Recently, I have been teaching middle school boys through the book of Proverbs. While dealing with some of their immaturity, I have been convicted how I can respond to situations in my life as a Christian that could be considered juvenile. I can grumble when things do not go my way. I can respond in fear when life is uncertain. I can seek to compete with another brother rather than consider how I may serve him. That is what makes 2 Timothy 2:22-26 so hard hitting. It shows us how to grow in maturity by pursuing purtiy. We do that by first admitting we do not do it. That is why verse 22 features the warning of a command, “So flee youthful passions”. Unless we first confess to God our sinful passions, that is passions that are against God’s Word or are strong enough we pursue it over our relationship with God, we will not be prepared to turn from what we should flee from in orfer to pursue what we need to turn to. If we rightly respond with fleeing such youthful and foolish passions, then we are ready to receive the next step in the Lord’s instruction: “pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace”. God’s Word shows us how to live right, and we can have a right relationship with God only through the righteousness of Christ. God’s Word points us to place our faith in Jesus Christ and trust the Lord, not leaning in our own understanding and giving way to fear (Proverbs 3:5-6). God’s Word empowers us to be compelled and controlled by the love of Christ to love God and others and to live peacably with them as Jesus has given us peace with God through the cross. But the only way to experience and live out the truth of God’s Word in these ways is by calling on the Lord from a pure heart. This is how we can have this right relationship with God. There is no amount of fleeing from and turning to these qualities that will save us. It is only through the Lord Jesus Christ who lived a sinless life, died a sacrificial death, and rose again that we can be saved. Those who call upon Him are those who respond from a pure heart by the way of repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Only then will they have the power of the Holy Spirit to pursue the qualities Paul lists. In pursuing those things in purity, things will become clearer: they will not engage in foolish, ignorant controversies that distract and demean gospel testimony (verse 23), they will not be argumentative and harsh in their manner of life but patient in the face of evil but not without correction in gentleness (verse 24). This pursuit of purity is not only for the good of that individual Christian; it is good for the unbelievers around them so that they may themselves see the witness and respond in repentance that leads to a knowledge of the truth (verse 25), fleeing from the snare of the devil and turning to life with God.

Reflection Questions:

1. What specific sins do you need to confess to God as you seek to flee from them?
2. What is one step you can take this week to pursue purity in your life?