It is natural for us to wonder what is our purpose in life. Paul's was to preach Christ where no one had heard of him before. He was one of the first missionaries (2 Timothy 3:10; Romans 15:20-21). Yet he writes to the Thessalonians "Make it your aim to live quiet lives, mind your own business, and work with your own hands (1 Thessalonians 4:11).
We are not to compare our spiritual gifts and ministries to one another with a covetous eye, but fulfill the life to which God has called us. We all follow the same Lord and obey the same Word, but we do not always share the same tasks (Romans 12:1-8).
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
His Way or My Way
Paul commends Timothy for following Paul's doctrine and manner of life (2 Timothy 3:10: Hebrews 13:7-8). One could say that doctrines are the core beliefs of a person that guide their decisions, their thoughts and actions. The basic belief system dictates the manner of a person's life.
If we believe Jesus is the only way to the Father, who alone can grant eternal fulfillment, we will obey his commands so that we may gain our eternal goal. If we believe that he loves us as an individual and calls us by name, obedience comes with pleasure because we are persuaded that he has our best interest in mind and has the power to cause the best to happen.
If we do not honestly believe these things, we will eventually willfully walk away from God and what we now know about him. We will worship, not God, but will worship ourselves. Our way of thinking becomes the only truth we recognize.
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is death" (Proverbs 14:12).
If we believe Jesus is the only way to the Father, who alone can grant eternal fulfillment, we will obey his commands so that we may gain our eternal goal. If we believe that he loves us as an individual and calls us by name, obedience comes with pleasure because we are persuaded that he has our best interest in mind and has the power to cause the best to happen.
If we do not honestly believe these things, we will eventually willfully walk away from God and what we now know about him. We will worship, not God, but will worship ourselves. Our way of thinking becomes the only truth we recognize.
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is death" (Proverbs 14:12).
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Persecuted Faith
Timothy loved his spiritual father, Paul. He followed the news of Paul's imprisonments and persecutions closely (2 Timothy 3:10-11). Paul affirmed Timothy's conclusion or question, do all Christians suffer persecution? Yes, it is inevitable because we live on earth where sin corrupts people (John 3:19-20) and where the ruler of this world stirs up evil ( John 13:2; 14:39-31). But Paul also points to the victories, "...And out of them all, God delivered me" (2 Timothy 3:11).
"Yes, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecutions. But you must continue in the things you have learned and been assured of" (2 Timothy 3:14). "The Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:14).
If you read the Bible on a regular basis, you will experience how God speaks to us at exactly the time we most need it. It does not seem to matter whether we are reading the Old Testament or the New, the day you need it the most, the Spirit will apply the Word to the wound in your spirit to lift you up to faith.
"Yes, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecutions. But you must continue in the things you have learned and been assured of" (2 Timothy 3:14). "The Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:14).
If you read the Bible on a regular basis, you will experience how God speaks to us at exactly the time we most need it. It does not seem to matter whether we are reading the Old Testament or the New, the day you need it the most, the Spirit will apply the Word to the wound in your spirit to lift you up to faith.
Monday, March 3, 2014
A List to Avoid
I find one of the most difficult things for me is to pull away from people who are unhealthy. My tendency is to think I need to help them or that someone needs to reach out to them. I feel like it is my Christian obligation to love everyone and therefore I must be open to being friends with everyone who wishes to connect with me. But Paul writes that there are people we are to avoid altogether. He lists them here in 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
Those who love themselves (put themselves above everyone else)
Those who are driven by the love of money
Those who are boasters and proud
Those who are blasphemers
Those who are disobedient to parents,
Those who are unthankful
Those who are unholy, unloving, unforgiving
Those who are slanderers
Those who have no self control
Those who are brutal, disposers of good
Those who are traitors, headstrong and haughty
Those who are lovers of pleasures more than they love God
Those who have a form of God (religious) but deny God's power
Look closely. Are any of these people in your life draining your faith and exhausting you spiritually? Perhaps it is not God who has sent them into your path.
Those who love themselves (put themselves above everyone else)
Those who are driven by the love of money
Those who are boasters and proud
Those who are blasphemers
Those who are disobedient to parents,
Those who are unthankful
Those who are unholy, unloving, unforgiving
Those who are slanderers
Those who have no self control
Those who are brutal, disposers of good
Those who are traitors, headstrong and haughty
Those who are lovers of pleasures more than they love God
Those who have a form of God (religious) but deny God's power
Look closely. Are any of these people in your life draining your faith and exhausting you spiritually? Perhaps it is not God who has sent them into your path.
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