2 Timothy 2 9/8/14

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

Thoughts: Paul is concerned that his teaching lives on.  It will live on in mulitple generations as follows: 
1) Paul who taught
2) Timothy- who was encouraged to be strong.
3) Reliable people- who Timothy teaches
4) Others whom Timothy teaches 

Discipleship is reproducing what you know as a disciple in others.  This is bearing fruit, and multiplying the faith.  But none of it would happen if Timothy was weak and forgot the grace of Christ which makes us strong.  

Prayer: Multiply the faith of the ages through me, Lord.  Help me to have a desire to reproduce the faith I have been taught in others who can teach others. 

9/7/14- Face to Face

3I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5I am 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. (2 Timothy 1)

Thoughts: Paul is speaking of how we got the faith.  He had it handed down to him from his ancestors while Timothy received his from his mother Eunice and grandmother, Lois.  Timothy's father was a Greek and probably a pagan.  But Timothy was one of the great saints, and a great friend of Paul.  So today, only one parent's faith is necessary for baptism of a child in most churches that baptize or dedicate children.  But we should not discount the importance of the opportunity and ability of passing faith onto our children.  
       Paul says he longs to see his face.  In our day of virtual presence, it is still important to see in our face. Bonhoeffer in his book "Life Together" notes the different kinds of fellowship- such as receiving of a letter.  Today we might add an email from a missionary far away; or a facebook message/twitter/text.  But even when Paul writes he still longs to see his friend face to face.  Moses knew God but he still wanted to see his face.  John that Apostle, wanted to see his "children in the faith" face to face and not just with paper and ink. There is something about seeing another's face that is encouraging.  A Christian in exile or isolated is encouraged by the face of another believer.  Worship and physical presence is important.  

Prayer: Lord, I long to see you.  But I also long for your people who embody your love and presence.   

9/6/14- Contentment vs Greed

6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.9Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10For 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. (1 Tim. 6)

Thoughts: The other day in a meeting I misquoted this verse, saying "money is the roots of all kinds of evil."  But it is "the love of money."  Money is not the problem, but it is the ability to have peace whether you have money or not that is the problem. Jesus said it like this, "You cannot serve two masters: God and money."  We get contentment by trusting that God will provide daily bread and by being generous ourselves to those in need.  The goal in life is not money or things- that is greed, and it is never filled. The goal in life is being able to have peace- no matter how much you have.  If you lots of money but you are miserable, what will it value you? 

Prayer: Lord, strengthen my heart. Give me the grace to be content with my lot and what you give me. 

9/5/14- 1 Timothy 5

1Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. (1 Timothy 5)

Thoughts: How are you supposed to treat people?  Have you ever seen an adult child letting their older adult father have it for forgetting so much? Have you seen people treat each other coldly and suspiciously.  This says to treat people as family- with warmth and grace.  Older men may irritate us, but we are to treat them as our own father.  

Prayer: Help me to treat others with kindness and as family.  You treat me, Lord, far better than I deserve. 

9/4/14- 1 Timothy 4

1The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. 4For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. (1 Timothy 4)

Thoughts: This is similar to a statement in 2 Timothy 3:1 "But mark this: There will be terrible time in the last days.  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control... This passage differs in the sins of the last days.  The 2 Timothy passage points out lack of self control, and this points to a reaction to this- a legalistic over-control.  Often the two go together.  In morally lapsing times, some act like animals and in reaction others act prudish.  Grace works somewhere in between.  Grace allows us to see goodness in creation and to live a grateful life. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to be thankful for your gifts in life- love, food, life and truth.  

1 Timothy 3

1Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full^a respect. 5(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

8In the same way, deacons^b are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. (1 Timothy 3)

Thoughts: The standards for elders and deacons recorded in scripture not only tells us what important standards were then, but what our standards should be as well.  The standards for leaders are understandably a bit higher than the lay person.  Yet these leadership positions are a noble task.  The elder and deacon were called to be faithful, holy and loving people.  The church was to make sure each person was worthy of the office before they could serve.  

Prayer: Lord, let me walk in your path.  As a leader, help me to set a shining example for your glory.  

9/2/14- 1 Timothy 2

1I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.(1 Timothy 2:1-3)

Thoughts: We are to pray for everyone.  The idea expressed in the phrase "He hasn't got a prayer" is false.  Everyone has a prayer.  We are specifically urged to pray for political rulers.  We are to ask God to use them in specific ways (petitions), to pray for their welfare (intercession), and to pray with thanksgiving that they are in a position to help glorify God.  We ask that we would be able to live peaceful and quiet lives- meaning- no persecution.  Paul gets even more specific about these rulers saying that God wants all people- including politicians- to be saved.  So pray for the salvation of our political leaders. 

Prayer: Lord, bless my local, county, state, and federal officials.  Grant them wisdom to help our world have more peace, and that the Gospel would be able to go forward.