Will They Listen?

DEVOTION
2 TIMOTHY
Will They Listen
2 Tim 2:14
14 Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.
NIV
The basic thing is the basis thing and all these man made rules and regulations which divide the body of Christ into multiple denominations is nothing more than quarreling about words. I refuse to get involved in this quarrel. Jesus has told me that in order for me to enter the Kingdom of God I must be born again. That is it and that has always been it. He came and died on the cross for the forgiveness of my sin, he rose from the dead and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father and he sent the Holy Spirit to convict me of my need to repent and accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Once done he now leads me into all truth. How can that get so confused and all messed up with rules and regulations, added minutia and all sorts of other ideas about being saved. It is no wonder those who are not born again think we all are a bunch of crazies. We can’t agree on anything, everyone thinks they are in the right church, with the right understanding of the scripture, with the only right understanding, and in fact actually put down the others as having it wrong. Some even add to Jesus. Some take away some of the gifts. It is crazy, and I think I once engaged in this craziness, but now I will refrain. I will speak out against it. I will remind all my brothers and sisters in the Lord that it has no value to quarrel over separate doctrines and dogmas of different churches. Are we not all children of God? Do we not all know Jesus as our Lord and Savior? Do we not all desire to live a life pleasing to God? Do we not all love each other as Christ loved us? For some time now I refuse to be associated with any camp, either Calvin or Wesley. That is all about words. No, it is about the scriptures, the Gospel, the plain and simple truth of God. I think man just has to get involved in planning his own belief system, God’s is not good enough. I will not accept mans, I am sticking with Gods. Do I believe some of the same things Wesley and Calvin did? Sure, but not because they believed it, but because God revealed it to me through the Holy Spirit. Does my pastor have good teaching for my life? Sure, and I learn many things which I can apply in my journey with God, but still it is the Holy Spirit who speaks to my heart. When I think about grace, the divine influence on my heart, not man’s influence, I know who to listen to. Do to listen to men? Yes, but I think only with the filter of the Spirit, does he bear witness to what I am hearing and if so I will pay attention, if not, I will dismiss what I hear. Should I warn the other? I am trying to. Will they listen?

Glory To God

DEVOTION
2 TIMOTHY
GLORY TO GOD
2 Tim 2:11-13
11 Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; 13 if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
NIV
If I want to live with him, I certainly had to die with him. Which of me died? Was it the old self? Was it all of me? I still feel pretty much the same as I have always felt. I still have for the most part all the same temptations I always had. I still think again for the most part the same as I thought before I accepted Christ. The only difference is I am now motivated to resist those temptations, I am motivated to think about God a great deal more and my goals have changed. So, maybe a part of me has died or maybe all of me as I once really was died, and I am a new me. I do think about some of the same things, I still desire some of the same things but I also am not involved in those old ways and have a new direction for my life. So ok let me say I died, and now I live with him. It is an endurance race walking with God. There are sprinters and plodders. I am a plodder that is for sure. I know some who got all fired up about being saved, and soon burned and crashed, fell off the track and are back where they were before starting the race. I endure; I persevere, I make it through all sorts of terrain. I am going to keep on keeping on doing what God wants me to do. I may not be the fastest at it, but I am going to keep at it. No matter the course conditions, I will keep going and I am assured I will reign with him. No question about it. I am not about to disown him, I see no reason to. I cannot imagine I would ever have a reason to. Maybe the Government of this country wants to disown him, wants to crush and destroy any evidence of him from the public square so as not to offend anyone who hates him, but I will not ever disown my Lord and my God. I will stand on the rooftops if need be, and shout it as loud as I can, “I love God.” I am also extremely thankful that he is always faithful. I do not think I am faithless, but that Greek word also implies disobedient, and that I may be from time to time. I do not think it is possible to obey one hundred percent of the time, for than I would be perfect and that simply is not possible. So in those times I fail, he does not fail me, he remains steadfastly faithful for he has promised me he would be with me even onto the end. Glory To God!

Risen Savior

DEVOTION
2 TIMOTHY
RISEN SAVIOR
2 Tim 2:8-10
8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
NIV
How many people do not believe Jesus Christ was raised from the dead? What good would any faith be in a dead person? I cannot understand people who have a faith based upon a dead person. The gospel I believe in is based upon a God who raised his son from the grave and that son ascended in physical form into heaven. I sure am not suffering in chains because of my faith, in fact, many others believe as I do and I have the freedom to believe as I do. I praise God for giving me this freedom by designing my life in America. I could have been born in some country that imprisons, tortures, and even kills Christians. So I am not in chains, I am not considered a criminal because of the gospel I believe in. But even so, if I were in chains of a different sort, chains binding my spirit, chains which prevented me from speaking out the truth of God, speaking out the gospel message, God’s word would not be hindered. His plan will always prevail. His plan is not dependent on any one person, on me, to be spread all over the world. If I were in spiritual chains, he would use others. He still does use others anyway and with more power than me. He uses others who have a louder voice, a greater influence on society than I do. He uses others who are far more aggressive in their efforts to spread the good news than I am. Yet he still uses me in the ways he has designed to use me. I may not be some well-known, big named preacher, but I am his servant, and he uses me within the community he has directed me to. My spirit is not in chains, I am able to share his word with those he brings in contact with me. I am free, I have been set free from the bondage of sin and am a free man able to speak up for my Lord, my Lord and Savior who was raised from the dead and who stands before God the Father making intercession for me all the time. I am free to speak out loud the fact that in order to obtain salvation, in order to escape the second death, in order not to perish, all a person has to do is acknowledge and accept Jesus Christ raised from the dead, as their Lord and Savior. How simply is that? I think it is far easier to believe in a live God than a dead one. What can a dead person do for anyone? He cannot save them from anything, but then maybe they do not expect to be saved from anything. Maybe they think this is all there is, and after this there is nothing. Maybe they believe we people are no different than any other living thing, which we just evolved from slime and will return to slime. Not my life! No at the all! I know they is a living God, one who cares and provides for me. I know Jesus is alive and well and at the right hand of the Father. I know because he has intervened in my life, done miracles beyond the comprehension of human understanding in my life, both spiritually and physically. I know he is alive, because I have actually heard his voice. I know he is alive, because I have felt his Spirit soaring within me. I serve a risen Savior!

Left Behind

DEVOTION

2 TIMOTHY

LEFT BEHIND


2 Tim 2:3-7
3 Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs — he wants to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
NIV

A good soldier wants to please his commanding officer is right out in the open. I know Paul told Timothy to reflect on this and the Lord would give him insight. I cannot imagine needed a whole lot of insight here. If I am a soldier of God, then I do not get myself involved in the ways of the world. I simply refrain from becoming like all the rest of society. I do not ascribe to this concept of retirement, which is a civilian affair, a social concept developed here in America in the early 20th century. It has absolutely nothing to do with being a soldier of God. How do I stop living a productive life as a soldier of God? How do I simply say, at a certain age I will stop working. God calls me to labor in his vineyard until I die. I think many believers have adopted the world’s concept of retirement and stopped working in the work force as well as in the body of Christ. I think that have just stopped being, and are just waiting out their last years. In addition as being a soldier of God, I cannot ascribe to the civilian method of storing up material provisions for those years of just being lazy and doing nothing, retirement. How is this outlined in scripture? Where does it say I am supposed to store up as much money as I can so I can sit back take life easy and enjoy my later years as a big bump on a log? What good would it do for me to start a race and somewhere before the finish line decide I have run enough and I need to retire at this place on the track? If I did not cross the finish line I would never stand a chance at the victor’s crown. As a soldier of God, he provides me a place to stay, food, clothing and commands as to what I am to do. If he says jump, I have to respond with, “Yes Lord, how high?” I wonder if a farmer was not hard working and stopped planting crops, he would never every be able to harvest anything, and all he would end up with is a bunch of weeds. Who wants to share in a bunch of weeds? It just seems so simply, to be in the army of God, I have to leave the civilian life behind. I must say onward Christian soldier, and see the civilian life as left behind.

