Paul urges Timothy to stay in the word of God and he reminds him that all Scripture is useful for godly living. Sometimes we tend to doze off while reading a long list of Biblical genealogy or while studying the many laws contained in Leviticus, but the Lord put all these things in His holy word for a reason and I'm convinced (as Paul was) that everything contained in the Bible is useful to us.
Paul knows that the persecution he and the other apostles are enduring is enough to put anyone off the idea of becoming an evangelist for the gospel, but instead of allowing himself to be discouraged by the troubles of the church leaders, Timothy should take heart because of the courage displayed by these men. Timothy's faith should grow as he observes how powerfully the Lord is at work in these men. "You, however, know all my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings---what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them." (2 Timothy 3:10-11) Paul's statement reminds me of the old Timex commercials that claimed a Timex could "take a lickin' and keep on tickin'". Paul has taken a lickin' but he's still tickin'. If he can do it, so can Timothy, because the same power of the Lord that is at work in Paul is at work in Timothy too. As Paul said in his letter to the Ephesians, the same power that the Lord used to raise Christ from the dead works in us who belong to Christ. (Ephesians 1:19-10)
Sometimes we're tempted to think we're on the wrong path if opposition comes our way, but Paul wants Timothy to understand that opposition is to be expected when you're a follower of Christ. "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." (2 Timothy 3:12-13) The Lord Jesus said, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first...Remember what I told you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed My teaching, they will obey yours also." (John 15:18, 20)
Timothy is to let none of this deter him. Paul hasn't allowed anything to keep him from preaching the gospel, and Timothy mustn't either. Above all, Timothy is to study the word of God as often as he can, for this will keep him grounded in the truth. "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:14-17)
The author of Psalm 119, believed to be King David, was writing about his love for the word of God. David says that the study of God's word helps keeps a young person's life pure, helps us to avoid sin, strengthens us in sorrow, helps us to trust in God, and gives us hope. Whenever I'm in need of some strength and hope, I tend to turn to the book of Psalms more than to any other book of the Bible. I have often prayed one or more of the psalms that David wrote when he was frightened or in sorrow. We need the foundation of God's word in our lives so that, whatever comes, we can face it with courage.
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