm of life. It’s when the world is humming on all cylinders. There’s just one BIG problem. Our sin jacked up the engine of God’s flawless creation. He gives us His gracious Gospel not just as a tuneup and an oil change. It’s a NEW CAR! (Read that again using your game show announcer voice.) Let’s do everything we can to seek His peace in everything we do. Let’s face it, everyone loves that new peace smell.
Want to know what to pursue? Try this Fantastic Four. Righteousness. Faith. Love. Peace. Chase these and you’re doing what Jesus commands. “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Mt 6:33).
Run away from kid stuff and run toward God stuff.
Paul gives Tim and his readers one last and very important tip. Don’t chase these things by yourself. Get yourself a posse and do it “along with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart” (v22). While Jesus comes to save each one of us individually, we need to remember that faith is a team sport. We need each other. I need you. You need me. Collectively we’re His body. His hands. His feet. His heart. We can’t do it alone. Intentionally associate with people who love Jesus with all that they are.
If you’re a fan of racing you know that competitors always go faster when they run together. Race cars go faster when they draft. The pack of cyclists in the peloton can collectively chase down a breakaway leader. It’s the same with following Jesus. Don’t chase Him alone. Intentionally get together with others “who call on the Lord with a pure heart” (v22).
Run away from kid stuff and run toward God stuff.
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