Monday Thought -- June 30, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 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. 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. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.” (1 Timothy 6:6-11)

There is no denying that money is important in life. It’s necessary to provide for our daily needs. It’s necessary to accomplish many of the goals we set in life. We need it to go to college. We need it to start a business. We need it to provide a place to live. However, to make money the goal of our life is a big mistake! And, it’s a mistake that many people fall prey to.

If you make money the goal of your life there are many temptations and traps that lead to great problems. Money doesn’t cause all evil, but loving money enough to make it your goal in life is one of the root causes of a lot of evil. Pursuing money causes many to desert the faith. Pursuing money ultimately brings great sorrow. Money is just not a worthwhile goal for our lives!

Pursing the things of God, now that’s a worthwhile goal in life. Things like righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. To pursue those does not lead a person down a fruitless path. To pursue those leads a person down a path that makes life worthwhile.

And here’s a promise from Jesus: pursue the things of God and He’ll take care of the things you need. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33)

Put money in its rightful place. Put God in His rightful place.

His. by Grace,

Steve

Friday Thought -- June 27, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. -- If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Timothy 5:1-2; 8)

How we treat people matters to God.

The people around us are to be treated in ways that demonstrate our respect for them and in ways that are consistent with the heart of God. They aren’t there to be used by us for our own benefit, but to be treated in ways that will be helpful to them.

How we treat our family also matters to God.

There were those in New Testament times who ignored their family’s needs and used their commitment to God as the excuse to do that. They claimed that everything they had belonged to God, so they couldn’t use it to meet their family’s needs. That’s a great misunderstanding of God’s will. God cares about our family and He expects us to care for them and provide for them, too. Many non-Christians are known for the good ways they take care of their family. Christians must not be open to shame because of our treatment of our families.

People matter to God and how we treat them is a reflection of our love for and commitment to Him.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Thursday Thought -- June 26, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:7-8)

America is dotted with fitness centers. Fitness equipment brings in a lot of sales. Fitness equipment can be found in specialty stores, department stores, and garage sales. Americans will spend over three billion on fitness equipment this year. Gym memberships will bring in over nineteen billion dollars this year. Walkers and joggers and bikers can be seen around town at almost any hour. Fitness is “in,” especially in Oregon. People want to take care of their bodies. And Paul says that is a valuable thing to do. However, its value is limited. It only helps for a few years. We all will age and grow weak no matter how much time and money we put into staying fit.

Godliness, on the other hand, has greater value and longer-term value. It doesn’t just keep your body fit, it keeps your whole life fit. It doesn’t just last the few years of this life on earth, its value extends into eternity.

Yet it seems that there is a much greater emphasis on physical fitness than there is on godliness. Perhaps that’s because it’s easier to measure. Perhaps it’s because you can easily see the results of your fitness training in just a few weeks. Perhaps it’s because the people of our world have such limited vision, most of them seeing only what helps in this life!

The Bible is not saying that we shouldn’t work on our physical fitness. It’s a good idea and a biblical idea to take care of the body that God gave us. But there is another fitness that is even more valuable -- the fitness of your spirit -- godliness. Be sure you give time and effort to working on that, too!!!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- June 25, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.” (1 Timothy 3:16)

When the word “mystery” was used by those who spoke Greek, like Paul, it referred to something that was once hidden and was now revealed. That is a very good description of the coming of Jesus Christ into the world. Although the Old Testament provides prophetic hints about the coming of the Messiah, few could really understand what God was going to do to redeem mankind, it was hidden. But it wasn’t hidden forever! There came a day when God revealed His plan so that it could be clearly seen.

“He appeared in body.” God came into the world Himself. He didn’t send an angel to represent Him. He didn’t pick the holiest human being He could find and empower him. He came Himself, in humility and as the greatest expression of love imaginable.

“He was vindicated by the Spirit.” The life of Jesus was no ordinary life. Miracles happened when Jesus was present. He healed the sick, raised the dead, fed the hungry, calmed the storm, walked on water, and did those kinds of things over and over. The Spirit’s power was evident in the life of Jesus, God’s miraculous mark was on Him.

“He was seen by angels.” The announcement to Mary, the visit to Joseph, the appearance to the shepherds announcing His birth, their ministry to Jesus in Gethsemane, the angels knew something special was happening on earth when Jesus came. Their presence and ministry testified to the uniqueness of Jesus.

