This morning I was reading 2 Timothy, Paul’s letter to Timothy to encourage him in his ministry. But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

Does that sound familiar? Do we see those very attitudes all around us? We are afraid of so many things…Democrats…Republicans…Refugees…Gun Violence…not having Guns…Abortions…not having Abortions…Wars…Rumors of Wars…Inflation…

As I was praying after reading this and wanting so much to blog about my fears for what we are doing in taking on the attitudes expressed in 2 Timothy 3, God told me to be still. Trust Him. Trust His love. Then He asked, do you trust Me?

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise. Psalm 111:10.

I kept pondering that…the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…and realized I don’t fully understand the word fear in the context of God. In the comments section it said to fear is to revere God. That I can understand! Do you trust Me he asked me. That stopped me and I had to sit quietly.

After reading the chapter in the Bible, I read from the devotional The Chosen 40 Days with Jesus. On Day 9 entitled Reset was this: John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” John 1:26-27. John the Baptist was answering the Pharisees who wanted to know if he was the Messiah, or Elijah or a Prophet.

I thought about what it was like back then and what it’s like now. A wilderness of going our own way, doing what is right in our own eyes. People were essentially the same then but lately it feels like those negative ways of 2 Timothy 3 are being magnified. We decide what is right and wrong and defend that right to the death.

Jesus came to be among us to show us what God’s love is like in real time. Reading from my 2nd devotional this morning, Jesus Calling: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27. Reading just above that: All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. verse 25-26.

It’s such a comfort that though Jesus would not be with us in person He did not leave us orphans. The Father sent the Holy Spirit to guide us to God’s truth. The comfort that I gain from that is that no matter how awful people’s attitudes get I know God’s truth.

He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure. Isaiah 33:6.

Jesus was asked by an expert in the law what was the greatest commandment in the law. Jesus replied, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. Matthew 22:37.

There are many things to fear in this day and age. I pray I don’t fear the wrong things. I pray we can learn to look to God and trust Him to lead us in the way we should go…a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge…and above all love of the Lord our God and those He has created.

Do I trust God? Look to Him he tells me. Trust His love for me and for you. By learning to do that more fully, I am finding His peace. These are awful times we live in and some suffer terribly. In the midst of that He tells me to keep my eyes on Him and trust Him. I pray you will too.