2 Timothy 3:10-17 He Saw It Lived - He Knows the Book.

2 Timothy 3: 10-17  10  But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra--what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 

Paul's life is the antithesis of the previous passage.  Rather than throw off restraint, he disciplines himself.  Instead of loving self, he sets himself aside and loves his Master, his co-workers and the flock.  He doesn't go off to follow his dreams, but to fulfill the great calling on his life to the glory of God.  He will gladly choose to be a slave to Christ over being a slave to self.   He knows that self is a demanding task master... I think we all get to a point where we know how true that is.

But how would young Timothy know what to do?   

He saw it lived and he 'knows the book'.

He saw it lived before him. Timothy witnessed Paul's teachings, purpose, his ongoing persecution, stonings, and sufferings which continue even as he writes this letter.   I'm sure the apprentice watched with admiration at such a demonstration of perseverance in the midst of great rejection and physical pain.  There was a living epistle before him who was willing to give up everything, pick up his cross and follow Christ.   A powerful example that we need to see and we need to be.  'I showed you how it's done Timothy... you saw it all ... your turn' (my words)

He knows the book.  The apprentice knew.  The sacred writings were shared, taught and preached into his soul by his family since he was a kid, and later by Paul. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, he knows God's word to be the instruction manual for teaching, for correcting the gibberish others taught, for how to live in a hostile environment, and glorify the Father.  It has all he needs to know to accomplish God's will for him and finish the race.

We saw it.  We have seen the posers, the sweet-talking-money-hungry-charletons (#somanyhyphens) .... but we have seen the real deal too!   Those who endure situations that make us wince at the thought.  The ones who give wise counsel from His word. The ones whose words point us to the glorious, gracious, all-sustaining Father.  We have seen them. We watch them live their faith.

We know the book.  I think much of my extreme reverence for Scripture comes from having seen a 'Martyr's Bible' in a scriptorium.  The faint shadow of the blood stain of it's owner still visible on the pages.  I'll never shake that feeling... frozen in awe, eyes filling with tears, the reality of it was overwhelming.  These are the words of life to our soul.  Timothy knew that.   The owner of that Bible knew that.  We need to read it enough so that we can have the instruction we need, to prepare us for what He calls us to do, in a way that brings Him glory.

See it - don't sit in for the 'Sunday show' but watch the lives of the faithful.  Their examples will inspire you to do the same.  If you can remember just one thing from reading these, let it be this: "read the book.... it will change your mind, your heart and your life".... the book people lost their lives for. The book that shows us the heart of God and the will of God for our lives.

Timothy had all he needed.   He saw it lived.  He had the Book.   So do we.