August 28, 2024

In 2024, we will strive to become more like Jesus by rediscovering the ancient practices of prayer, study, sabbath, celebration, and many more. Our knowledge of scripture, coupled with studying how Jesus lived his life while on earth, will help us become people that overflow with the goodness of God. Wednesday email devotionals will highlight the practices that have been discussed on the previous Sunday.

For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

 

2 Timothy 4:3-5

Devotional

Ouch. That first line hurts. Actually, all of this hurts until I reach the last line, when I feel a challenge and a charge.

 

If you think about it, however, we really do—maybe unintentionally, but we do it nonetheless—surround ourselves in this day and age with “teachers who will say what our itching ears want to hear.”

 

For instance, I watched a video of one of Muhammed Ali’s fights on a social media platform the other day. The next day, that platform was offering me multiple clips from Ali’s fights, Thomas Hearns’ fights, Mike Tyson’s fights, and more. The algorithm determined that if I liked one, I would like more.

 

Sadly, the internet age in which we live fuels this tendency, feeding us what we seem to like, so that our itching ears receive only what we like, and our hearts, and minds, and, yes, our souls become smaller, and harder, and less open to the grace of God.

 

Now don’t get me wrong—I am NOT going to counteract this by watching kitten videos. But I have, and I will, take action to broaden my thinking.

 

A number of years ago our denomination was wrestling with a particular issue. As I thought about it, I realized that I had only read materials—books, articles, blogs—that I agreed with. One day I wondered, “What if I’m wrong on this?” I spent the next year reading only materials from the “other side” of the issue. At the end of a year, I reassessed, and decided that I was firm in my previous conviction.

 

The difference was that I was more informed, and could listen and talk with others with whom I disagreed without inflammatory emotions and rhetoric.

 

My mind was not changed, but my heart and soul were softened. I “kept my head,” and remain ready to serve God in every opportunity!

For Reflection

Why do you think there is a temptation to tell people what they want to hear, rather than what they need to hear?

 

Do you tend to read and watch only the things that support your ideas and perceptions?

 

What is an information stream that you may consider reading occasionally that you currently avoid?

Prayer

Lord, I thank you that you have given me a mind with which to think, and read, and listen. I want to give you ALL of my heart, mind, soul, and strength. Help me to do that today; even if it creates fear within me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Dr. Chuck Roberts
Senior Associate Pastor