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?
Tag: Lord
Looking for leaders
Re: Verse reading–1 Timothy 3:1-13 (day one)
“An overseer (Pastor) must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach. . .Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain.” v2, 8.
His life is almost over. After 3 decades of missionary/pastoral ministry, the Apostle Paul sits (again) in a Roman jail cell. He will be executed soon. He is not, however, afraid. His concern is for the churches, for his Christian friends. With clear confidence in the future and the Lord who will guide His church into it, He writes to Timothy. Appoint leaders! Set the bar high! In character, in ability. Look for men who are filled with the Spirit, self-controlled, respectable, good examples that others will want to follow! “I cannot trust a man to control others who cannot control himself.”–General Robert E. Lee. Then, and now, the church is looking for leaders.
The good fight
Re: Verse reading – 1 Timothy 1:1-19 (day seven)
“This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son. . .that. . .you fight the good fight.”–v 18.
No one knew better than Paul the cost of ministry to the God-called man. Both command to be obeyed and treasure to be guarded, ministry is always a privilege, and always a fight. “Until you know that life is war, you cannot know what prayer is for” says John Piper. (Thanks, Doug Sewell.) And lay servants of Christ are not exempted from the battle stress. Earlier in his life, and to the residents of this same city, Paul wrote these words, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.”—Ephesians 6:10-11. None of us should be surprised when life is difficult, disappointing and draining. We knew all along. It’s gonna be a fight!
Hear
Re: Verse reading—Ephesians 5:21-6:9 (day three)
“Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.”
“Household codes” were a common feature of ancient writings on society. Paul simply re-frames the code in a Christian context, grounding it in Christ’s person. So he wasn’t writing provocatively. Any controversy comes from the ink spilled and breath spent attempting to excuse Paul, or to re-interpret him for modern ears, or to save him from himself, or to give up on him altogether. But in our rush to defend our hard-won enlightenment, we fail to do what is necessary: Sit quietly and listen to the word of God as penned by Paul. The harshness of the words as they fall on our ears has more to do with our resistance to the shaping power of the Bible than it does with any sophistication we think we have gained by living in these times.
Letting go?
Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 4:17-32, 5:1-20 (day seven)
“That in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self. . .and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self.” (4:22-24) The “Jesus revolution” may be a bit more demanding than popular theology suggests. “Let go and let God!” people are quick to tell us. Paul’s words indicate more effort/struggle/courage. Lay aside! Be renewed! Put on! Three verbs. All imperative. All commands. True, Paul will later tell us to “forget what is behind” (Philippians 3:13) That almost sounds like letting go. He will follow, however, with “REACH forward for what lies ahead” (same verse above) Your experience here? My own confirms that the new life takes root and bears fruit in the heart that is convicted to do what is necessary for the Lord’s moral will to be accomplished. Sounds like work! Sounds like grace! I’ll see you at church in a few hours!
With a Song
Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 4:17-5:20 (day two)
“Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything” v 5:19-20a.
It may not be hard for you to believe, but this has been one of my favorite passages of scripture for many years. I remember finding it when I was in college and thinking, YES! Permission to live life as a Broadway Musical! What I love even better about these words is that it isn’t speaking to professional musicians, it is speaking to everyone. Think of how you feel when a favorite song is played, or what is like when you hear the introduction to your favorite hymn. It is exhilarating, isn’t it? It literally lifts your spirit. Imagine if we greeted one another with that same spirit. If our discourse was flavored with the kind of joy that we feel when listening to great music think how pleasant it would be.
This is why we sing to start our services. We sing to bring people in, to become connected with each other. Don’t stop there. Sing in Sunday School, remember when we used to do that? Sing at home! Sing in the car, a few rounds of Row, row, row your boat work on our 2 year-old without fail. Try it, be earnest about it, this scripture won’t disappoint you.
Worthy to receive, worthy to give
Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 4:1-16 (day six) God is worthy.
“Worthy to receive glory and honor and power”—Revelation 4:11.
The nature of God makes giving to Him a moral and reasonable activity. He deserves what we give Him. Time. Attention. Offerings. Praise. He is worthy to receive it! If He is worthy to receive, however, we must be (become) worthy to give. In Ephesians 4, Paul urges such preparation of heart. “I urge you, therefore, to live a life worthy of the calling you have received”—v 1. All of grace, but without the despair that none of us can now be what He desires or deserves, the Bible calls us to become servants of the Most High, reflecting in our own choices and character the wisdom and worth of the One who called us to Himself. God is worthy of having worthy people bringing worthy gifts. “Who can ascend into the hill of the Lord?. . .He that has clean hands and a pure heart.”—Psalm 24:3
Keep these Together
Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 4:1-16 (day five) There must always be a close relationship between Theology and Biography in the Christian Faith. What we do must be a reflection of what we believe. What we believe must be reflected in what we do. Paul shifts from Theology in chapters 1-3 (deep meaningful images, metaphors, and doctrinal statements) to Biography in chapter 4.
Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Seems the type of believers Paul has in mind are those who study, understand, and process the deep rich and mysterious truths of the Scripture, yet “walk” and act in a manner that makes them easily approachable and highly relational.
Keeping a “sound” Theology and a “worthy” Biography together will take discipline, determination, and God’s grace.
Perparer or Server?
Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 4:1-16 (day two)
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith..vs. 11-13a
We all have a role to play in the kingdom. It’s not a new concept, but it is always reaffirming to see it written in scripture. In this letter to the Ephesians, Paul has drawn a line in the sand for believers. We are either those who prepare or those who serve. Some of us have the role to preach and teach. Then there are those who are called to the community to live among the world and serve them. They serve by living their lives with spirit-filled integrity. They conduct their business with the kind of honesty that Christ demands. They raise families to love the Lord and to honor Jesus in all they do. The servers live in such a way that others demand to know how and why.
Serve well today.
Jesus Calling
Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 4:1-16 (day one)
It is a popular devotional book. Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young, is a collection of 1st person words from Christ to the believer. (At least the author’s idea.) It rests on a clear biblical conviction that the Lord calls/commands us and that hearing and obeying His voice is the key to life! “Today, if you hear my voice, do not harden your hearts”–Hebrews 4:7. “Now faith comes through hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ”–Romans 10:17. After 3 chapters of intense and glorious doctrinal instruction, Paul turns to application. “What must I DO, Lord?” he urges us to ask, and his first application focus is for us to recognize the voice of Christ and respond to it with obedient faith. Verse 1 reads (literally), “I CALL you to walk in a manner worthy of the CALLING with which you have been CALLED.” Christian friend, do you hear His voice? His direction? As you do, will you obey?