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