DEVOTION
1 TIMOTHY
NO OTHER WAY
1 Tim 1:15-17
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
NIV
I cannot imagine why I would not be considered the worst of sinners instead of Paul. Maybe we all are the worst of sinners, that I do not know, but I know who I am. I also know God has done an incredible amount of work in me and still has a very large amount to do still. I am not sure if he will ever be done working in my life. I certainly know I too have been shown mercy. Maybe I do not talk about the heinousness of my sinful life before becoming a believer. Maybe I need to in order for people to see how Christ has displayed his unlimited patience in me so I might be an example for others who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Not that I am perfect now, not at all, I still have struggles with that ugly old self who fights and battles for the control of my life. I am still in need of his unlimited patience. But then of what value would that patience be if I had attained perfection? Of what value would the cross be if I would be able to be completely free of sin, in either word, thought or deed? I cannot imagine anyone actually believing they have stopped sinning. I can imagine being free from sin, but that is only in my imagination, for the reality is quite different. I want to stop being or doing certain ways and things, but I cannot, and I do desire to do certain things and be a certain way, but I am not. I understand what Paul was talking about in Romans 7. I relate to being the worst of sinners, both then and maybe even still now. How can any sin not be the worst offence to God no matter how trivial I might think it to be? But even with that still working against me, God has shown me mercy, he has an unlimited patience with me, and his grace abounds toward me in that I still am considered or rendered innocent because of the blood of Christ. At times I just have a difficult time grasping that truth, but it is still the truth and I know I have to simply accept it as such and be forever grateful for it of which I am. I know for one thing I have absolutely no problem at all acknowledging that God is the eternal King and that he is immortal, invisible and the only one true God. I have absolutely given and will always give him all the honor and all the glory forever and ever. It can be no other way.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
In His Service
DEVOTION
1 TIMOTHY
IN HIS SERVICE
1 Tim 1:12-14
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Although I have dealt with portions of this passage yesterday I still feel I must comment in my heart regarding the first few words. Now again I have not been appointed to such a heavy task as Paul had but still I cannot help feel that all who have been brought into the glories light by the love of God have also been called to some form of service as well. They can be no useless appendage on or in the body of Christ; all must serve the rest in some capacity. This, of course, means I too have been called to a task, one which I have to skill, talent or training. Therefore I am left with no course but to thank my Lord Jesus Christ who has given me the strength and that he even considered me faithful in appointing me to his service. Without his guidance I would be lost as what to do, how to do it. I am always totally amazed in that choose to appoint me to service in both the written and spoken communication to others. Both my vocabulary and grammar are so lacking. My verbal skills are all due to God, because it is surely not because of me. Yet here I am being used by God to share messages of truth from his word. It is beyond my wildest thoughts that I would have ever been called to service in that capacity. Yet I know it is because he knew I would always give him the credit for anything I have done, always telling people I thank him for what he has done for me, in me and is doing through me. I know that sounds like a broken record, but how else can I continue to give him the thanks for the strength, for what he has enabled me to do. I know many believers I know are serving within the body using their skills learned through worldly education. I suppose that is fine. Perhaps that is how God has ordained it, I have no idea and thus I cannot say. He works is each and every person a different way. But I also know that each and every must be about serving out Lord in some way, either through the knowledge they have gained or through the enabling power of God alone. I do think many serve with God given natural talent, which they have had all their lives. It was not that way for me. God decided to not use my own talents I leaned toward, but to expressly direct me in a path of service in which I have absolutely no abilities or had any leaning toward at all. Yet I am extremely thankful for being able to serve, to be in his service.
