Recover themselves out of the snare of the devil

2 Timothy {2:22} Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.{2:23} But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. {2:24} And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men,] apt to teach, patient, {2:25} In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; {2:26} And [that] they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
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Flee also youthful lusts- youthful lusts. It's no secret that when you are youthful you do have untempered lusts. Some teenagers let their lusts consume them. Men and women have these lusts as well and often men an women are loathed to let the youthful lusts be tempered and carry them on into adulthood. We're no longer allowing youthful lusts to stay there are we? If we talk sex alone just look at the explosion of erection drugs out there for men who have trouble getting and staying that way. More and more youthful lusts are sought after and encouraged not being turned away from. 'Flee also youthful lust', perhaps there is a reason for this, perhaps dwelling on and encouraging youthful lust is a huge distraction from all that would help a person grow in Christ. Youthful lusts are purely selfish aren't they? Self-gratification, self absorbtion, and we know that selfishness is against all that is God.
Told to flee youthful lust we are also told to... 'follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.'
Further we are admonished, 'But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing they they do gender strifes and the servant of the Lord must not strive but be gently unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves, if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledgeing of truth and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil who are taken captive by him at his will.'
Wow, so much there.
We are admonished flee youthful lusts, rather follow good. We are told to avoid foolish and unlearned questions, avoid strife. People like to goad other people into arguments don't they? Well sometimes. Debating is something we're encouraged to do, and keeping it civil of course is the best way but often debates can get heated. Some people-- most people-- like to be right about whatever it is they're arguing for and Christians are told not to argue, not to cause strife, but to be gentle, teaching, patiently, meekly.
God does give repentance to those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior who died for them so they could have eternal life, and that is the truth. Without believing in the truth repentance is impossible.
Repentance to the acknowledging of truth and that they my recover themselves out of the snare of the devil who are taken captive at his will.
Recover themselves ouf of the snare of the devil. Amen!
The devil does take captives as he wills, we might not want to believe it, but it's true. Captive into sin, snared by the devil, no one wants that do they? No one wants to be snared by the devil. How many are snared and don't even know? Recovering themselves out of that snare is done by obtaining repentance by acknowledging the truth. Through Jesus and Jesus alone we can find repentance can we be recovered out of Satan's snares.
Praise God for His love through Jesus!
Amen
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”- Psalm 100:4-5