Posted: 12 March 2024

From a sermon given on 10 March 2024:

Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.
(2 Timothy 2:15, AMP)

Paul exhorted his spiritual son Timothy to do his best to present himself to God in order to receive his approval. While the early teachers and scribes sought approval from the Sanhedrin, which comprised of the Pharisees and scribes (2 Corinthians 3:6), Timothy was to spare no effort in his study of the word in order to avoid misrepresentation of the same.

Christ was a skillful teacher who was approved of God before men. The Father publicly acknowledged him after baptism. He was tested and tried by the devil and he overcame. In order to show us how to do it, He diligently presented himself before the Father in prayer every morning while it was still dark.

The only way we can be approved by God as skillful workers is when we study the word of God diligently and present ourselves before his throne of mercy in prayer. We are obligated to follow the leading of the Spirit in every aspect of our lives. By so doing, we will not be ashamed of the outcome.

Further readings:

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
(Matthew 3:16-17)

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
(Matthew 4:1-11)

Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall…Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.
(2 Peter 1:10, 15)