1 TIMOTHY
IN HIS SERVICE
1 Tim 1:12-14
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Although I have dealt with portions of this passage yesterday I still feel I must comment in my heart regarding the first few words. Now again I have not been appointed to such a heavy task as Paul had but still I cannot help feel that all who have been brought into the glories light by the love of God have also been called to some form of service as well. They can be no useless appendage on or in the body of Christ; all must serve the rest in some capacity. This, of course, means I too have been called to a task, one which I have to skill, talent or training. Therefore I am left with no course but to thank my Lord Jesus Christ who has given me the strength and that he even considered me faithful in appointing me to his service. Without his guidance I would be lost as what to do, how to do it. I am always totally amazed in that choose to appoint me to service in both the written and spoken communication to others. Both my vocabulary and grammar are so lacking. My verbal skills are all due to God, because it is surely not because of me. Yet here I am being used by God to share messages of truth from his word. It is beyond my wildest thoughts that I would have ever been called to service in that capacity. Yet I know it is because he knew I would always give him the credit for anything I have done, always telling people I thank him for what he has done for me, in me and is doing through me. I know that sounds like a broken record, but how else can I continue to give him the thanks for the strength, for what he has enabled me to do. I know many believers I know are serving within the body using their skills learned through worldly education. I suppose that is fine. Perhaps that is how God has ordained it, I have no idea and thus I cannot say. He works is each and every person a different way. But I also know that each and every must be about serving out Lord in some way, either through the knowledge they have gained or through the enabling power of God alone. I do think many serve with God given natural talent, which they have had all their lives. It was not that way for me. God decided to not use my own talents I leaned toward, but to expressly direct me in a path of service in which I have absolutely no abilities or had any leaning toward at all. Yet I am extremely thankful for being able to serve, to be in his service.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
God is Good
DEVOTION
1 TIMOTHY
GOD IS GOOD
1 Tim 1:12-14
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
NIV
Who can say they were never once a blasphemer and a persecutor including being a violent person? I certainly cannot say it. I wonder if those who were born into a believing household or raised as a child in one, such as my daughters, who accepted Christ at such a young age, believe they were never once such as Paul describes he was. It seems everyone must admit being a sinner because God declares we all are. But I think I was more than just a sinner. I hated God and all organized religions. I promoted hatred toward them by telling people all they ever want is your money. They are all phonies. In reflection I was also a violent man, filled with pain, emotional scares, and a temperament unlike anything I ever want again. I too was sworn mercy and it must have been because I too acted in ignorance and unbelief. I did not know anything about God actually; I had never read one of his words. Oh as a very small child I was taken to Sunday school, and sang those little children songs about Jesus loves me and such, but that was soon overridden by the life that followed. I am so thankful God was able to break through the barriers I had set up around me to protect myself. I am extremely thankful for all the grace he has poured out upon me and done so abundantly. He has acted so graciously toward me consider all I did against him and his name. I am convinced had he not intervened when he did, I would be dead now and would not have had eternal life, but rather I would have perished. I am overwhelmed by his action in influencing my heart, working in my life, keeping me safe, providing for me is so many ways and simply always being there with me. I cannot explain why I have so much faith in him other than it is from him and his influence upon me. It is so comforting to know that he loves me so much. There are times when it is difficult to comprehend his love considering how evil I was. But I am in his love now and was also in it even in my sinful condition. All I can say it God is good all the time, and all the time God is good.
1 TIMOTHY
GOD IS GOOD
1 Tim 1:12-14
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
NIV
Who can say they were never once a blasphemer and a persecutor including being a violent person? I certainly cannot say it. I wonder if those who were born into a believing household or raised as a child in one, such as my daughters, who accepted Christ at such a young age, believe they were never once such as Paul describes he was. It seems everyone must admit being a sinner because God declares we all are. But I think I was more than just a sinner. I hated God and all organized religions. I promoted hatred toward them by telling people all they ever want is your money. They are all phonies. In reflection I was also a violent man, filled with pain, emotional scares, and a temperament unlike anything I ever want again. I too was sworn mercy and it must have been because I too acted in ignorance and unbelief. I did not know anything about God actually; I had never read one of his words. Oh as a very small child I was taken to Sunday school, and sang those little children songs about Jesus loves me and such, but that was soon overridden by the life that followed. I am so thankful God was able to break through the barriers I had set up around me to protect myself. I am extremely thankful for all the grace he has poured out upon me and done so abundantly. He has acted so graciously toward me consider all I did against him and his name. I am convinced had he not intervened when he did, I would be dead now and would not have had eternal life, but rather I would have perished. I am overwhelmed by his action in influencing my heart, working in my life, keeping me safe, providing for me is so many ways and simply always being there with me. I cannot explain why I have so much faith in him other than it is from him and his influence upon me. It is so comforting to know that he loves me so much. There are times when it is difficult to comprehend his love considering how evil I was. But I am in his love now and was also in it even in my sinful condition. All I can say it God is good all the time, and all the time God is good.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Sound
DEVOTION
1 TIMOTHY
SOUND
1 Tim 1:8-11
8 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9 We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers — and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11 that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
