October 24 - 2 Timothy 2: 1-21 - Breathe!

The American Heart Association’s 2010 Guidelines for CPR have made a significant change in the Basic Life Support sequence. Previously, the BLS sequence was A-B-C (Airway, Breathing, Chest Compression). The new recommended sequence is C-A-B; chest compressions are now primary. First, engage the heart. This change will precipitate re-education for everyone who has ever been trained in CPR.

A shift toward prioritizing the engagement of the heart can also be seen in spiritual circles. Nowadays, much is done to capture the emotions and shape the affections in attempting to connect people with God. Faith based on feelings, validated by feeling outcomes is prevalent. Unfortunately, feelings are frequently untrustworthy. Feelings will fool you. And feelings (also known as desires, or more noble-sounding – loves) are easily tempted and diverted. Desires can be evil, and Paul urges us to flee them. Affections can run deep for personal opinions, producing “foolish and stupid arguments.” Love can become love of self, love of money, love of pleasure, love of control. The affections can be engaged in a heartbeat, but not necessarily for repentance “leading … to a knowledge of the truth … that they will come to their senses.”

In the realm of spiritual things, I’m going to stick with the original “basic life support” sequence. I’m going to keep a clear airway for breathing at the forefront. For “all Scripture is God-breathed.” “There will be terrible times in the last days” and the affections and feelings of people will be led astray. The necessary rebuke, correction, and training in righteousness will come from the God-breathed Word. Did you notice how many times words like “teach, instruct, learn, and training” appear in today’s text. The key to escaping the devil’s traps, fleeing the lusts of immaturity, becoming wise, and becoming thoroughly equipped for every good work is knowing the Holy Scriptures.

 Open up your airway. Is there any obstruction? What keeps you from being in the Word daily? (I’m blogging my best to keep you breathing!) Breathe deeply. The Spirit and the Word are oxygen for your soul. Breathe! And after that, the Word will indeed engage and renew the rhythm of your heart. But first things first. It’s easy as A-B-C.

Pray: Breath of Heaven, Word of truth, fill my mind and spirit and soul. Rebuke me. Correct me. Train me in the way of righteousness. Make me wise. Equip me. That I may pursue you with a pure heart – regardless of how I feel.