Flee from Youthful Lusts

Note from today’s Bible reading: 2 Timothy 1-2

Paul told Timothy, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness” (2 Timothy 2:19). A child of God is not to continue in sin; rather, he is to put away sin from his life.

Paul continued, “If anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work” (2 Timothy 2:21). If we want to please the Lord and fulfill our purpose in Him, we must be serious about battling sin. In order to do this, we need to overcome temptation.

So Paul admonished Timothy, “Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22). In overcoming temptation, sometimes we simply need to remain strong as we withstand that spiritual attack. Other times, we may have the opportunity to remove ourselves from that situation. Fleeing is sometimes going to be the best option.

If we are going to flee from something, we need to also be running to something. So Paul said we are to “pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace.” Not only that, but we need encouragement from others; so we need to find like-minded individuals – “those who call on the Lord from a pure heart” – who will pursue such things with us.

So flee from youthful lusts. Sometimes we cannot avoid temptation, but other times we put ourselves unnecessarily in harm’s way. Let us find others who will encourage us (as we can encourage them) to do the Lord’s will in all things.