NIV
It is very clear that once I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior I was freed from the bondage of the law. It is not meant for me anymore. It has no hold over me nor am I to be judged by it in anyway by God. He established it to show his people they could not ever fulfill it and thus were in desperate need of his salvation based not on their abilities to do good works by trying to keep the law, but by faith in him. That is the whole purpose of the law. It is still in action working in the lives of all those who commit those acts listed plus much more in our modern times. It stands in judgment of them for they cannot ever be perfect within themselves and if they believe in their own abilities to be right, they fail and are therefore lawbreakers and doomed to destruction. But I do not have anything to fear from God. I do not have to worry about the law, because I am in Jesus and he in me thus through him I have already fulfilled the law and am under grace because of my faith in God and God alone for my righteousness. That is as sound a doctrine as anything will ever be. That is the only sound doctrine which exists. Salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ and not of works of any kind. Now of course I work trying to do my part, to follow my calling, to use the gifts God has bestowed upon me. I do whatever he leads me to do, at whatever the cost happens to be. Am I always on the top of my game? I think not, but I am trying to be worthy of my calling. Doing works out of my love for him, not because I believe it will have any bearing on my gaining eternal life. I think those works can become such a focus that some people, some believers lose they way in the works and forget about the free gift of God through faith in Jesus Christ. I pray I never travel that road but always remain faithful to the sound doctrine of salvation through faith in Christ and that alone. I am so keenly aware I can never fulfill the law completely and if I ever thought I could I would be guilty of spiritual pride and thus be a lawbreaker and so I would still be guilty of all the law. For me, there is only one way, his way, and that is pretty sound to me.
1 TIMOTHY
SOUND
1 Tim 1:8-11
8 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9 We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers — and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11 that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
NIV
It is very clear that once I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior I was freed from the bondage of the law. It is not meant for me anymore. It has no hold over me nor am I to be judged by it in anyway by God. He established it to show his people they could not ever fulfill it and thus were in desperate need of his salvation based not on their abilities to do good works by trying to keep the law, but by faith in him. That is the whole purpose of the law. It is still in action working in the lives of all those who commit those acts listed plus much more in our modern times. It stands in judgment of them for they cannot ever be perfect within themselves and if they believe in their own abilities to be right, they fail and are therefore lawbreakers and doomed to destruction. But I do not have anything to fear from God. I do not have to worry about the law, because I am in Jesus and he in me thus through him I have already fulfilled the law and am under grace because of my faith in God and God alone for my righteousness. That is as sound a doctrine as anything will ever be. That is the only sound doctrine which exists. Salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ and not of works of any kind. Now of course I work trying to do my part, to follow my calling, to use the gifts God has bestowed upon me. I do whatever he leads me to do, at whatever the cost happens to be. Am I always on the top of my game? I think not, but I am trying to be worthy of my calling. Doing works out of my love for him, not because I believe it will have any bearing on my gaining eternal life. I think those works can become such a focus that some people, some believers lose they way in the works and forget about the free gift of God through faith in Jesus Christ. I pray I never travel that road but always remain faithful to the sound doctrine of salvation through faith in Christ and that alone. I am so keenly aware I can never fulfill the law completely and if I ever thought I could I would be guilty of spiritual pride and thus be a lawbreaker and so I would still be guilty of all the law. For me, there is only one way, his way, and that is pretty sound to me.
Sound
DEVOTION
1 TIMOTHY
SOUND
1 Tim 1:8-11
8 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9 We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers — and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11 that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
NIV
It is very clear that once I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior I was freed from the bondage of the law. It is not meant for me anymore. It has no hold over me nor am I to be judged by it in anyway by God. He established it to show his people they could not ever fulfill it and thus were in desperate need of his salvation based not on their abilities to do good works by trying to keep the law, but by faith in him. That is the whole purpose of the law. It is still in action working in the lives of all those who commit those acts listed plus much more in our modern times. It stands in judgment of them for they cannot ever be perfect within themselves and if they believe in their own abilities to be right, they fail and are therefore lawbreakers and doomed to destruction. But I do not have anything to fear from God. I do not have to worry about the law, because I am in Jesus and he in me thus through him I have already fulfilled the law and am under grace because of my faith in God and God alone for my righteousness. That is as sound a doctrine as anything will ever be. That is the only sound doctrine which exists. Salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ and not of works of any kind. Now of course I work trying to do my part, to follow my calling, to use the gifts God has bestowed upon me. I do whatever he leads me to do, at whatever the cost happens to be. Am I always on the top of my game? I think not, but I am trying to be worthy of my calling. Doing works out of my love for him, not because I believe it will have any bearing on my gaining eternal life. I think those works can become such a focus that some people, some believers lose they way in the works and forget about the free gift of God through faith in Jesus Christ. I pray I never travel that road but always remain faithful to the sound doctrine of salvation through faith in Christ and that alone. I am so keenly aware I can never fulfill the law completely and if I ever thought I could I would be guilty of spiritual pride and thus be a lawbreaker and so I would still be guilty of all the law. For me, there is only one way, his way, and that is pretty sound to me.
