March 17, 2022 -- II Timothy 2:24-26 -- What does it take to live in unity?

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
II Timothy 2:24-26 ESV

Some of you are aware that I receive donated yarn from various sources and with it make blankets to be donated to the families of seminary students in the Ukraine. While listening to the Bible read to me via a Bible app., I go row by row, making something for those who are in need. There are times when a ball of yarn has a tangle in it. The knot is a mess. If I am the least bit impatient with it, the knot will tighten and become even harder to disentangle. Worst case scenario, I have to cut out the sections that are too tangled to be used. Why mention this? Good question. Today’s passage speaks of brothers or sisters who are ensnared by the Devil. That is they have become entangled in the wicked schemes or sins from which they cannot seem to escape.

How do you correct a brother or a sister who has become so caught up in evil? First, you who are strong in the faith, pray. Then, gently correct one who is so bound up. Recognizing pulling at the sin or speaking too harshly will leave one thrashing and getting more tightly bound up. It is God Who grants repentance. It is the Spirit of the LORD Who gives grace “according to the promised of the life that is in Christ Jesus” (II Timothy 1:1). A brother or sister will not be won by your work or your anger or your words. It is prayer-filled, gentle correction which is Bible-based that will lead the one who is twisted up back out of the knottiness and get back into freedom.

The repentance the LORD gives may take time. What you have said must by applied by the Spirit to the places where the Spirit is working so it may take time for your words to get past the defenses of the one you care about. Or it may be this person’s conscience was already inflamed, on fire with guilt, and there needs to be time for the inflammation to decrease, which in turn allows for the loosening of bonds and a greater Spirit-aided facility to slip out of twisted situation.

It is the LORD our Father Who allows His Spirit to work in the life of the believer so that he will come to his senses and escape this trap. Allow the Spirit to work in the life of the one who is trapped. Trust that the power of Jesus’ resurrection will break every cord and the Father’s love will get past every impediment and this brother will rise, released from his captivity. Once released, when he remembers your Spirit-led gentleness, he will, unembarrassed or ashamed, be able to join you in blessing the LORD as a fellow servant.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name.
Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.,
   and forgive us our debts,
   as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
   but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen!

Today's music is a rendition of Psalm 133:1

https://youtu.be/qAs3fKpZ4p8