Be Strong

DEVOTION
2 TIMOTHY

BE STRONG

2 Tim 2:1-2
2:1 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.
NIV

Here is where I think I could deal in two ways with this being strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Could it be that I should be empowered by the divine influence upon my heart because of Jesus? Or could it be that I should act in a gracious manner with great power because of the gracious act of Jesus Christ. Or actually should I just be strong because of the act of graciousness of Christ Jesus? I think the true application here is for me to be strong in my convictions because of my union with Christ and thus when I am faced either with temptations or hardships I should rely on the strength which comes from his influence upon my heart. The knowing of his truth, the understanding of his direction for me, the sense of his divine guidance for me all should give me strength to overcome both temptations and trials. The center of all this is, of course, my openness, my willingness to listen, to hear, and to obey that guidance. That is where the rub is because that old self still tries to get me to do it my way, not his. I do wonder sometimes way my way is not his way. Should I not want to do it his way? I do, yet my way still gets my attention. It is a journey, a constant growing experience, never to be finished until I step into eternity. I do not think I shall ever achieve perfection here; I shall always be in need of the grace of my lord Jesus Christ. I will always be trying to be strong, buy ever quite ever be strong enough. The strength I want to have I do not, and the weakness I do not want to have, I do. The other issue does imply the need to pass on the truth to others so they in turn can pass it on. I hope I can fulfill that. Through preaching, teaching, and writing I make an effort to share the truth of the scriptures so others will do the same somehow. I think too many have been ensnared by tradition, by doctrines, by laws and regulations of men, rather than by truth. But I still have to come back to that idea of thinking I have the truth. What makes me think I have the right thinking and others do not? It seems it always comes back to this. I am sure others know the truth too. I am sure I am not the only one, but still I believe I have the obligation to share the truth with others anyway. Maybe there are some of them who have gotten a little more involved in traditional concepts rather than the pure truth. Maybe some of them are only seeing some truth and not all of it. I don’t really know for sure, but I know I have to share what God has revealed to me. And I have to be strong.

I Will Continue

DEVOTION

2 TIMOTHY

I WILL CONTINUE
2 Tim 1:15-18

15 You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.

16 May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. 17 On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. 18 May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.
NIV

Of just what significance does any of this have in my life? Personal comments from Paul about other people seems to have no meaning other than to record some historic fact about how the early church was working. Yet I wonder about whether this deserting thing factors into relationships today. Why would everyone in the province of Asia desert him? Why would they decide to separate themselves from him? Would it have been because he had been arrested for his faith, and they did not want the Romans to think they too believed as he did? So how does that apply to me or anyone today? If the message I proclaim is not a popular one I suppose people might desert listening to my message. In fact, one person did get up and walk out on me in the middle of a lesson regarding investing, or trusting Satan with your money when you confess to trust God with your life. Maybe that is why others stopped attending a class I once lead. My message, my lessons were not popular and did not align with traditional thinking, but rather with the truth of the Word of God. Yet I am sure others teach the truth and have not had deserters. Why me? I don’t think I have deserted anyone. I do think many pastors have deserters. People leave their church for all sorts of reasons. People desert because of worship style, upgrades to the sanctuary, change in music, change in format, and change in anything. I think that is much like those people in the province of Asia, being so concerned about their own self rather than about the truth of the Gospel. Why else would anyone desert another believer who is out there doing God’s will, if it were not out of self concern? I think this also encourages believers to seek out those who are standing up for the truth, no matter the circumstances or the repercussions and to stand by their side for the sake of the Gospel. Maybe many believers today simply want their church to be “Us four and no more.” Anything that challenges them to step out of that comfort zone makes than become a deserted rather than a searcher. I hope I do not fall into that trap, as well as I am hope others do not either. I also know I will not change my message because of some who have deserted me. Although I know people do not want to hear it, I will continue no matter the result.

Truth

DEVOTION
2 TIMOTHY

TRUTH
2 Tim 1:13-14

13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you — guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
NIV

Do not discover a new teaching in other words. There must have been all forms of the gospel rooming around the country side in those days. There sure is all forms of doctrine about the Gospel rooming around the country side today. Why should I think the belief I have is rooted in the pattern of sound teaching I heard from the Word of God. Simply put, because it is. I believe I have the pattern, the simply truth as it is recorded for me, and shown to me by the Holy Spirit. I realize so many different views exist and many are from men who proclaim scholarship. I am sure there are learned men who profess to have the knowledge to correctly interpret the meaning of the scriptures. So I have to wonder why there are so many interpretations. Then I think it is because they have strayed from the pattern of sound teaching and have used the scriptures to justify their own pattern. I think this is the potential flaw all men are subject to. To first develop a pattern or belief than search out enough scripture to back up that belief is simply incorrect and does not conform to the pattern of sound teaching. Yet, have not I been accused of the same thing? Maybe so, but I surely have not done that. I have studied the scriptures with the leading of the Holy Spirit and believe all the Word of God, not simply portions of it which agree with my thinking. Yes, what some say is true, but it is not the whole complete truth, but only a portion of truth. All the scripture is truth and all of it is in agreement thus any belief must include it all. Some people may be impressed with style of worship or style or the personality of a particular leader or impressed by the form or design of a building and thus associate themselves with the doctrine apposed by that denomination, rather then being impressed with content of doctrine. Yet I still have to ask myself why do I think I have the right thinking, or right belief instead of those theologians and scholars? The answer is simply, because I believe what the bible says and it says it plan and simply so I can get it. I do not seek out hidden deeply imbedded meanings that are really not there. It is what it is and that is what it is. Could I develop a list of truths I believe? Would most of them agree with many of the lists of truth others have? I think so. But I still think many have wondered from the pattern of sound teaching. I pray the Holy Spirit will continue to lead me into all truth as he has promised to do, the truth which is the pattern for sound teaching and that he will help me guard that truth in my heart.

Sure Of

DEVOTION
2 TIMOTHY

SURE OF


2 Tim 1:11-12
11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.
NIV

Is there that much difference between being a herald and an apostle and a teacher? If I am a herald or a proclaimer of the divine truth and an ambassador of the Gospel and a teacher of the Word, am I not all the same thing? How can anyone separate any of those? Are not all believers supposed to fulfill these qualities? Has not God called all believers to be this? I think that is the way it should be. Although I also believe we are all different parts of the body of Christ and so maybe, I am just one of a few numbers within the body who feels this call. True, I am not a pastor or work for a salary in some leadership role, but then neither did Paul. He paid his own way, worked so not to be a burden on those he ministered to. I wonder where and when the church got away following the Gospel. I believe I can be God’s herald without being paid as an employee of the church, or have the church appoint me because I paid enough money at some school of theirs. I believe I can be an apostle, a messenger of the Gospel sent by God, instead of holding some paper of authority by some church. I believe I can be a teacher of divine truth without having the instruction of men, but rather by the leading of the Holy Spirit. God calls and he provides all the empowering to fulfill his calling. Do I stand alone in this belief? Maybe, and I think at times I catch a little flax because of it. Too many believers have fallen into the trap of trusting the acceptance of men, rather than God. I have been told, if I want men to accept what I say, I need to have their value of education and degrees. I say, God has a better plan. God did not establish schools, men did. God did not establish anything but his calling, his empowering, his leadership. I am not ashamed of being known as a rebel against the ways of men in regard to God’s ways. I know what I believe, and I know whom I believe in and I too am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day as well as what he has entrusted in me for this day. I will proclaim his plan, I will speak up for him in the land, and I will teach what he has taught me. Maybe my voice is not loud, but I will do what God has called me to do, and he will have me heard where and when he wants. This I am sure of.

