Good Soldiers of Christ

2 Timothy 2:1-26

Hmm, I didn't know what we were going to read according to this title, but the beginning of Paul's second letter to Timothy has my attention. This admonition to stick to the proscribed rules and not to be sidetracked by other things and ideas. This is similar to what he said yesterday, using slightly different examples.

"No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him." 

Again this entreaty to avoid "irreverent babble." Sometimes people just need to keep their mouths closed. This is more than just keeping quiet though, in this I think Paul is trying keep us from getting distracted or distracting others. And more than that, talking in ways that are contrary to God's word and the Good News of Christ.

The ending paragraph of this passage reminds me of certain questions that have come up over the years; the question of when the world will end and Christ return in judgement. There are other things we like to quarrel over or discuss at length, and yet Paul, (who is not known for being wishy-washy in his convictions) says not to go there. Perhaps he has learned through experience that it isn't useful to be in the middle of arguments over "ignorant controversies."

Gentle teaching will do more for getting a point across. I heard a sermon on a similar topic last Sunday, and the way to achieve this is by listening; hearing what another person has to say and asking them to tell you more-so that when the time comes they may ask you what you think and you can then tell of the hope that is in you. By following this plan: remember who enlisted you, don't get sidetracked, avoid irreverent babble, and using gentle teaching, these are ways to be a follower of Christ. Ways in which you will live "strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus."

See you tomorrow.
-maggie

The Love of Money

1 Timothy 6:3-21

These first verses seem to be talking about something different than we might expect from today’s title, and yet, these verses expand upon what we were reading in the beginning of yesterday’s passage.

Verses 3-10 are cautionary verses; be careful what guides you, and who you listen to. Yesterday I was reminded of the first commandment, and this says plainly, (in case I wasn’t paying attention) that desiring riches – above desiring to serve and follow the Lord, is a snare. Yes, today’s passage starts by talking about those who teach, and yet just as I thought yesterday, these are words for anyone. The descriptions of the “unhealthy craving[s]” are of those things that can & do draw us away from living a life filled with contentment.

…as for the rich in this present age…we have seen that all we have is a gift from God, and so it is foolish to be “haughty.” [The rich] “are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”

This explanation then followed by the admonition to “guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called "knowledge," for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.”

How are these things related? It seems to me that these false ideas; that riches or acquired knowledge are of our own doing, lead us off course. These are all snares, because if we take our eyes off God, and put other things in the place of or before God we miss out on living a life filled with contentment.

What do you think?

See you tomorrow.
-maggie

Elders and Deacons

1Timothy 3:1-16

These admonitions for how to live are good for anyone, not just elders and deacons.

Do not be a lover of money...I remember what the first commandment said: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Do not be a drunkard (That’s obvious)

Do not be a slanderer: You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor

You see what I am getting at, these are really good ways to live, and not just good ideas, but the law (as I said earlier, they are like the law of gravity-just better to keep in mind if you want to keep from falling flat on your face.)

Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:

He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.

This is indeed something that is not easy to understand, but it is something I find my spirit rejoices in. It feels somehow ‘right’ even if I can’t fully explain it or fully understand all that it means. Godliness is something I wish to live into.

See you tomorrow.

-maggie

The Supremacy of Christ

Colossians 1:1-23

A word about greetings: I often think I could learn something from these greetings. How wonderful to bid someone hello by telling them you always thank God and pray for them! And what a wonderful way to let them know you are praying for them:

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

There is a lot to learn from these verses. Now we come to the part of the passage where today's title comes from; the supremacy of Christ. This next section is so full of description that it would take me a long while to mull it over.

Christ is the image of the invisible God-thanks to Jesus we can see God. This Jesus who walked among the people of his time showed us who God is; what he is like, what he values, how he loves us, and walks with us. This was not a pillar of cloud. Jesus was a man who ate fish with his friends, This is what God is like.

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

He was first, he is creator, he is God's only son. I don't know about you, but that is bigger than I can completely grasp.

