The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

As I noted the date for today I noticed the rather unique numeric sequence 2/22/22 which some are referring to this day as Happy Twosday.  In fact you probably weren't awake for this but early this morning there was a precise second that was 2:22:22 on 2/22/22. The same numbers in a sequence occurs quite rarely but not as rarely as the last time all six were used for one day on December 12, 2012 (12/12/12). However a thousand years ago there was a 12/12/1212 but that probably didn't get much attention on social media.

Based on this date I am using a rather unconventional way of determining the text, a place in the Bible (among several) that is a Chapter 2 verse 22 (2:22).

I chose 2 Timothy 2:22, a word to Timothy and through Scripture to all of us, "So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart".

This Twosday let us consider two vital disciplines in the life of a faithful follower of Christ, the call to flee and the call to pursue.

Tomorrow morning I will be having breakfast with Tom, a pastor whose testimony background includes alcohol, drugs, and partying. He walked into a church with his girlfriend and got saved. His life was changed forever by the power of God. In fact they both accepted Christ at that time and got married on the following Valentine’s Day. He went on to study for ministry (at the same Bible College Brooksyne and I attended) and is now pastor of a local church in our area. In fact I just met him this last Sunday when we went to the church he pastors to see Brooksyne's missionary cousin we shared about yesterday.

What a joy to see a changed life and serious response to God's call!

Today's verse was originally directed to Timothy. His age is not known but Paul writes, "Flee youthful passions". Actually that's a good word for all, regardless of age. There are people who are far from young who still need to heed this word. In fact all of us do!

"Flee" means to move quickly from a point or area in order to avoid presumed danger or difficulty. To run away. To seek safety by flight. To run or move hastily from danger.

We will all have tests in life in which we must flee. Those times when we are faced with the crossroads of obedience or disobedience. Joseph (OT) was a man who victoriously passed the flee test while Samson woefully failed with Delilah as did David in regard to the bathing beauty, Bathsheba.

We are to flee youthful passions and "pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace". "Pursue" means to follow or press hard after, with earnestness and diligence in order to obtain. It is in the present imperative which is a command calling for this action to be our way of life, to be continual, to be our habitual practice.

"Along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart."  This sure speaks to the need to be in fellowship with one another. Not only must we flee ungodly companions, we also must find godly companions. The servant of the Lord must find some "iron sharpening iron" relationships (Proverbs 27:17) if his or her life is to maintain a cutting edge for the kingdom. This means that we ought to be very careful whom we choose as our most intimate friends.

Our pastor made a point concerning this in his message this last Sunday: "The company you keep and the content you consume have more impact on our life than almost anything else."

We all need to flee from sin and pursue godliness through Christ.

Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)