God and His Plan

DEVOTION
2 TIMOTHY

GOD AND HIS PLAN


2 Tim 1:8-10

8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us to a holy life — not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
NIV

A large quality of thoughts here, yet I could not break it up or down into a smaller chunk. They is one thing I do know for sure and that is I am not ashamed to be a believer or to say anything to anyone about my beliefs. There are a few people I am in contact with who may fall into the category of swine and I will not throw Christ under their bus, but I also cannot dust my feet off either. But that is not being ashamed, it is simply knowing their absolute vehement rejection of the Gospel message in words and thus I attempt to live it in out in deeds in hopes someday they will not refuse the Holy Spirits prompting. Again I do not think I would call my life one of suffering and I certainly am not in chains or in prison because of my faith, but I am still saved and called to a holy life. I also am fully aware it is not because of anything I have done. God’s power is at work in every person, attempting to reach through the hardness of their hearts as he did in me. He does that because of his own purpose. The reason I am saved is not about me but it is about him. True, I have eternal life, but the reason I am saved is for his purposes, not for mine. I am simply his servant, saved to do his will, his purpose, his plans. I think one of the incredible truths within the scriptures is this statement that even before the thing we call time, the linier existence of mankind, before the creation of this world and all that is in it, God already had it determined to reveal his plan for redemption from my sin by sending Jesus Christ to die on the Cross of Calvary. It may be difficult for some people to grasp hold of that concept, believing that is too far-fetched. But I have absolutely no problem at all. I accept that God is not limited to time and space. I believe he has always known what his plan was before he gave Adam that simply standard to live by. I believe he has always known what Adam would do and what everything else would happen before he even started with creation. If he did not know, then he would not be God. It is that simply. All I know is I am and will be forever thankful for God and his plan.

Sincere

DEVOTION
2 TIMOTHY
SINCERE
2 Tim 1:4-7
5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
NIV
Is there such a thing as insincere faith? I suppose it is possible to actually appear to be loving toward another, but have hidden intentions of another sort. That is the implication of the Greek word used here for which is translated sincere. To have a false front of what is actually inside would be hypocrisy and I cannot allow that is my life. If I say I love, then I actually must have that love on the inside, and I am supposed to love all. That is a tough road to drive, a hard furrow to plow, a difficult mountain to climb, a long channel to swim or how every else I can describe it, simply put, a hard pill to swallow. There are just some people I am not sure I can be sincere about loving them. But that is what I should do. I know it say that in Roman 12 as well, that love must be sincere, and be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Putting the others needs before my own is the action of this kind of love and that has to be sincere. If I have wrong motives, maybe no one would notice, but God would. If I am going to live to please him, I have to comply. The question of course is why I would not have that in my heart, this sincere love for others. Why would I have to only appear to love? Would that be because I really do not have that love in my heart? I cannot believe that. Yes, I do have difficulty with some people, but I think for the most part I can say my love is sincere, but it such be for the all part. Now as far as fanning into flames the gift of God I have received, certainly not by the laying on of hands by Paul, but by the infilling of the Spirit, I think I have been doing. Maybe I need to fan more and get a raging fire going. Sometime, I think I do get distracted from the calling on my life. I think I am a little backwards and actually a little fearful of getting out there fanning bigger flames. I though the Spirit would see to it my gift was used, but maybe I have to be engaged in the fanning, or promoting of the gift in my life. That is one more even harder pill to shallow. This is tough stuff for me to consider. I know I should not be ashamed to testify, but I am getting ahead of my own devotion, that is next. It does come down to what God has giving me. He did not give me this spirit of timidity. He gave me a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. I must be about my Father’s business. I must get out there and do it, get the thoughts he has instilled in me out in the hearts and minds others, for that is what he has called me to do, gifted me to do, and given me the power to do it, and my motive has to be out of love for others, not for my own aggrandizement. That is where the self-discipline comes in. It does all come back to sincere.

Just Remember

DEVOTION
2 TIMOTHY
JUST REMEMBER
2 Tim 1:3-5
3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy.
NIV
It is evident Paul was indicating that as a believer, what was to be called a Christian, that he served the same God as all the Jews of the past. That Jehovah, JHHW, the God of the Jews is the same God of the Christians. I am thankful I have the same God and not some man-made form of another god. I am so thankful I have the opportunity to serve my God as well. As far as having a clear conscience it comes down to knowing Christ set me free, and is my intercessor before the Father. I do have to wonder about remembering all the people I have ever had contact with and then remembering them in my prayers. I am not sure I even remember all of them, although at times certain individuals pop up in my mind. But I think that if I were to pray for all those people of the past I would never be able to raise from my knees, at least in the common concept of prayer. I do think as certain people come to mind I can simply say to my Lord, “Bless them” and I have done what I should do. I am not sure I constantly remember anybody. Am I always thinking about me than? No, not the case, but I do think about all sorts of things, but I do think about my life, my calling, how I am going to fulfill all that God wants of me, and trying to be an example of Christ to those I do come in contact with. Yet, I do have thoughts about other people, and what their life is doing and where are they in their journey with God. I am not sure I remember to ask my Lord to bless them when I recall them. I think I need to keep that in the forethought or at least close to the forethought of my mind, saying that “bless them” prayer. I do not long to see them, however. I have to wonder what kind of Christian am I if I do not long to see them. It would be nice if I did get to see some of those people of the past, and then I would not have that much to say. I am not much of a conversationalist one-on- one. Sure I can get up and preach or teach in front of many, but one-on-one I stink. Maybe that is because I simply am unable to carry on a conversation of small talk. I doubt if Paul ever engaged in small talk. I bet he was always talking about Jesus Christ, always sharing the good news, always engaging others on a much deeper level than chit chat about someone else’s whatever, or the weather, or I don’t even know what small talk consists of. I simply do not have the mind or personality for chit chat. Sure, I talk about what I am doing, and listen to what others say they are doing, I suppose that is a form of small talk. But it seems so small. I think when I am with others I should focus on deeper points of life. I am not sure I get filled with joy when I am with those people of the past, or for that matter those people of my present. Maybe that is because of so much small talk and not enough real conversation about real issues of their life, their spiritual journey, their struggles and victories and what God is doing for them, in them, and through them. Maybe it is also because none of them are really interested in my life either. Not ever concerned about my struggles and victories, and what God is doing for me, in me and through me. That is sad, life is so much richer, so much more fulfilling, of far greater value than to waste it on small talk, gossip, and self absorption. I think I should just remember.

