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. I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

Devotion based on 2 Timothy 3:14-15,4:1-2

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

I wonder if Timothy was disappointed in what it was like to be a pastor.

When Timothy was young, the apostle Paul must have told him stories like:

Now Timothy was a pastor, too, and Paul wrote some instructions and encouragements for him. He didn’t tell Timothy how to escape angry mobs, travel around the world or perform great miracles. Paul’s advice seems much more ordinary: “Preach the Word.” Hold to “sound doctrine.” “Correct, rebuke and encourage.” Tell people the things you’ve known “since you were a little child” learning the stories about Jesus.

That’s still perfect advice. Because what do people need most? It’s not to hear exciting stories or how to live an amazing life. We need to know about how God saves us from our sins. It’s such a simple message that even a little child can learn it: Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins and rose again. But it’s so important we need to keep going back to it every day. We need to see our sins (so they don’t take us away from God!), we need to learn how to say thank you to God with the way we act, and we need to know above all that God loves us and will never leave us.

Timothy needed to hear that. We do, too. Keep learning about Jesus. Go back again and again to the simple truths of the Bible you were able to recite as a little child. And on the days when our lives seem extraordinary and exciting—or they feel ordinary, or even a little boring—we’ll know that through all of them, God tells us everything we need to know about our salvation and has given us everything we need to serve him.

And that’s just what we need to hear!

Thank you, Lord, for teaching us about the salvation we have in Jesus. Never let us get tired of hearing it! And bless us with lives filled with every good work as we say “thank you” for your love. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

Questions for Elementary Age Children

Questions for Middle School and Above