"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Wednesday, 12 October 2016 with Scripture 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Wednesday, 12 October 2016 with Scripture 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 
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2 Timothy 3:14 But you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, recalling the people from whom you learned it; 15 and recalling too how from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which can give you the wisdom that leads to deliverance through trusting in Yeshua the Messiah. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is valuable for teaching the truth, convicting of sin, correcting faults and training in right living; 17 thus anyone who belongs to God may be fully equipped for every good work.
4:1 I solemnly charge you before God and the Messiah Yeshua, who will judge the living and the dead when he appears and establishes his Kingdom: 2 proclaim the Word! Be on hand with it whether the time seems right or not. Convict, censure and exhort with unfailing patience and with teaching.
3 For the time is coming when people will not have patience for sound teaching, but will cater to their passions and gather around themselves teachers who say whatever their ears itch to hear. 4 Yes, they will stop listening to the truth, but will turn aside to follow myths.
5 But you, remain steady in every situation, endure suffering, do the work that a proclaimer of the Good News should, and do everything your service to God requires. [Complete Jewish Bible]
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We live in a culture that constantly bombards us with ads that try to sell us happiness through satisfying our individual wants and desires. You are the one who matters most we are told over and over again. Buy this, get that and your life will be fulfilled. Yet the more we get, the less happy we seem to be. Our pursuit of happiness often ends with us just being more miserable. In part that is what the writer of 2 Timothy seems to be saying in his letter. What if the pursuit of our own distinct happiness is the very thing that makes us unhappy? Might the Gospel be inviting us to focus not on ourselves but on God and the neighbor we are called to serve? What if true happiness is found in the fulfillment of our baptismal calling to "love God and our neighbor?" How might this affect our daily living? 
Gracious God, help us to hear the truth of your word. May we seek the joy of life by loving and caring for all those whom you call us to love and serve. Amen.
Brian Hansen, '05
Pastor, St. John Lutheran Church, Fargo, N.D.
2 Timothy 3:14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it,
15 and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
17 so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.
4:1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you:
2 proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching.
3 For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires,
4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths.
5 As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.  [New Revised Standard Version]
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