IN THE LAST DAYS
SUNDAY 23
“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.”
2 Timothy 3:1 (NKJV)
READ: 2 Timothy 3:1-7
The perilous times being talked about in the text are already here. Things that are listed in subsequent verses that characterize the perilous times are already happening and manifesting now.
2 Timothy 3:2 mentioned things that would be noticed and seen in the perilous times:
2 FOR MEN WILL BE LOVERS OF THEMSELVES, LOVERS OF MONEY, BOASTERS, PROUD, BLASPHEMERS,
DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS, UNTHANKFUL, UNHOLY,
3 UNLOVING, UNFORGIVING, SLANDERERS, WITHOUT SELF-CONTROL, BRUTAL, DESPISERS OF GOOD,
4 TRAITORS, HEADSTRONG, HAUGHTY, LOVERS OF PLEASURE RATHER THAN LOVERS OF GOD,
5 HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS BUT DENYING ITS POWER. AND FROM SUCH PEOPLE TURN AWAY!”
2 Timothy 3:2-5
There is nothing mentioned in the listed characters that are not fully manifesting in today’s world.
People today, in the world, and even in the church, are whatever is being described in the list. There is nothing that is mentioned in the list that would not be found in the lives of the people in the church, even the professed believers. You see high level of selfishness, lovers of the self. You will also see a high level of love for money and other material things.
You will see boastfulness, people are boasters, even among the professed believers. You will see proudness, blaspheming, disobedience to parents. And not to parents only but to the elderlies.
The moral system of the world is collapsing, and that is found in the church as well. Especially the Gen Z, they want to believe that they know than the elders, and they even want to correct the elderlies. You will see Gen Z on social media insulting those who are older than them. So disobedient to
parents is on the increase. Unthankfulness, unholiness, and a host of other vices mentioned in that verses 3 and 4.
The one I would like to add and emphasize is the verse 5: “HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS BUT DENYING ITS POWER.”
There are many who claim to be of God who are like that today, even in the church. Looking at such people, you would think you have seen a godly person, but the substance that they are
godly would be lacking.
Denying the power of godliness is when you are unable to live up to what you presented yourself to be. You might quite all right look like a believer, you look pious or sanctimonious, but in character or attitude, you are like an unbeliever. There are many like that today. Outwardly, they look like a believer, or dressed like a believer, but in relating with them, you will discover that they are still far away from God.
Such people professed to know God but in their works, they deny God; they are abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work (Titus 1:16).
In fact, you will need to see how some believers behave. How they tell lies. How degraded they are morally, yet they professed to be of God. The admonition in that verse 5 of 2 Timothy 3 is: “AND FROM SUCH PEOPLE TURN AWAY!”
In other words, if you keep company with such people, you would be contaminated and be corrupted (1 Corinthians 15:33).
You will do well to take seriously the admonition found in the passage that says, depart from such people.
Peace.
REFLECT
• Where might you have the form of godliness without
its power showing in your actual character?
• Is there a relationship or influence in your life that Scripture would tell you to turn away from?
The August 2026 Edification Daily Devotional is here. It features 31 days of edifying messages to help you in your walk with God this month.
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