2 Timothy 4:3-4

PASSAGE: 2 Timothy 4:3-4 - "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."

PAUSE: Surely everyone knows what it feels like to have a mosquito bite--it itches! We're tempted to satisfy the itch by scratching it, but that usually just results in the itch returning seconds later, or we do more damage by scratching too hard! The truth is, we might need a relief ointment, and just know that it will take time to heal. But even if we know we shouldn't scratch it, our physical urges often outweigh what we know we should do. The same is true about the urges and desires the rest of our flesh experiences. When Paul writes to Timothy about "itching ears", he's explaining to him that it will be easy to find people who will agree with the sinful things you're drawn toward. If you want to satisfy the itch, there will be plenty of people who will say what you want to hear. If we are not careful, our sinful desires will drive us to embrace teachings and doctrines that are deadly to our spiritual lives. Holding to sound doctrine is the cure for this! Know what the true cure is, and avoid the temptation to satisfy the itch!

PRAYER: Lord, there are times when I am tempted to make the Christian life all about me, me, me. About my wants, my happiness, my circumstances. Then I start to believe lies about You. Save me from all this Lord.  Amen.