Together in Christ: 'Our Place to Begin' — 2 Timothy 3:14-17

Monday, January 1, 2024

But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

— 2 Timothy 3:14-17 NLT

Key Thought

Welcome to "Together in Christ," a daily devotional on relationships. This series of devotionals was inspired by a request from a teenage believer in Germany. She was the first in her family to follow Christ and asked for a devotional to help her honor God in her relationships.

The apostle Paul's words to his church-planter-in-training, Timothy, help us understand four key dimensions for our relationships, [1] namely our relationships with:

  1. With Christ, which is our priority relationship: Jesus orients us to all other things — the Scriptures, holy values, and proper relationships with others and with material things.
  2. With the Scriptures: God's word should shape our lives and guide us in how we live with others and honor him.
  3. With other believers: God wove Timothy and Paul together through their shared faith in Jesus.
  4. With others: Jesus should shape our relationships with members of our physical families (Paul reminded Timothy of the faithful example of his mother and grandmother, Lois and Eunice) [2] and with our friends, acquaintances, and coworkers.

God intends for us to live productively and bring His goodness into our own lives and the lives of those around us. Remembering all of the types of relationships that we have helps us to live God's will as we seek to have God-honoring, righteous, compassionate, and faithful relationships in all that we do and all that we have. God did not call us to live our lives of faith alone: He is always with us [3] and has also given us our brothers and sisters in Christ to help each other on our journey of faith. [4]

[1] There is an additional relationship that Paul didn't address specifically with Timothy, namely our relationships with our material blessings and using them to honor God and help others (2 Corinthians 9:8-11).
[2] 2 Timothy 1:5.
[3] Ephesians 3:16-17.
[4] 1 Thessalonians 5:11.

Today's Prayer

Almighty God, we thank you for being our Abba Father Who tenderly loves us and has done so much to bring us into Your family. Please be with us this year as we seek to honor You in our relationships and bring Your blessings to others. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Acts 4:12; John 14:6
  • 1 Timothy 1:2, 18

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Illustration

Illustration of 2 Timothy 3:14-17 NLT — But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

About This Devotional

Together in Christ is a daily devotional that focuses on what Scripture teaches about godly living in relationships.

'Together in Christ' is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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