Family Evangelist

"Do the work of an Evangelist" (2 Timothy 3:5).  Ephesians tells us God has given to the church prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to build up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11).  Though there is a specific gifting and call of God to be an evangelist, we have all been called to speak the message of God faithfully.  The deeper you are in a relationship, the more difficult this can become.  We may be tempted to water down the gospel in order to gain approval or to stop persecution.  But the words of Jesus call me back to the Truth.

"A man's enemies will be the members of his own household.  He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.  He who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.  He who does not take up his cross and follow me, is not worthy of me.  He who finds his life shall loose it.  He who looses his life for my sake will find it" (Matthew 10:36-39).

"When push comes to shove" do we choose to appease our family and compromise the Truth, or do we remain steadfast in the Words of God?

Tisk, Tisk

I used to read this next verse with a kind of "tisk, tisk" attitude.  If you are not familiar with that phrasing, it refers to a kind of clicking of the tongue, that expresses a righteous indignation that such a thing exists.  It is an expression of pride that I, or mine are not that way.

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.  And they will turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (2 Timothy 4:3-4)."

But when "those people" are your children or members of your family, the words pierce your heart with grief.  What is more, when you experience their kindness and love,  when you enjoy being with them, when you grapple with things in the Bible that are difficult to understand,  all pride flees your heart and you find yourself begging God to keep you from falling away from your faith in him (Exodus 34:12; Deuteronomy 4:9, 11:16; Romans 14:4; Ephesians 1:4-5; Philippians 1:6; 1 Corinthians 10:12; Hebrew 12:1-3; Jude 1:24)

Thank God our faith is his gift to us (Ephesians 2:8) and we can place our family into his care (2 Timothy 1:12).  Thank God that he is able to save those we pray for (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

A Difficult Commission

"I charge you before God and The Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom; preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season.  Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and teaching" (2 Timothy 4:1-2).

The commission given to pastors is not to please people, but to honestly, with patience, teach the truth which at times includes rebuking and correcting individuals.  Our pastor may be getting involved in our affairs because we are violating God's principles and he is attempting to rescue us.

Pray for your spiritual leader today.  He or she does not have an easy commission.

Some Things Are Not Debatable

Jesus is the author of our faith and he will bring us through life successfully so that we will remain faithful to him (Hebrews 12:2; Jude 1:24; Romans 14:4; Philippians 1:6).  The scriptures give us wisdom that we need to walk in this new life (2 Timothy 3:15).

Our doctrine (truth that we live by) is found there.  In the stories and in the letters we receive reproof and correction.  We learn what behaviors are righteous and which are not through God's instructions.  All that we need to know has been made clear in scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

The many things that are unclear or debatable are there for our learning, growth, our contemplation, our enjoyment and to bring God glory on the day that we see him and all things are made clear (1 Corinthians 13:11-12; 1 John 3:2).