By His Will

DEVOTION
2 TIMOTHY
BY HIS WILL
2 Tim 1:1-2
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,
2 To Timothy, my dear son:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
NIV
What is of value for me in the greeting portion of a letter from one man to another? Why does God want this to be recorded for me to read and glean some truth for my life? Maybe I am to see that I too am who I am by the will of God according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus. True, I may not be an apostle, but then maybe I am, because in the original language apostle means an ambassador of the Gospel, or a commissioner of Christ. What believer is not that? Are not all believers ambassadors of the Gospel? Are we not all aliens in this world? Is not my citizenship in Heaven? If that is true, then have not I been sent to this place as his ambassador? Am I not a commissioner of Christ? I certainly believe this should be true of all believers. Although I live in the world I am not of this world, I am of the Kingdom of God. Therefore I am here to represent Christ to this foreign land. I am to speak on his behalf. I also am not subject to the law of this world, I have diplomatic immunity. That is I do not have to live as the world lives, I do not live according to the plan of man, but rather the plan of God. I am not subject to death, for I have life. This world and its ways bring nothing but death, and therefore as an alien I am not a citizen of this world and do not have to abide by its ways. I live by the word of God, and am a citizen of his Kingdom and am here at his will doing his business among this land I am in. I may not be a dear son to Paul, but I am quite sure I am a dear son to my Father who is in Heaven. And once again, I will accept all the grace, all the mercy and all the peace I can get from God and Christ. I am more than willing to have God act in a gracious manner toward me, as well as have his divine influence upon me. I will accept his compassion, his mercy toward me and without question I need all the peace, or increasing of my spirit I can get from him. I need to prosper in my spirit, to be wealthy in my spirit as well as live in rest. Of course all that was already accomplished on the cross of Calvary. What larger act of graciousness could he do? What greater influence on my life could there be? How much more rest could I get or how greater could I prosper in my spirit? I think there is more of all. God is continually about all of that in my life. He never forsakes me, but is always showing himself in these ways to me. Every time I fail him, he reminds me of his graciousness. Every time I fail him, he reminds me of his mercy, his compassion and forgiveness, his love for me. Every time I fail him, he reminds me to be at rest, he is helping me to be victorious. Yes, I am an apostle, an ambassador of Christ, by the will of God.

Grace

DEVOTION
1 TIMOTHY
GRACE
1 Tim 6:21
Grace be with you.
NIV
I need all of that I can get. I really need all the grace I can get. Why in the world would anyone turn down grace? No matter how this word is used, whether an act of being gracious on God’s part toward me, or his divine influence on my heart and how that is reflected in my life, I need all of either one I can get. I cannot imagine living through life without grace. Now I supposed if I were perfect and never ever committed another sin, I would not need grace. I suppose if I simply stopped committing another sin, I would simply not be in any need of any influence on my heart for I would be perfect. I think if I never failed God in any way I would not need him to act gracious toward me. But that is not the case, I still fail him, I still end up coming up short of perfection and certainly need his grace. I would think this grace as an act of graciousness could be defined as Jesus on the cross, and so no other act of graciousness is needed by God. But I think that may not be completely true. I think he continuously acts in a gracious manner toward me, whenever I fail. He sees me through Jesus and forgives me, embraces me, and tells me let’s try it again; I know you will get it sooner or later and overcome. How much more gracious could that be? But he also tells me that he is trying his best to influence my heart, I simply have to allow him more access. I think the old self still fights pretty hard to have that control and works to shut out his influence. I am not sure how that could be since I was supposed to put that old self to death. But it is a hard thing to kill off completely. Why doesn’t he just kill it, so all is left is my new self, a perfect human being, always doing the will of God, never giving in to any temptation at all, always being on the top of my game, acting and reacting within the perfect will of God. I think when he said his grace is all I need, he knew how difficult life is, how perfection is way too illusive and I will always be in need of his grace, and that is all I really need anyway. Anything else is just fluff and puff, icing on the cake in comparison to his grace.

On Guard

DEVOTION
1 TIMOTHY
ON GUARD
1 Tim 6:20-21
20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, 21 which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith.
NIV
Some people surely think their intelligence thumps the truth of God, which is for sure. I know such individuals who think like that. It is not even worth the effort to try to have a conversation with them, for they only what to talk and not listen. I have been accused of that myself, but it is not true. I listen all too much, but I also want to talk. Most of the time I do think I might kind of turn them off, or tune them out for it is nothing more than godless chatter, and what they say surely opposes the word of God. Sure, their words are fine sounding and full of all kinds of human origins, but that is just it, human origins, not Godly. Why would I want to even listen to that kind of stuff, it is so much away from the truth? They oppose the Bible as even historic fact, but yet will believe what other men have written about history, even when those men write for personal gain. I cannot carry on a worthwhile conversation with such closed minded people who think they are intelligent but shut out anything which does not agree with their ideas. I guard myself even from some believers I know who have been deceived into thinking incorrectly. I know that sounds like I think I have the truth and they don’t and that sounds prideful. But I am not the only one who knows the truth; I am only one of so many who do. But there are some who have wandered into factions which believe some strange stuff. Too many rules and regulations placed by man upon man in order to be right. No, I am going to stick to the truth as it has been revealed to me by the Holy Spirit. I will refrain from accepting any so called truth taught by man. Moses, Isaiah, Jacob, David, Jeremiah, Matthew, Luke, John, Mark, Paul and so many others never attended any bible school or seminary, they were taught by the Holy Spirit. Was he replaced by someone professing to be a scholar? I think not. The Holy Spirit is the one who leads all men into the truth, which includes me. I think I shall take my stand, I think as though I am in a sword fight, and I hear the Holy Spirit telling me as I face my opponent, “On guard.”

So Share

DEVOTION
1 TIMOTHY
SO SHARE
1 Tim 6:18-19
18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
NIV
The concluding thoughts to yesterdays devotion about not trusting in wealth but rather in God are what I need to deal with here. I think it would be a great thing for not only those with wealth, but for all believers to be rich in good deeds. It might be a little more difficult for those who do not have wealth to be generous and willing to share as far as money goes, but surely all can be generous and willing to share of themselves. That is what I think I surely must be willing to do. To be there for others when a need is at hand is surely a good deed. But considering the rest of what is said here about laying up treasure in heaven rather than on earth surely speaks directly to the storing up, saving of money for personal consumption at some later date. This I simply cannot understand why some believers do not get this. It would almost seem as though there is great pride in having wealth. Maybe God has blessed them, and maybe they are generous and willing to share their money with others. Maybe they give way more than ten percent to the church, but I am not sure that is what is talked about here. Giving to the church so the church knows who is giving it and passes out receipts for tax write offs may not be as generous as it seems. I believe in my giving I should not let my right hand know what my left hand is doing. Truly generous is giving without anyone but God knowing about it, even the church. No records, no accounting, no people counting the cash, and recording my giving is what I think is right. If I give it is between me and my Lord, if I do not give, that too is between me and my Lord. Yet I do believe I should be generous with myself as well, and willing to share of my time, my efforts, my talents, skills, whatever I can do when a need is known. Sometimes I think it is easier to share money than time. If I had great wealth it would not be of any consequence to give some of it away, but time, self, costs way more than a sum of money, if I still had a great deal more of it. Even though I could have an unlimited amount of money in the life I could not take any of it into the age to come. As far as time, I do have a limited amount of that in this life and it is more precious than money because of its limit. Being generous and sharing of my time, I believe is of greater value than sharing of money. The question is of course am I sharing enough of myself and my time. And I don’t think I should be doing it just to lay up treasures for myself in the age to come, but because is it the right thing to do. My motive for being generous should not be for rewards in the age to come, but it should be because that is what God desires me to do. Yes, I want to take hold of the life that is truly life, but I also want to please my Lord. So share.

