2 Timothy 2:22 Flee, Pursue

2 Timothy 2:22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Here Timothy is given a double command. The first part is negative and the second part is positive. Negatively, he is to flee the evil desires of youth. One thinks here of sexual immorality but youth are typically guilty of many other sins besides that one. Laziness, over-confidence and brashness, for example. At this time Timothy was probably still a young man technically (under 40) and so the call is appropriate. It is chiefly a call to leave behind the immaturity of youth. Positively, he is to pursue four things -  righteousness, faith, love and peace. Righteousness speaks of an obedient and upright lifestyle, faith of confidence in God and love both of desire for God and compassion towards all. Peace is found in God but when dealing with men it is important to handle things in a way that will promote peace rather than destroying it. What Paul calls on Timothy the pastor to pursue is something that Paul wants all who call on the Lord out of a pure heart to pursue. The way he phrases this suggests how such things are to be pursued - by earnest prayer and with a pure or sincere heart. No doubt Timothy's example will spur others on in the same direction.