1 TIMOTHY
SOUND
1 Tim 1:8-11
8 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9 We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers — and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11 that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
NIV
It is very clear that once I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior I was freed from the bondage of the law. It is not meant for me anymore. It has no hold over me nor am I to be judged by it in anyway by God. He established it to show his people they could not ever fulfill it and thus were in desperate need of his salvation based not on their abilities to do good works by trying to keep the law, but by faith in him. That is the whole purpose of the law. It is still in action working in the lives of all those who commit those acts listed plus much more in our modern times. It stands in judgment of them for they cannot ever be perfect within themselves and if they believe in their own abilities to be right, they fail and are therefore lawbreakers and doomed to destruction. But I do not have anything to fear from God. I do not have to worry about the law, because I am in Jesus and he in me thus through him I have already fulfilled the law and am under grace because of my faith in God and God alone for my righteousness. That is as sound a doctrine as anything will ever be. That is the only sound doctrine which exists. Salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ and not of works of any kind. Now of course I work trying to do my part, to follow my calling, to use the gifts God has bestowed upon me. I do whatever he leads me to do, at whatever the cost happens to be. Am I always on the top of my game? I think not, but I am trying to be worthy of my calling. Doing works out of my love for him, not because I believe it will have any bearing on my gaining eternal life. I think those works can become such a focus that some people, some believers lose they way in the works and forget about the free gift of God through faith in Jesus Christ. I pray I never travel that road but always remain faithful to the sound doctrine of salvation through faith in Christ and that alone. I am so keenly aware I can never fulfill the law completely and if I ever thought I could I would be guilty of spiritual pride and thus be a lawbreaker and so I would still be guilty of all the law. For me, there is only one way, his way, and that is pretty sound to me.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Decided
DEVOTION
1 TIMOTHY
DECIDED
1 Tim 1:4-7
5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.
NIV
How else could I ever love anyone if I did not have a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith? I am sure love can be motivated by something else but I do not know what kind of love that is. I do believe love is a decision rather than a feeling, I remember pastor T always saying that you do not fall in love, you fall in the mud. I think that is true and that is love has to be decided upon based on my relationship with my Lord. This love which is used here is the love feast type, the agapeo love, a mutual love between brothers and sisters in Christ no matter what kind of earthy material wealth or lack of each have. This has to come from a pure heart for I fear otherwise it may be used to manipulate those with less to do for those with more. I think these are those who have wandered away and turned to meaningless talk. These words such and do cause me to be introspective to make sure I love from a pure heart, a heart free from a corrupt desire and from sin and guilt. This can only be due to Christ. I have no personal agenda in my love for my fellow believers. I think all I desire is to love them because it demonstrates Jesus. I fail all too often in this type of love. I think I get catch up in thinking about myself more than I should. Is it enough just to say I love you to someone else or must it be accompanied by action? If so, what kind of action? Is it simply following all the description of love from 1 Corinthians 13? That certainly would be a great starting point and it is more about my inner being and how I act and react in my relationship with others rather than what I physically do. I can see all those needing a pure heart and a good conscience alone with a sincere faith. If I am feeling guilt and shame over my failing to live up to the standard of God, how could I love others? If I am simply talking the walk, living a hypocritical live, then I cannot love others the way I should. It is simply yet it is so complex. It is so complex yet it is so simply. I have to be a man of extreme caution in my relationship with all others, always being on guard for that old self creeping in and wanting his own ways rather than Christ’s. This lifestyle, being a Christian is a thinking man’s life, not a feeling man’s life. If I have decided to follow Jesus, than I have decided to love others as well. I have decided.
1 TIMOTHY
DECIDED
1 Tim 1:4-7
5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.