Sticking With God

DEVOTION
1 TIMOTHY
STICKING WITH GOD
1 Tim 6:17-18
17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
NIV
Well there it is, right out in the open. Of course being rich is all relative. To those who have great wealth, I am poor, but to those who are of extreme poverty I am rich, especially when I consider the whole world, and not just my little corner. But I think the truth of this command is that no matter how much wealth a person has ,whether that be somewhat or an over abundance, putting trust in that wealth is foolishness. When the word of God says that trusting in wealth is so uncertain, I understand it completely. If I had such an abundance of money I gave some of it to someone who says they will give it back to me with an increase, I have to trust them. That is the way of the stock market. Giving money in hopes of getting more back from who I gave it to is the way it is. This word investing is simply made up to make it sound good. I know I hear people say money can’t buy happiness, but nothing is in second place. God is in first, second, and to infinity place as far as happiness goes. Sure, money affords things. Sure it helps to have it to get along in this world. I have to pay the mortgage, the utilities, food, clothing, gas for the cars, and other stuff. Yes, it takes money to do that, and sometimes I am a little close to not getting it all paid. I do not have an abundance of money for the setting I am in, in the country I was place in by God, in the city I was directed to by God, in the house I was lead to by God. I also do not have the drive to obtain that kind of abundance either. Is that God also? I trust him to provide for me and my family as he promised he would and has so far. So I have no reason to doubt he would ever not provide me with everything for my enjoyment. Wealth can be such and illusive thing, especially when I have given, invested it, to company. I could have much one day and then that company could just fold up, and tell me all my money is gone. There is no certainty that could not happen, why in the world would I want to put my trust in that? It is another thing to give money away with the understanding that maybe it will be paid back, but if it isn’t no big deal. That is not putting trust in it. I could do that if I had that much of it. But I do not think I could invest money in companies, especially when they are owned by ungodly people. To me that is being yoked with an unbeliever. To me that is partnering with the devil and that is simply unacceptable. No, I am sticking with God.

For He Is God

DEVOTION
1 TIMOTHY
FOR HE IS GOD
1 Tim 6:15-16
15 which God will bring about in his own time — God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
NIV
The appearing of my Lord Jesus Christ which God will bring about in his own time is what is happening here. I have no doubt about the appearing of my Lord. And I also know without a shadow of a doubt that the timing of this event is solely in the control of God the Father. How could any man have anything to do with it? It would be the most wonderful thing that could ever happen in my lifetime, if Jesus was to appear right now and call all the believers to himself in the air. But I have to wait until it happens. I know some people think it is an individual appearing to each as they die. Perhaps that is true in the sense of being absent from my body is to be present with my Lord. But I do not think this is what is being laid out here. It is about living in a manner pleasing to God until Jesus returns for the Church. It is about God who has all the control as to when and how that is going to take place. God is so far above man. I think many people have forgotten the awesome power God has. How could I ever approach this immortal God who lives in unapproachable light? I can through Jesus Christ. Sure I cannot see God, nor maybe will I ever actually be able to see God, even when I am in Heaven or wherever he is. This may well be a new insight I have not ever contemplated before. Once I am in his presence, I may still not be able to see him. Although at that time I will not be a man, yet I still will be one. So if no one has ever seen or can see him, does that mean I will never actually see him. I will be able to see Jesus, but maybe not God the Father. If he lives in unapproachable light, than I may not be able to see him. He may just be too powerful, too majestic, and too completely awesome to ever be seen. Yet did he not walk in the Garden with Adam? Did he not place his hand over Moses and allow him to see his back? I think man may have tried to bring God down to his level in order to make some sort of sense of who he is. Maybe this is what is being said he. Surely I might well be able to see him when I get to his throne room. But for now, his image, who he is, what he appears as is but only in the imagination of man at this point. No one knows for sure or will ever know for sure in this life as to the appearance of God. So all I can do is to worship him as the King of kings, the Lord of lords, my creator, my God and give him all the glory, all the honor, all the might with everything I am. For he is God.

March Onward

DEVOTION
1 TIMOTHY
MARCH ONWARD
1 Tim 6:13-15
13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time — God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
NIV
Not only did I many the good confession in the presence of many witnesses but also in the sight of God. Just thinking about that almost makes me shutter. I confessed my faith in Jesus Christ in the sight of God, the one who gave me life in the first place. That is by far one of the greatest truths every to be contemplated. Here I was but a combining of two tiny elements, one from each of my earthly parents and God began forming me, the person who I am, a sentient being, having a spirit capable of understanding who he is. He formed me in my mother’s womb and caused me to be a living breathing creation of his doing. This is the God in who’s sight I confessed my faith. In his sight I have been charged to keep pursuing those qualities and behaviors of righteous, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. In his sight I have been charged to fight the good fight. In his sight I have been charged to flee from pursing after the things of this world, directly the pursuit after money. I have been charged to keep that command without spot or blame until Jesus comes back for me. This is the rub, to be unblemished and inculpable. How can I do that? How can I have absolutely no blemish at all? Would that mean I would have to live without ever sinning again? That is impossible, only Jesus did that. As for being inculpable or unrebukeable, I could only imagine both of those charges could only be met by Jesus, and thus if I remain in him and he in me I am considered by God without spot or blemish. That is the only way it could be, because I do not think it is possible for any human being to be completely one hundred percent free from all forms of sin their complete life, even a human being who have accepted Christ, a believer, a Christian. As hard as I try, I fail. Maybe I need to try harder. Maybe it is possible; after all I do have the Spirit to help me. Yet I have not achieved that result of perfection yet. I am thankful that in the sight of God, I am spotless and blameless because Jesus stands there making intercession for me. God sees me in Jesus. What a blessing, what a joy, what a peace I have knowing my salvation is not dependent on my being perfect, on my good works, but wholly on my faith in Christ. That surely does not release me from the charge. I certainly must make every effort to live up to the standard set out for me by God and that is my desire. Failures are bound to plague me, but I will not be discouraged or distracted by those failures from pursuing after those standards. I will not allow guilt and shame from keeping me from continuing on. I will not permit Satan to convince me I have lost the fight. I will march toward the mark set out before me. I will march onward.

Many Witnesses

DEVOTION
1 TIMOTHY
MANY WITNESSES
1 Tim 6:12
12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
So it is a fight, this faith thing. I knew that because of all the temptations which are bombarding me from every side and even face on at times. It is a fight to the finish. I fight to the death, winner takes all, and loser gets thrown into the lake of burning sulfur. A struggle of epic proportions, a duel of the wills is this fight of faith. Satan wants nothing more than to make me the loser, but he will fail. He does not have the right fire power, nor enough of it to cause any permanent damage. I will never give up fighting this good fight of faith. I have my armor, and especially my shield to ward off any of those flaming arrows. So there, back off dude, get thee behind me and flee from me, in the name of Jesus! I have the right fire power and more than enough of it. I have the name of Jesus. As far as taking hold of the eternal life to which I was called. I am impressed with the fact my calling to eternal life was a result of my good confession in the presence of many witnesses. This surely has to mean it was because of my choice to accept the provision God made for me when he sent Jesus to die on the cross for the atonement of my sin. I made that good confession in front of many witnesses. I did not become a believer and just keep it to myself. I did not evolve into believing and just started acting like a believer. I was not elected by God to be a believer without my permission either. No I made a good confession in the presence of many others that I accepted Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. I stood up and said I want to be counted in that number. I knelt before God with hundreds watching as I turned my life over to Jesus. True, I actually did that alone in the solitude of my own home, but within 2 days I was making my public confession of faith in Christ. I have no problem at all with this idea of confession. I am a little put off at the idea of pastors asking everyone to close their eyes while in the event someone might actually slip their hand up in response to a message or call to salvation. What kind of public confession is that? How does that comply with this command to fight the good fight and accept eternal life when they make their confession in the presence of many witnesses? I know it is a personal thing, but I cannot see hiding it from everyone, or trying to make them feel comfortable, that no one will know they are accepting Jesus, like it is a secret. No, I wanted to be seen, I did not care who was watching, I wanted the world to know I was born again, shouldn’t everyone else?