How about this:
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

What do I do with these thoughts? I am not certain that I can completely grasp this either. And yet, next it says that even while I was hostile or alienated, "he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him..."

This then is something I can understand more fully..."if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven..."
This is indeed something I wish to continue in.
See you tomorrow.
-maggie

Rejoice in the Lord

Philippians 4:2-9

This encouragement to assist those who have labored with Paul for the sake of the Gospel is how today's passage begins, and then our reading today gets its title from this second section: Rejoice in the Lord, always, the Lord is at hand.

Were the Lord at hand, it would give us reasons to rejoice, and so this says He is, and so we do. Do we? It says we are not to be anxious, and yesterday we talked about the fruit of living in the Spirit, that in such a life we would not be anxious. So this is another call to live as if what we have heard and seen is true and worthy of our joy, and inspiring our peace.

This also gives us a way to combat any anxiety we might have, through prayer and by giving thanks we can talk with God, and in so doing can guard our hearts and minds...in Christ Jesus. So this living in Christ Jesus, this thankful prayer, this brings us closer to God, and in living closer to God we can have that joy and peace. That joy and peace that doesn't make sense - but is still there. ...if there is anything worthy of praise think about that.

So, I will not linger on those things for which I don't give thanks, I will be thankful for all the worthy things and people in my day, and this will bring me joy.

There are many of those things if I pay attention.

See you tomorrow.
-maggie

The Armor of God

Ephesians 6:10-20

Yesterday we read about the fruit of the Spirit, and today we read about the armor of God in order to be strong in the Lord. I can see that in order to live in the fruit of the Spirit, we must resist the evil one who would rob us of our joy and our peace. We can do that by reading and understanding this good news of the Gospel, by accepting the truth of the Lord as our worldview-as our way of life, and by proclaiming and claiming the Gospel message for ourselves and to others. Rather than responding out of fear or hurt or envy or anger we can respond out of love and in the grace of the Lord. This then is the armor of God, He gives it to us in His word, and with His presence.

This Lord of the Israelites who said he would go with them and would fight for them, this is the same Lord who has our back, and since that is the case, there is no need to fall into traps that would rob us of peace or lead us away. This assurance is part of the armor of God.

Ahh, then through prayer we can enter into this relationship, and in this relationship we can have peace. Perhaps peace with our neighbors and our family, but certainly peace of mind. Supplication-asking-for ourselves and for others to be in this same relationship, to live in the fruit of the Spirit and with the armor of God. This is how we strive to live in Grace. This gift of Grace is available, but we must pay attention so that we are not robbed of it.

See you tomorrow.
-maggie

The Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:16-6:10

How to live in the Spirit? How to live a fruitful life? Well this is instructive, as far as it goes. We can live by our own will and that sounds very 'normal,' however this first passage says there is another way to live; a way that is not normal; a way that is more than normal. Just as yesterday we talked about being more than conquerors, today we hear about how to be more than normal.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

This life in the Spirit sounds like a restful one. to live in joy and peace, to treat others with kindness, to be faithful...full of faith, to rule myself with control, these are ways that may not be normal, and yet I would choose them over the alternatives.

Left to my own devices, or inclinations, I could be angry or irritated (which would make me irritating). I don't usually have 'fits' of anger but this isn't about my actions relative to someone else's, that is what the second half of this passage is talking about. I must worry about my own response to God's call. Interesting that we must bear each others burdens, and yet we must judge ourselves according to our work. There is a fine line between becoming conceited, as if the Spirit-filled life were my own doing, and yet one must not irritate others to the point that they are not able to live a peaceful, joyous life. And if they are filled with joy and peace, it is not for us to covet their happiness.

Simple words, and not many verses, but I believe I could work this out, ponder and wonder all day, indeed maybe all my life and still have more to live into.Jesus Christ has 'crucified' the desires that are not of the Spirit. I think to myself, then why won't these behaviors and thoughts stay dead? I don't know.

Perhaps that is why it says "as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."

Just as this reading ends today, so I will end my thoughts. Let us daily, continually do good to everyone.


See you tomorrow.
-maggie