1 Timothy 6:6-8 "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content."
There are many different combinations here that Paul could have laid out and called "great gain". However, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, this verse specifically lists godliness and contentment. In context, we see that contentment is in reference to our material, physical wealth (or lack thereof).
This begs the question - what happens if you have godliness without contentment? You are striving to live in a way that models God and His character, yet you are striving, wanting more and more earthly stuff just for the sake of having earthly stuff. These two things cannot coexist.
Or what happens when you have contentment but no godliness? The answer here should be pretty obvious. We are called to be holy as He is holy, therefore Christians by definition ought to be walking in godliness.
The goal ought to be godliness (living in accordance with God's character) with contentment (a satisfaction with the necessities of food and raiment). Do these 2 words describe my life?
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
Thursday, November 15, 2018
Zealous of Good Works
Titus 2:13-14 "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."
Jesus coming to earth was not just to save us from Hell and damnation. Although that was certainly part of it, God takes it way past mercy and pours out His grace on us too. The mercy and grace of God didn't just save us from something bad, but they also saved us to and for something good.
By "something good" I'm referring to the good works that the Bible is always talking about. When people start talking about good works, a lot of Christians will get defensive and pull out Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
These are beautiful, 100% true verses. However, Paul continues in verse 10: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
After our transformative salvation, God has a plan for us. Something that He has saved us to and for. He has a specific plan for our time on this earth. That plan involves us being zealously doing good works.
What good works am I going to do today? Do I fully understand my complete salvation, that works do not save, but are rather a way to express my love and gratitude to God?
Jesus coming to earth was not just to save us from Hell and damnation. Although that was certainly part of it, God takes it way past mercy and pours out His grace on us too. The mercy and grace of God didn't just save us from something bad, but they also saved us to and for something good.
By "something good" I'm referring to the good works that the Bible is always talking about. When people start talking about good works, a lot of Christians will get defensive and pull out Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
These are beautiful, 100% true verses. However, Paul continues in verse 10: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
After our transformative salvation, God has a plan for us. Something that He has saved us to and for. He has a specific plan for our time on this earth. That plan involves us being zealously doing good works.
What good works am I going to do today? Do I fully understand my complete salvation, that works do not save, but are rather a way to express my love and gratitude to God?
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Flee, Follow
1 Timothy 2:22 "Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart."
The Bible often speaks of putting off bad things. However, it rarely stops there. Typically, it goes on to give us something to replace the old with. We put off the old man and put on the new man. Here, we flee mouthful lusts, but we don't just run away from the bad, we run toward the good. We run toward righteousness, faith, love, peace, and fellowship with those who are seeking God.
It is interesting too that we "flee" youthful lusts but we "follow" the good things. That implies that those lusts will chase us down, trying to destroy. However, these good things of God are there to lead us somewhere. They will lead us to a strong relationship with our Heavenly Father and with fellow believers.
Am I allowing youthful lusts to chase me down? Or am I fleeing in the opposite direction? Do righteousness, faith, love, peace, and fellowship with other sincere believers define my life?
The Bible often speaks of putting off bad things. However, it rarely stops there. Typically, it goes on to give us something to replace the old with. We put off the old man and put on the new man. Here, we flee mouthful lusts, but we don't just run away from the bad, we run toward the good. We run toward righteousness, faith, love, peace, and fellowship with those who are seeking God.
It is interesting too that we "flee" youthful lusts but we "follow" the good things. That implies that those lusts will chase us down, trying to destroy. However, these good things of God are there to lead us somewhere. They will lead us to a strong relationship with our Heavenly Father and with fellow believers.
Am I allowing youthful lusts to chase me down? Or am I fleeing in the opposite direction? Do righteousness, faith, love, peace, and fellowship with other sincere believers define my life?
Monday, October 29, 2018
Grace Strong
2 Timothy 2:1 "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."
Paul could have admonished Timothy to be strong in a lot of different things. He could have told him to be strong in the strength of Christ Jesus. Or he could have told him to be strong in the power of Christ Jesus. However, Paul very specifically tells Timothy that the strength he needs is going to be found in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
Paul knew that hard times were coming for young Timothy. That he would need the power of God working in him in order to get through. Paul also knew that the strength Timothy would need could only come from one place - the grace, the good will, loving-kindness, and favor of Christ Jesus.
Why is that? What is it about grace that gives us strength more than the dozens of other words that Paul could have used?
Paul could have admonished Timothy to be strong in a lot of different things. He could have told him to be strong in the strength of Christ Jesus. Or he could have told him to be strong in the power of Christ Jesus. However, Paul very specifically tells Timothy that the strength he needs is going to be found in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
Paul knew that hard times were coming for young Timothy. That he would need the power of God working in him in order to get through. Paul also knew that the strength Timothy would need could only come from one place - the grace, the good will, loving-kindness, and favor of Christ Jesus.
Why is that? What is it about grace that gives us strength more than the dozens of other words that Paul could have used?
Imagine, serving an all powerful monarch here on earth. This monarch has given us a job to do, a job that will be hard and require much strength. But we know that we have the good will, loving-kindness, and favor of this monarch. If that was the case, how much strength, both literally and figuratively, do you think that would give you as a loyal servant of that king?
We serve the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is pouring out His grace on us. How can I find strength in that grace today?