Pursue

DEVOTION
1 TIMOTHY
PURSUE
1 Tim 6:11-12
11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
NIV
So, as a man of God I should flee from all of that eagerness for lots of money, storing it up for some future date. I should be content with godliness for that is great gain as was told me in the preceding verses I dealt with yesterday. Instead of pursuing the things of this world, I should be pursing after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. That is a very aggressive list of traits and or behaviors. It would seem to me that any man of God would want these qualities to be evident in his life. It also seems to me a man of God cannot pursue both money and God, otherwise he would be called a man of God, but a man of money. I would run after the money or flee from such desires and run after God. I cannot do both, I cannot separate my spiritual life from my material life. I cannot compartmentalize my life, living as the world does outside of church, and living as a man of God inside the church. I must be as I ought to be, observing both divine and human laws, being righteous. That is what this word implies. I should also and I believe I do have a reverence for God, not just a form of godliness; I should actually have this kind of godliness. I do not think I lack in faith. I believe I have this deep conviction about his truth, his word, and his statutes. I believe I am a man of faith, trusting in him for everything. Do I have moments where I slip from that faith and experience doubt? I think so, but I recognize those times quickly and fight through back to my faith. I think I could work more, pursue a little harder on this love issue though. Not that I have any hard feelings toward others, but I also don’t think I have enough of that affection, good-will toward all others. I will desire more of this quality in myself, seeking the help of the Spirit in this regard. I do not think I lack much in the endurance part though, I think I am rather steadfast in my convictions regarding God. I believe I have the endurance not to ever give up on God and give in to the world. Having said that does it sound as if I am proud for, in fact, I should be gentle or humble as the Greek word implies. I should have a humble spirit. This is difficult to be aggressive in promoting God and being humble in doing it. How do I promote my books, and be humble about doing it? How do I promote the truths of God in humility? I cannot think more of myself than I ought to, but at the same time I believe God has directed me to spread the truths he is showing me. I think I make it clear it is not me; I have no skills or training in preaching and writing. I am so backwards toward social functions being in crowds. I think I express that it is none of me and all of God. I believe I give him all the credit for everything I am, everything I have and everything I do. Is that being humble? I think so, I hope so. I do know I must flee and I must pursue.

What happens happens

DEVOTION
1 TIMOTHY
WHAT HAPPENS, HAPPENS
1 Tim 6:6-10
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
NIV
Well there is so much, yet but just one thing written here. It is all about being content with what I have. I think, especially in our society today, way too many believers have already have fallen into the temptation talked about here. Investments and the storing up of money for retirement are right up there in the trap. I think it is all about trusting God and not trusting in my own ability to secure my future. I know I stand pretty much alone on this issue as I have had more than my share of conversations with other believers and they try to tell me that storing up for the future is scriptural. They say, that is how God is providing for them. I feel sad for them. Oh sure, I do not have any money to speak of. I have a nice home and cars and food to eat. I have more than enough clothes to wear. I can even enjoy having hobbies and doing things that others may not be able to. But I have nothing in reverse, in fact I have debt. But I am not worried about it, as I know everything has and will always be alright as long as I have my first priority as serving my Lord. I certainly do not want to be drawn into the trap of seeking money as my source of support. Sure I have worked all my life, and I will continue to work the rest of my life. I cannot find in scripture where I am permitted to retire from work. I think retirement is part of the trap. I don’t work nearly has hard and long as I used to, but I still work. True I get time to play or just do things around the house. But I also spend time doing things for the Kingdom. I do wonder from time to time what it would be like to have an abundance of money, but then I realize it is the temptation facing right at me. My life has never been on the path of large earnings. I never learned some special skill which allowed me to gain great income. I never had that drive either. Maybe that is why I have such a view I do. I don’t think so, I think I view what scripture says about the love of money and the desire to gain as much as possible and storing it up because that is what scripture says. I guess I am just blessed by not having that much of it. Certainly along the path of my life, God has intervened with material blessings when I needed them and sometimes even when I did not know I needed them. From my observations, I do know it is true that those believers who have such an abundance of money and appear to desire even more, have a lot of concerns about the safety of that money, especially that which is invested. No, I will just keep on trusting in my Lord. What happens happens.

Right On

DEVOTION
1 TIMOTHY
RIGHT ON
1 Tim 6:3-5
3 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
NIV
To be conceited and not understanding are pretty harsh words. I suppose those individuals who are the super intelligent overly educated types might well fit into this category if they are not careful. I certainly am not super intelligent or overly educated and I have absolutely nothing at all to be conceited about, yet I am sure there is much about the word of God I do not understand. I am sure men like Rob Bell fit right into this situation as I am sure he has a great deal of interest in creating controversies and quarrels among the church. Of course, I do not know is heart, and so I should not judge him. I do know I am concerned about false teachers, who tear apart the church for their own personal gain. I want nothing more than the truth of God to be in the forefront and the foundation of every believer’s heart and mind. Whenever I have the opportunity, I desire to spread this truth for the sake of the truth, and not for any purpose or gain of my own. It is difficult to divide personal gain from an all out endeavor to share God’s truth. What I teach, preach and write surely are not something which should cause controversies and quarrels. The truth of God should never cause envy, strife, malicious talk evil suspicions and constant friction. How can the truth do anything like that? Preach the Word, Rich! I think all too often men determine what they believe than go about finding scripture to back up their belief, even to the point of misusing certain scriptures. I think it is so very important to take the scripture and listen to the Spirit teach, than develop what my beliefs are based on the truth in the Word. The motive has to be the truth first than the belief, not a belief than find it in the Word. I think men who seek out fame for themselves have not found the truth in the Word. I hope I never get like that. Although I really do not think I will ever have any fame or fortune because of my endeavors to publish books. Sometimes I wonder why God has me doing this. My first effort has not done so well, but then I am so backward in promoting myself. I have been told well if it is God, he will get it out there. God uses people to accomplish his will most of the time and it is still on my shoulders to get it done. I am dragging my feet I think. Is it because I do not want to be perceived as seeking fame and fortune? I certainly do not want to do or to be thought of as doing anything like what is described in these verses. I wonder if I am too aggressive in promoting myself I would be perceived in that way. I am confident my goals are only to do what God has placed upon my heart to do and to do it for the benefit of the Kingdom of God, giving him all the glory, honor and praise for anything which happens in my life. Right On!

Be Ready

DEVOTION
1 TIMOTHY
BE READY
1 Tim 6:1-2
6:1 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered. 2 Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them. These are the things you are to teach and urge on them.
NIV
Surely I am no slave to any man, believer of non-believer alike. Our society forbids such relationships between people. But to bring this into the world I live in would be to see this in light of employer, employee conduct. When I have worked for others, when I have been an employee, I believe I have always respected those who were in authority over me no matter if they were believers or not. Even to talk about them in any disrespectful manner would be wrong according to these words. There have been some occasions when I might well have been in the wrong in regard to that issue. But I have spent much of my life not being an employee but rather an employer, or at least self employed. I do know of believing people who absolutely need to refrain from speaking disrespectfully about those who employ them. Is it my task to point out this standard? Is this one of those cases when I see a brother in sin, I should go to him? Maybe it is already stopped. Maybe those do not speak in that manner any more. But if I am witness to such behavior, should I speak up? I think so, in love, because I love. I suppose if I am aware of others in that situation I must teach and urge them to live in a manner which abides to this standard. At this time in my life, I still have no employer and thus it is difficult for me to apply this to my own life, at least right now. In retrospect, I must seek forgiveness from my Lord for those times I failed to meet this standard when I was an employee. I do think I worked as hard as any man could for them, but I might not have respected some of those who employed me over the years. Back and forth, past and present I bounce, and who knows what the future will be, although I doubt I will ever be an employee again, I am too old for that now, yet God still made have plans he has not shared with me yet. So I think I should just keep this tucked into me heart and stay ready to obey or teach and urge, which ever that will be.

