Document: /pub/resources/text/Our.Daily.Bread: db931211.TXT 
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    OUR DAILY BREAD                     Saturday, December 11, 1993 
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    Read:  2 Timothy 4:1-7 
                                
                             EAR PROBLEMS 
 
                     Because they have itching ears, 
               they will heap; up for themselves teachers. 
                             --2 Timothy 4:3 
    My  son  Stevie  was complaining that his  ear  hurt.  I  thought 
    eardrops  would  do  the trick, so I asked him if  his  ear  hurt 
    inside.  "No,  it  hurts  here," he said, pointing  to  the  skin 
    behind his ear.  "Put some of that stuff in the blue tube on it." 
 
    That  "stuff"  was  an  ointment  for  cuts,  and  he  must  have 
    remembered  how  cool  and comforting it felt  when  we  used  it 
    previously, so that's what he self-prescribed for this new  hurt. 
    Putting  the cream behind Stevie's ear didn't solve the  problem. 
    We had to go to the doctor, who prescribed the right medicine. 
 
    The  apostle Paul talked to his friend Timothy about some  people 
    with  "ear  problems" who would seek the wrong cure.  Like  a  5- 
    year-old  who doesn't want to bother with eardrops, these  people 
    would  not "endure sound doctrine," but would soothe  their  ears 
    with a message to satisfy "their own desires" (2 Tim. 4:3). 
 
    What  does  this mean to us?  It suggests that we  must  be  very 
    careful  where  we get our spiritual  help.  As  Paul  suggested, 
    there is preaching and teaching that will make us feel good,  but 
    is not biblically correct. 
 
    The  only sure cure for itching ears is sound doctrine taught  by 
    Spirit-filled teachers of godly character. 
 
    Author:  J. David Branon 
 
                    Lord, grant us wisdom to discern 
                     The truth You have made known, 
                     And may we not believe one word 
                       Beyond what You have shown. 
                                        --DJD 
 
    THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: 
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    God's truth is the best defense against the devil's lie. 
 
    THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:   2 Timothy 1-4 
 

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