“He was preached among the nations and believed on in the world.” From poor fishermen, like Peter; to learned scholars, like Paul. From priests, to reprobates. The stories of the lives changed by the Gospel of Jesus are amazing and testify that God is in those stories. And lives are still being changed today by the power of Jesus.

“He was taken up in glory.” Death didn’t hold Him. The world couldn’t keep Him. He has returned to His rightful place of honor and glory by the right hand of God.

It’s an amazing story! He did it all for you and me, so that we could be saved.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Tuesday Thought -- June 24, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone -- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. -- I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.” (1 Timothy 2:1-4, 8)

First Timothy contains a good deal of instruction about what was to go on in the church. Paul is going to talk about the role of women, leadership, preaching, and other subjects that directly impact the life of the church. But “first of all” he gives instructions about prayer. Prayer took priority for Paul in the life of the church. There wasn’t anything that he considered more important than prayer.

He started with a very tall order -- pray “for everyone.” Prayer will make a difference in the lives of the people around you, so pray for them. When you see needs in the lives of others, bring them to the Lord. Examine your own prayers to see if there is a focus on the needs of others, or are your prayers primarily focused on your own needs?

Especially pray for those in authority, for kings and other leaders. What they do will impact your life, but even more importantly, what they do will impact the spread of the Gospel! Your prayers can make a difference in the actions of your leaders! But they are ungodly, you say? So what, Paul’s king was Nero when he penned this letter and no modern king tops Nero in ungodliness -- so pray for them anyway!

Why pray? Because God wants men to be saved -- all men -- and prayer can help that happen. We don’t pray for peaceful and quiet lives just so our lives are more comfortable. We are to pray for those things so that the Gospel can be spread more easily!

And, as you pray, check your life and attitude, because your heart impacts the power of your prayers! Are your hands holy? Is your attitude toward others right?

His, by Grace,

Steve

Monday Thought -- June 23, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 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. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners -- of whom I am the worst. 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. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Timothy 1:12-17)

By the time Paul wrote this letter to Timothy he had been a Christian for many years, probably over 25. Yet, Paul never forgot from where he came and what God had done for him. It’s not that he dwelled on his past sins, but he did remember the extent of God’s grace that was shown to him. He never forgot how much he had for which to praise God.

He praised God for the grace that brought him into the kingdom. Paul didn’t deserve to be saved. Perhaps even more than most of us, Paul deserved to be punished, even destroyed. He was responsible for troubling the early church, even responsible for the deaths of some who held on to Christ. He wasn’t a very good candidate for salvation, not from a human perspective. But God saw the depth of his hurt, his need, and his potential in Christ. By grace, God drew Paul into the kingdom.

And every one of us has a similar story. Your story is probably not as violent as Paul’s story. Most of us have never opposed the Gospel, but most of us have ignored it, perhaps even ridiculed it. By grace, God drew each of us into His kingdom. We should never forget that. It is grace that brought you where you are.

And Paul praised God that grace did not just bring him into the kingdom and leave him on the sidelines as damaged goods not really useful for anything. God gave Paul an assignment in the kingdom, appointed him to His service. That was grace, too.

And God’s grace extends that far to us, too. God’s grace draws us into the kingdom and God’s grace continues to draw us further, into service for the Gospel.

Paul had a great deal for which to be thankful. So do we!!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Friday Thought -- June 20, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.” (James 5:13-18)

Prayer is powerful because God is powerful and He answers prayer!

Effective prayer requires humility. Keeping your need to yourself is often a matter of pride. It goes back to the American way – I can take care of things by myself. God desires that we acknowledge our need of Him and recognize our need for others. When we ask others to pray for us, God is pleased with that act of humility.

Effective prayer requires faith. The prayer offered in doubt doesn't please the Lord. It is the prayer offered in faith that God responds to most readily. God wants us to trust Him and to pray out of that trust.

Effective prayer requires a clean heart. Unconfessed sin hinders our relationship with God and hinders the effectiveness of our prayers. God is ready to wipe the slate clean as soon as we acknowledge our sins to Him. Confession opens the way to greater power in prayer.

Effective prayer requires righteousness. It is the prayer of a righteous man that is powerful and effective. Of course, no man is righteous on his own merit. To be righteous means to be in right relationship with God and that comes only through Jesus Christ! The only effective prayer is prayer that comes from the heart of the person attached to God through the sacrifice of Jesus.

Effective prayer comes from ordinary people, not super people! Elijah was human like you and me, and God heard his prayer. And God will hear your prayers, too – spoken in humility, in faith, in purity, and through Jesus.

His, by Grace,

Steve