Leadership

DEVOTION
1 TIMOTHY
LEADERSHIP
1 Tim 5:24-25
24 The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. 25 In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.
NIV
It would seem to me living as a Christian should be in conformance with, or at least the first and foremost desire of my heart to live in such, a manner which pleases God. In order to be in any position of leadership within the body of Christ, I think that should be the way it is. So when certain people who profess being a Christian live in such a manner which does not live up a manner which pleases God, or at least their disobedience to the word is right out in the open, they certainly should not occupy any position of leadership in the body of Christ. It is the other situation which brothers me the most. It is the hypocritical ones, those who appear holy and righteous but live a life of sin in secret. I must guard myself against such behavior, for I think we all have temptations which work to lure us into sin. Every person who stands in leadership has temptations; it would be foolish to think otherwise. Oh sure, those temptations may not be of the type such as to lie, kill or steal, or maybe they are. But I think everyone has some temptation which they could yield to without any other knowing of it. The occasional falling from perfection is not what I think is going on here, but rather the situation of one in leadership willing living a secret life of pleasure in the flesh. That is a bit harsh, maybe they living with doubt, spiritual pride, or some form of bitterness, or even unforgiveness, but doing that in secret, keeping it from others. The scripture says that surely our sins will find us out, and I am confident such a person who occupies a leadership role cannot hide forever his secrets. Now, on the other hand those deeds considered good should also be out in the open in front of all as well. It is one thing to confess in front of others all the good things I am doing somewhere else out of the sight of the body of Christ. But it is entirely another thing to be doing good deeds, working, serving the Lord out in the open in front of everyone for all to see. What good it is to say I am doing this or that when I am not. And if I am doing good deeds elsewhere other than within the church, should I not also be doing good deeds within the church? I think it cannot be helped but to do good deeds everywhere if I am trying to follow Christ. That would also mean than I cannot just sit and be a passive part of the body, I must be about my Father’s business. I must desire to live as Christ did, keeping myself from a lifestyle of sin and shame, and doing good deeds everywhere, serving whoever I can, both outside and inside the body of Christ, that is leadership.

Wine

DEVOTION
1 TIMOTHY
WINE
1 Tim 5:23
23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.
NIV
No problem. I am always amazed though as to how the evangelical church as blatantly opposed this portion of God’s word. Sometimes I think certain people are filled with spiritual pride over the fact wine has never touched their lips. How can someone be proud of being disobedient to the word? I know it also says not to be drunk on wine, but on the Spirit. This whole concept of Jesus making grape juice is so bizarre I cannot even spend time contemplating its validity. Wine is wine, grape juice is grape juice and that is it. I think the church which opposes this truth about wine, and having a little of it has taken that position because of the negative connotation of drinking to the point of inebriation and the bad behavior associated with that. Now, if imbibing in a glass of wine should cause my brothers and sisters who choose to oppose such obedience to the word, should I refrain from my obedience? Well, it may not actually be a matter of obedience, but rather a matter of drinking wine not being forbidden as they would state. It comes down to those man-made rules and regulations again which endeavor to enslave me, and place a yoke of bondage upon me. I have been set free from bondage to sin and I do not think I should place myself back in bondage to some rules man has established thinking obedience to those rules makes them holy. Would it be better for me to enlighten them to the truth or simply not allow them to know if I taste wine on my lips? I do not think it is good to live a double life. Drinking wine in the privacy of my own home, but saying or agreeing with those who oppose drinking wine when I am with them is not a good way to live a life pleasing to the Lord. Yet, how can I teach them, or should I teach them the truth about this? What does it matter? They have so many rules and regulations which have been added to what is though as holy living. I know all about the fact the water certainly was not some purified bottled water bought in the grocery store as we have today. I know the water might well have been contaminated in the sense of when I travel to Mexico, if I drink that water I will have stomach problems too. The locals drink it, but Timothy was not a local and would have had a problem with the water as I would in Mexico. So drink wine instead is the statement. But still the word does not forbid the drinking of wine. I will not forbid it either. Maybe I should not allow others to forbid as well. Or maybe I should just let it be.

So There!

DEVOTION
1 TIMOHTY
SO THERE!
1 Tim 5:22
22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
NIV
Ok, Ok, I am going to do it. I think it would be wise to sit and have a serious conversation with someone in order to first find out if they are a true believer, and second whether or not they first, believe in the gift of healing, or the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which would be the two reasons for the laying on of hands. I would suppose if that person were heavily involved in some form of disobedience which is called sin, of which I am not supposed to share in, the prayer associated with the laying on of my hands would not be answered anyway. Now if this person was only asking in order to prove God is not God, or he no longer answers pray, it would have worked. But then he would have been a wolf in sheep’s clothing and I would have detected that if I was not hasty in laying on hands and praying for his healing or that he been filled with the Spirit. He could also be trying to prove the issue about tongues associated as one of the evidences of being baptized in the Spirit as false. No question about, this business of laying on of hand should be taken serious and with prayer. I certainly am not about to allow someone else to hood-winkle me into becoming involved in some sin they are doing. I already have enough of my own to overcome. Why in the world would I want to share somebody else’s? I suppose misery loves company, although sin usually feels good, at least for the moment. The long term effects can be damaging to the inner being, and very destructive to the relationship with God, not on his part, but on the part of man. Keeping oneself pure is certainly the goal here. To be clean, innocent before God is an absolute lofty goal, only attainable through the blood of Jesus Christ. I really do not think I can keep myself in that condition. I have placed my trust in Christ for my purity, my cleanness, my innocence. True, I should not go about sinning just to give God the chance to declare me innocent because of Christ, but I am, at the same time, unable to keep myself absolutely sinless. I will not allow others to convince me to join in their sin, so at least I can conform to that much of the standard. Although it is easy to get catch up in gossip, and I suppose that would be sharing in their sin. Even when trying to justify the gossip as being a prayer request is sharing in their sin. No, I am going to refuse this too. I would also think the act of accepting some false teaching would be sin too, of being duped by some intelligent fine sounding words. No, I know the truth and when I hear the truth being challenged I am not joining in by being silent, I am going to protest and do it loudly. So there!

Everyone The Same

DEVOTION
1 TIMOTHY
EVERYONE THE SAME
1 Tim 5:21
21 I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.
NIV
In the manner of conduct between all believers this charge should apply. Although it would seem it was a personal charge from Paul to Timothy, if all scripture is God-breathed and good for instruction, correcting and rebuking, then this scripture certainly has some merit for my life. I need to keep those instructions given to me by the Lord without partiality and I should not treat any believer any better or worse than any other believer, not showing any favoritism. Granted, this may well have been meant in the selection of elders and deacons, that Timothy was not supposed to use any filters when deciding who was worthy other than the filters which were outlined. He could not suggest one person because of perhaps a special liking or friendship. In the same manner I think it would do me well to examine whether I treat a believer better because of a closer relationship then I do a believer I barely know. But shouldn’t I show some special care for my family members, my wife, daughters and granddaughters? Should I treat them with some partiality and show them some favoritism? I think this may well not be about this kind of conduct between all believers, yet it still may be, but it surely has to do with how the local church conducts its affairs in determining who should serve in leadership. I think if a church adds to the list of qualifications, increasing the number of filters a candidate must pass through, they are in danger of violating this charge. I think the post modern church has done just that. I think way too many senior pastors surround themselves with people who adore them the most, doing nothing but showing partiality and favoritism. Does that sound critical? Maybe I am being critical, but I think it is true, at least where I have be able to observe the inner workings of the local church. I don’t know this to be true elsewhere, but I suspect it is not much different. What I have to do in my own life, making this charge personal, is to be the same person to everyone. I am who I am and I should be who I am with all who I come in contact with. I cannot pretend to be somebody I am not when I am with some, and then be like somebody else when I am with others. I think that might be showing partiality also. I think I have to simply love everyone the same.