NIV
How else could I ever love anyone if I did not have a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith? I am sure love can be motivated by something else but I do not know what kind of love that is. I do believe love is a decision rather than a feeling, I remember pastor T always saying that you do not fall in love, you fall in the mud. I think that is true and that is love has to be decided upon based on my relationship with my Lord. This love which is used here is the love feast type, the agapeo love, a mutual love between brothers and sisters in Christ no matter what kind of earthy material wealth or lack of each have. This has to come from a pure heart for I fear otherwise it may be used to manipulate those with less to do for those with more. I think these are those who have wandered away and turned to meaningless talk. These words such and do cause me to be introspective to make sure I love from a pure heart, a heart free from a corrupt desire and from sin and guilt. This can only be due to Christ. I have no personal agenda in my love for my fellow believers. I think all I desire is to love them because it demonstrates Jesus. I fail all too often in this type of love. I think I get catch up in thinking about myself more than I should. Is it enough just to say I love you to someone else or must it be accompanied by action? If so, what kind of action? Is it simply following all the description of love from 1 Corinthians 13? That certainly would be a great starting point and it is more about my inner being and how I act and react in my relationship with others rather than what I physically do. I can see all those needing a pure heart and a good conscience alone with a sincere faith. If I am feeling guilt and shame over my failing to live up to the standard of God, how could I love others? If I am simply talking the walk, living a hypocritical live, then I cannot love others the way I should. It is simply yet it is so complex. It is so complex yet it is so simply. I have to be a man of extreme caution in my relationship with all others, always being on guard for that old self creeping in and wanting his own ways rather than Christ’s. This lifestyle, being a Christian is a thinking man’s life, not a feeling man’s life. If I have decided to follow Jesus, than I have decided to love others as well. I have decided.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Have Faith
DEVOTION
1 TIMOTHY
HAVE FAITH
1 Tim 1:3-5
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work — which is by faith.
NIV
Although I believe it is quite possible to prove the correctness of God words through history and science it simply is of no value. To argue over all the details of historical facts as declared by God is absolutely foolish. It has to be the opposite of faith. What is wrong with believing because God said it? Oh those I know who do not believe make a big deal over the myth that man wrote the bible. Of course they don’t believe it is a myth. They believe men just wrote these words without the divine guidance or inspiration of God. How wrong is that? But I think I need to deal with issues within rather than without. In doing so, I have to admit I cannot tolerate people who spread false doctrines. I know that may not be right in the sense of being tolerate of them, but all it does it create arguments about God’s word and thus his work according to this statement. I have to believe that is true for I have seen it with my own eyes. But how do I command them to stop that false teaching? Is it acceptable for me to simply tell them they are wrong and I am right? Of what value is it to get into discussions about certain rules and regulations or interpretations which some denominations believe are for today and some do not? All such things cause divisions within the whole body of Christ, unless of course, some denominations believe they are the only body of Christ and the rest of us are just wrong and thus outside the body. I hate all that divisive stuff. I know I am on the right track because I believe God and all he said as he said it. If people call be a fundamentalist so be it. If people call me foolish for believing all that God said, so be it. I am not going to argue about his word with anyone. The fact is I believe God and that is that. In his word and his word alone, I have faith.
1 TIMOTHY
HAVE FAITH
1 Tim 1:3-5
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work — which is by faith.
NIV
Although I believe it is quite possible to prove the correctness of God words through history and science it simply is of no value. To argue over all the details of historical facts as declared by God is absolutely foolish. It has to be the opposite of faith. What is wrong with believing because God said it? Oh those I know who do not believe make a big deal over the myth that man wrote the bible. Of course they don’t believe it is a myth. They believe men just wrote these words without the divine guidance or inspiration of God. How wrong is that? But I think I need to deal with issues within rather than without. In doing so, I have to admit I cannot tolerate people who spread false doctrines. I know that may not be right in the sense of being tolerate of them, but all it does it create arguments about God’s word and thus his work according to this statement. I have to believe that is true for I have seen it with my own eyes. But how do I command them to stop that false teaching? Is it acceptable for me to simply tell them they are wrong and I am right? Of what value is it to get into discussions about certain rules and regulations or interpretations which some denominations believe are for today and some do not? All such things cause divisions within the whole body of Christ, unless of course, some denominations believe they are the only body of Christ and the rest of us are just wrong and thus outside the body. I hate all that divisive stuff. I know I am on the right track because I believe God and all he said as he said it. If people call be a fundamentalist so be it. If people call me foolish for believing all that God said, so be it. I am not going to argue about his word with anyone. The fact is I believe God and that is that. In his word and his word alone, I have faith.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)