Month: November 2014

Pain and progress

Re: Verse reading–1 Timothy 4 (day six)
“Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident to all.”–v 15.

It is the opposite of “let go and let God”,  Paul’s vision of the Christian life is FAITH EXPRESSED IN EFFORT.  “You show me your faith without your works, I will show you my faith by my works.”–James 2:18.  Serving Christ is the hardest job you will ever love!  Pain is the price–saying I’m sorry, waiting when I’m impatient, forgiving those who “don’t deserve it” (as if I always do) accepting an assignment when I would rather be “free”.  The result will be progress, the kind that everyone can see.  Is our church making progress?  Obvious progress?  Are the individual members bearing gladly the pain that is implied in “cross carrying”?  Those who do will be glad, someday, that they did. “These momentary and light afflictions are producing for us an eternal weight of glory.”—2 Corinthians 4:17

Youthfulness

Re: Verse reading–1 Timothy 4 (day five)

12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.

It’s a scripture used in Youth Ministry to encourage teens to grow and lead now.  So, what  can we learn from Youth these days?  Here are recent conversations with teens at FBCSA.

Evangelism:  “I wanna learn how to share my faith with my friends so they can know Christ”.

Hunger:  “Which book of the Bible should I read next? I just finished Ephesians and it was AWESOME!”

Selflessness:  “Before I go into the workplace, I wanna serve in a foreign country.”

Obedience:  “How can I get to Africa? I believe God wants me to go to there.”

“How do I start a Bible Study at school?  God is calling me to lead a group.”

“How do I teach the Bible?  God is telling me to share scripture with my friends.”

Godliness

Re: Verse reading–1 Timothy 4 (day four)  Verse 7 admonishes us to discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness.  Why is this important in our lives?  Spiritual discipline is what is known as a value added exercise.  There is more benefit than just the immediate.  Godliness holds promise for our lives to come.  When Christ returns and establishes His kingdom, godliness in our lives will bear fruit in His eternal kingdom.  Eternity is hard for us to comprehend in our finiteness, but it will far exceed our few years on earth.  What an investment!  God has given us a way to impact our eternity.  Our hope is in Him and our heart’s desire is to obey Him.  Godliness in our lives may well impact others’ eternity as well.  Our example could lead to their salvation.  It is so important that Paul says we are to be ‘absorbed’ in godliness.  What a challenge…discipline yourself for godliness!

Lesson

Re: Verse reading–1 Timothy 4 (day three)
“Everything God created is good.”
 Jesus rested in the knowledge that his Father had created heaven and earth, and he walked in this world fearlessly because of what he knew.  From Jesus, Paul learned that same assurance: “Nothing can separate us…”  If fear dwells in us, we can’t extinguish it by changing jobs, changing friends, or changing circumstances, because fear is portable, and we take it with us everywhere we go.  The only remedy for fear is to learn peace from the same God who taught it to Paul.  We begin learning by praying with Paul: If God be for us, who can be against us?  Over time, just as it did with Paul, peace will vanquish fear in us.

Put Your Head Down

Re: Verse reading–1 Timothy 4 (day two)
“Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.” (vs. 16)

My father has a way of cutting to the chase when offering advice. I would go to him overwhelmed by the amount of things going happening at once, the demands placed on me by others, or if I just felt like I was sinking. In those times he would say “just put your head down and get after it.” He never would allow me to find a way out, or quit. He knew life was tough and more often than not, unfair, but that didn’t excuse me from participating. ‘Put your head down’, was a way to remind me to focus, not to look around and worry about what others were doing or thinking. Looking at that phrase now, I would an additional instruction. Pray.

Life is tough, and often unfair. There are those seeking to derail us from our course and purpose, but we were not called to the sidelines. Get yourself ready for the task, pray for the strength to endure and then get after it. God bless you.

Latter Day Saints

Re: Verse reading–1 Timothy 4 (day one) 
“The Spirit explicitly says that in the later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron.”–v. 1-2.

Latter day saints.  Not Mormons, but all who live for Christ in the period AFTER the cross and resurrection and ascension and BEFORE His return.  What the Bible calls “the later times” or “the last days”. ( see 2 Timothy 3:1)  Evil days.  Even within the church, (Acts 20:29) people will fall away from truth.  They will claim to believe the gospel, but have no testimony of it’s cleansing power.  Hypocrites so far as gospel truth is concerned.  Consciences burned and numb, insensitive to the Spirit’s conviction.  What does this warning say to postmoderns who desire to be faithful?  All week, we will read and reflect on Paul’s answer.  God bless you, Latter day saints!

Leaders needed

Re: Verse reading–1 Timothy 3:1-13 (day seven)
“I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.”—Ezekiel 22:30.  Sad statement.  God willing to heal, renew a nation.  Looked for someone to obey His call.  Found no one.  Without leadership, nations fail.  (Please remember this on Tuesday when you go to the polls.)  Churches, too.  After 30 years of missionary ministry, Paul is in prison facing the end of his life.  He sees clearly the priority.  Find new leaders!  Men (and women) of New Testament character.  Sincere and strong examples for the churches.  1 Timothy 3 is his instruction to Timothy as he undertakes this assignment.  Us?  Are we convinced that the church needs leaders?  Pastors, Deacons, Sunday School teachers?  Do we feel the urgency that Paul felt?  “It is not too late”, says the Lord, “but, leaders are needed”. Are you ready to lead?

Pastors matter

Re: Verse reading–1 Timothy 3:1-13 (day six)
“It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.”–v. 1.  Familiar phrase in 1 and 2 Timothy.  A “trustworthy statement” is a faith statement that Paul endorses for the complete confidence of his friends.  The first (1:15) says that “Christ came into the world to save sinners”.  Trust this truth!  The second (3:1) says that “Pastors matter and that young men who aspire to this office should be encouraged”.  I admit my bias (and Paul’s) but years of observation have convinced me.  Churches do better when they have leadership.  In v 1, Paul calls them overseers. (episkopoi–“those who look over, or manage.” note Episcopal.)  In Acts 20:17, Paul calls them elders (presbueteros–“elderly men, deserving respect”.  note Presbyterian).  Other places, they are called pastors.  Whatever we name them, these God-called, heart-committed men are central to the life and service of the church.  Trust this truth, says Paul.