Be Warned

DEVOTION
1 TIMOTHY
BE WARNED
1 Tim 5:17-20
17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, "Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages." 19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. 20 Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning.
NIV
Oh, I have heard this verse used all too often in order to obtain a very handsome salary as the senior pastor of a church. But I wonder if I should not be giving them a double portion of very high esteem, or thinking of them as being of double value to the church because they teach and preach? Yet the rest of this statement does imply something to do with wages, although in the Greek this word for wages also implies simply a reward. Is not a double portion of high esteem reward enough? If these men are over paid money would that not give them opportunity to place more trust in wages, or even perhaps draw men to those positions because of the double portion of money given to them? Now it has me wondering if in those times those men were even paid a wage, and if not this could not be about a high wage but about honor, esteem, being counted worthy, deemed deserving of being thought of in this high regard. I should think of them as good men, spiritual giants so to speak, men who sincerely seek the direction of God and live a life pleasing to him out in the open, as an example to all. This is how I see this because of the rest of the statement about not entertaining an accusation against them unless there are multiple witnesses. Surely these men are not sinless, yet when they do commit a sin they are to be rebuked out in the open as well. So why should the church pay so special attention to paying them a double wage but pay little to no attention about publicly rebuking them for each and every time they sin? This just does not make any sense to me, unless again it has nothing to do with money but with honor, and when that honor is treading on by men who are truly not worthy of it, a rebuking is well in order. I really did not want to go into this, for I believe maybe I well ought to have been doing some rebuking, but certainly not publicly. Then again, I wonder because I have the opportunity to preach and teach in the church am I subject to these conditions as well? How could I get a double wage if I am not even paid in the first place? Granted I do not direct the affairs of the church so that should obviously exclude me from being in the number of men worthy of double honor, and thus also exclude me from any public rebuking. Yet I cannot help but feel because I do stand before other members of the body of Christ and explain the truths of God in order for them to examine themselves as I do to see if I am matching up, that in a sense I am directing the spiritual affairs of the church. I am not sure when God directed Paul to pen this those men such as Timothy were conducting church as a business which needed to be directed, but rather were conducting the spiritual training and welfare of those who were under their teaching and preaching. So for those men who conduct the spiritual affairs of the church, they should not be hampered or told to keep silent about certain issues, but be counted worthy and given a great deal of honor and reward them for their service to God by lifting them up in prayer, but at the same time being ready to guard against those who use this position for personal gain, rebuking them in front of all. God is to be feared. Be warned, I am.

Family

DEVOTION
1 TIMOTHY
FAMILY
1 Tim 5:16
16 If any woman who is a believer has widows in her family, she should help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.
NIV
The last of the statements about these widows and to be honest with myself I am glad to be getting through with it. It certainly is right up close and personal as to what should be done about widows. Now from a personal point of view I am so proud of my wife for she is in full compliance of this requirement having her elderly mother, who is a widow, live with us. She is fulfilling her commission from God regarding caring for her mother. Now, although it does not say anything about the role the husband has of such a women who has a widow in the family, I would have to come to the conclusion this woman who cares for the widow is not a widow herself. It would certainly make sense to me the husband of such a women should be a man who manages his household well, and loves his family and serves the Lord so in doing approves of such care because he knows the scriptures and is in compliance with them also. I think it is a whole family affair in this caring for widows within the family. I do not think it can be an isolated independent action of a woman who is married. The two shall become one. I wonder, however, if the church fulfills its role in this matter. Does the church instruct families of this standard, or just jump in where it should not. Or are there widows with believing family members who fail to fulfill their responsibilities and instead of instructing them, the church just takes over? Again after over two thousand sermons I have heard not a one of them directly about this matter. What is wrong with this picture? Why is that? It seems Pastors would rather preach about money then about women, and they find it very difficult to preach on money, because people think so dearly of it. But preaching about women might surely lose him members and thus lose income for the church, for I think in many marriages the women controls the purse strings. Talk about getting into deep waters, I think I need a submarine. How did I get on this tangent anyway? I think in truth, this issue is pretty straight forward, women should pay attention to this and the husband as the head of the household should make sure they do, and assist them in any way he can fulfill their responsibility to God because that is his. I believe this is being a family.

Silent

DEVOTION
1 TIMOTHY
SILENT
1 Tim 5:11-15
11 As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. 12 Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. 13 Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to. 14 So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander. 15 Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.
NIV
Here I am right in the thick of it one more time. Do I dare write anything about this? I wonder if I even know any widows who are under the age eligible to be put on the list. So then I should just leave this alone and go on. I do find it difficult to conceive of a widow of fifty-nine who is too young to even be put on the list getting married and having children. True the really young women who for whatever reasons have become widows really should go on with life and follow these instructions. I understand a time of grieving must follow, but than life has more to offer and they have more to offer in life. I wonder why this portion of scripture is not preached from the pulpit, at least I have never heard a message from here for the many years I have been in church. Let’s see, fifty-two times thirty-nine is two thousand twenty eight Sunday Morning messages I have heard, and I am not counting the Sunday Night ones. Not a one about this passage, of that I am positive, I would have remembered it. Telling any women she might be guilty of being a busybody and a gossip would simply be committing spiritual suicide. I do not thing she would ever listen to another message from those same lips. I could be so dead wrong about that, and I am sure I just might have stepped off the plank into some really deep waters myself. Maybe I should used backspace or delete and start over, but I cannot for it is what the word declares are the dangers which face younger widows and in fact some have falling to those temptations. Was that just for those of that time in that place or is the word eternally true for all generations and locations? The answer, for me anyway, is yes it is true for both. So I leave it at that, except knowing this truth, and never hearing a message about it, do I have the responsibility to prepare one for when I preach? That is a question I need an answer from the Holy Spirit. I dare not approach this in the flesh at all. I dare not open my mouth about anything of this truth unless I have an absolute go ahead from the Spirit, for I fear I would be tarred and feathered otherwise, much as I have been when I preach or teach about believers investing in companies which promote nothing less than the work of Satan. Once more I am in the deep here and I better just leave well enough alone. Let the widows read this truth in the word and be sensitive to the Spirit. For now I better be silent.

Spirit Lead

DEVOTION
1 TIMOTHY
SPIRIT LEAD
1 Tim 5:9-10
9 No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, 10 and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.
NIV
I am not going to get involved in this one, enough said right there. I would only be getting myself into a lot of trouble if any widow ever read my thoughts about what this is all about and how it relates to the post modern church. It certainly has not a single thing to do with my life and relationship with my Lord and Savior. Now there might be one exception, one thing which relates to me. I could be part of the group, or I could be the one, at least in my life who determines if a widow should be on the list or not. That sure seems to be the main concern here as to whether a widow should or should not be on a list that is used the purpose of deeming them in real need. It would appear a judgment should be made before offering assistance to a widow. Again I am not going to delve into these requirements except to say, maybe I should not be so available to assist unless I have seen these standards being met by the widow asking for help. If a widow is self centered, not being involved within the body of Christ, not serving in some capacity, doing what she can for others, than perhaps she is not in real need and should not be on the list. No, I am not going to start down that path. I have to stick to my responsibilities here. I am to help and assist those widows who are in real need, and who have lived and are living according to these standards. But what about those widows who appear to be in real need and have not and are not living up to these standards? How do I deal with that? Do I refuse to help them? How can I do that? How can I simply tell them no, you are not on the list. That does not sound Christ-like, yet this is the word of God and he has placed standards for widows to live by in order for them to be cared for by other members of the body. It is perplexing at best. I would really not want to refuse to help when asked, and I certainly would not ask them all these questions about their lives and then tell them based on the evidence you are not on the list and I should not be helping you. And again, what about older woman who were divorced and are not widows? Should they be meeting these standards in order to receive assistance? I think here is where I need to rely on the leading of the Spirit. I need to simply rely on him telling me who and when to be a help to. He is in charge of all of this, I must be Spirit lead.