Friday, September 28, 2018
Partaker
2 Timothy 1:8 "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;"
When it comes to affliction, our natural tendency is to avoid it at all costs. We want to find an easier way, a way that won't hurt, that won't cost us anything. And yet, that is exactly opposite of what we are called to as Christians.
As far as we know, at that time, Timothy was not suffering active persecution. Paul, on the other hand, was writing this from a prison, locked up in chains. All because of his faith. Being a partaker of the afflictions does not just mean that we acknowledge that someone else is being afflicted. It literally means "to suffer hardship together with one, in company with." And the end goal is the furtherance of the Gospel.
Paul wasn't telling Timothy to do this because he wanted pity. No, he knew that if we are the body of Christ here on earth, then each part ought to be connected to the other. You know when you stub your toe and your whole body automatically cares for that part of you. God wants the same for His church, His body here on earth. When one is suffering affliction, we ought to be suffering together as one.
What would it look like for you to suffer as one with fellow believers who are persecuted?
When it comes to affliction, our natural tendency is to avoid it at all costs. We want to find an easier way, a way that won't hurt, that won't cost us anything. And yet, that is exactly opposite of what we are called to as Christians.
As far as we know, at that time, Timothy was not suffering active persecution. Paul, on the other hand, was writing this from a prison, locked up in chains. All because of his faith. Being a partaker of the afflictions does not just mean that we acknowledge that someone else is being afflicted. It literally means "to suffer hardship together with one, in company with." And the end goal is the furtherance of the Gospel.
Paul wasn't telling Timothy to do this because he wanted pity. No, he knew that if we are the body of Christ here on earth, then each part ought to be connected to the other. You know when you stub your toe and your whole body automatically cares for that part of you. God wants the same for His church, His body here on earth. When one is suffering affliction, we ought to be suffering together as one.
What would it look like for you to suffer as one with fellow believers who are persecuted?
Thursday, September 27, 2018
Power, Love, Self-Control
2 Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
This is one of those verses that becomes so well-known and, sadly, as a result, loses a lot of its meaning and impact. First of all, we see that God is the One giving giving here. These positive character traits are not things we work up on own. We also see that God does not give us a spirit of fear which means that if we have it, it is coming from someplace other than God - either our sinful flesh or from our enemy the devil.
Second, most of us understand the spirit of love and the spirit of power, however what is the spirit of a sound mind? The words "sound mind" mean "discipline, self-control". It has the idea of curbing or controlling, holding oneself to one's duty.
Power, love, and self-control. Put the three together and you have one powerful combination. Am I walking in the spirit of power? Is what I do beyond my own power? Am I walking in the spirit of love? Am I sacrificially giving, living a life that demonstrates the love of Christ to all I'm around? Am I walking in the spirit of a sound mind? Do I allow the law of God to control my actions, thoughts, and words? Am I holding myself to my duty?
This is one of those verses that becomes so well-known and, sadly, as a result, loses a lot of its meaning and impact. First of all, we see that God is the One giving giving here. These positive character traits are not things we work up on own. We also see that God does not give us a spirit of fear which means that if we have it, it is coming from someplace other than God - either our sinful flesh or from our enemy the devil.
Second, most of us understand the spirit of love and the spirit of power, however what is the spirit of a sound mind? The words "sound mind" mean "discipline, self-control". It has the idea of curbing or controlling, holding oneself to one's duty.
Power, love, and self-control. Put the three together and you have one powerful combination. Am I walking in the spirit of power? Is what I do beyond my own power? Am I walking in the spirit of love? Am I sacrificially giving, living a life that demonstrates the love of Christ to all I'm around? Am I walking in the spirit of a sound mind? Do I allow the law of God to control my actions, thoughts, and words? Am I holding myself to my duty?
Monday, September 24, 2018
Neglect Not The Gift
1 Timothy 4:14 "Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery."
A gift, generally speaking, has some sort of value. A gift that has come from God, definitely has more than value, it has purpose. Timothy had a gift, one that Paul knew had the potential to either change the world, or to remain untouched, neglected, ignored.
We know Timothy when on to be a great teacher and preacher, spreading the Gospel of Christ far and wide. From everything we know, it appears that Timothy wisely heeded Paul's advice here, taking what God gave him and putting it to good use. But perhaps that wouldn't have happened, or else it wouldn't have happened as effectively, if Timothy had not had his gift pointed out to him. Unless we look, it can be hard to spot our gift. Sometimes it takes an outside perspective to see where God has truly gifted us.
What is your gift that the world needs you to not neglect? What is that special thing that God has given you, maybe an ability, maybe a strong character trait, that the world would be worse off if you kept it hidden away? And how can you employ that in furthering God's Kingdom today?
A gift, generally speaking, has some sort of value. A gift that has come from God, definitely has more than value, it has purpose. Timothy had a gift, one that Paul knew had the potential to either change the world, or to remain untouched, neglected, ignored.
We know Timothy when on to be a great teacher and preacher, spreading the Gospel of Christ far and wide. From everything we know, it appears that Timothy wisely heeded Paul's advice here, taking what God gave him and putting it to good use. But perhaps that wouldn't have happened, or else it wouldn't have happened as effectively, if Timothy had not had his gift pointed out to him. Unless we look, it can be hard to spot our gift. Sometimes it takes an outside perspective to see where God has truly gifted us.
What is your gift that the world needs you to not neglect? What is that special thing that God has given you, maybe an ability, maybe a strong character trait, that the world would be worse off if you kept it hidden away? And how can you employ that in furthering God's Kingdom today?
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