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1 Timothy 6 - Real Life

I find it amazing how many people merely exist. They don't really live. They go to work, come home, eat, watch TV, sleep, and do it all over again. There is nothing about their lives that is part of a larger story. They are merely passing time here on earth. What a waste!

We are called to more, so much more.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 Tell those who have the riches of this world not to be arrogant and not to place their confidence in anything as uncertain as riches. Instead, they should place their confidence in God who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. Tell them to do good, to do a lot of good things, to be generous, and to share. By doing this they store up a treasure for themselves which is a good foundation for the future. In this way they take hold of what life really is.

This command isn't just for the rich. It is for all of us. We should all be using our time, talents, and treasures for God's kingdom work. As Paul said, God wants us to enjoy everything. But that can only occur in the context of service. We must be generous, share, and keep doing what we know is good. Then and only then are we truly living life as God intends it to be lived. We will have real life.

Heavenly Father, please give me the will and desire to live my life to the fullness of Your calling. Help me to share, be generous, and keep doing it. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Live, don't exist. Jan
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1 Timothy 5 - Where vs. How

Today ten of us from my men's group went to Lutz to see John Bevere preach live at Grace Family Church. What a great morning. There was something that he said today, actually many, but one thing in particular that reminded me of today's reading.

1 Timothy 5:24-25 The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.

He said that, "What we do with the cross determines where we will spend eternity. What we do for the cross determines how we will spend eternity." I believe I've quoted it correctly.

We all will face judgment, whether we are Christians or not. Those that are not will be judged for their sins. Those that are will be judged for what works they bring to lay on Christ's altar. The question is, are they works that Christ wanted done, or are they things we wanted to do?

Heavenly Father, thank You that I do know Your Son Jesus as my Savior. Thank You for that gift. Please help me to be doing the work that You want me to be doing. I want to do that which pleases You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Seek His will, do His work. Jan
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1 Timothy 4 - Practice & Perseverance

It is daunting to teach children to persevere at a task. My youngest, Caleb, gets frustrated very easily if something does not go his way. We often hear angry cries of, "That's not fair.", "I'll never get past this." or "It's impossible." while he is playing one of his video games. However, nearly every time we find that in a short while he is again contentedly playing. What changed? He kept at it.

1 Timothy 4:15 Practice these things and devote yourself to them, in order that your progress may be seen by all.

It is easy for us to observe his progress. We don't even have to physically see him. When the unhappy sounds stop, and we hear the game still on, we know he has overcome the obstacle or challenge.

As Christians, we too have things that are difficult for us; paying tithes, praying for those we find "yucky", volunteering in church, and reading God's word. I'm sure the list could go on. But what I find personally is that as I consistently do these things, they get easier. The key is perseverance.

Romans 2:7 He will give eternal life to those who persist in doing what is good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers.

Heavenly Father, please give me the will and desire to do Your will; to do those things that please You. Help me to be a more fully devoted follower of Christ. In His name, Amen.

Keep on keeping on. Jan
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1 Timothy 3 - Testing, Pass or Fail?

I am terrible at math. I have no trouble with abstract concepts such as geometry and even some algebra. But once you throw numbers into the mix, I freeze like a spit wad in a bowl of liquid nitrogen. You can almost hear my brain cells crinkle and solidify. My math tests in school were generally judged pretty poorly.

As Christians we tend to bristle at having our faith judged or having to "prove" ourselves to someone. I know I do. So I found this somewhat interesting in today's reading.

1 Timothy 3:10 Test them first. Then let them serve as deacons if you find nothing wrong in them.

Paul is clearly telling Timothy to judge others, to test them, to make them prove their faith. He was careful to lay down specific requirements for those that would step up to serve the flock of Christ. However, I find that all too often we don't do likewise. We put out a call for "leaders" and quickly accept anyone that we've seen in church on a regular basis. Do we dig into their character? Do we know if they are truly 'in Christ' or merely 'in church'? I suspect not.

We must do better. We are rightly very careful to acu-screen our children's workers; to do a background check on them. Shouldn't we Christ-screen all of our volunteers and leaders; to find out who they truly are, how they live and conduct their lives? Frankly, anything less is cowardice and irresponsibility toward the flock that Christ has entrusted to us.

Heavenly Father, please give us the patience to wait on the right workers and leaders. Help us to make the difficult calls about rejecting those that don't meet Your requirements. And help us to bring them to maturity so that they can eventually fulfill the office to which they feel called. In Jesus' name, Amen.

How would you score? Jan
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1 Timothy 2 - Women's purpose?

Right on the heels of yesterday's reading about the purpose of someone's life, I see this passage of scripture.

1 Timothy 2:9-15 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

Ok, so let me recap what I see here as instructions to women.

• Don't wear jewelry.
• Don't braid your hair.
• Wear cheap clothes.
• Shut up.
• Be obedient.
• You have nothing to teach a man.
• You were deceived.
• You sinned.
• Have children if you want to be saved.

Does this sound at all like the Jesus that we've come to know in the scriptures?

Personally I've been confused about this particular passage for some time now. In fact there are some scholars that are certain that the books to Timothy are forgeries, and not actual letters by Paul. I personally don't hold to that view. What I do see however, is a gross license on the part of the translators to cast women in a negative light - to subjugate them.

Today I read this passage in The Message version of the bible. What a breath of fresh air this was!

1 Timothy 2:9-15 And I want women to get in there with the men in humility before God, not primping before a mirror or chasing the latest fashions but doing something beautiful for God and becoming beautiful doing it. I don't let women take over and tell the men what to do. They should study to be quiet and obedient along with everyone else. Adam was made first, then Eve; woman was deceived first - our pioneer in sin! - with Adam right on her heels. On the other hand, her childbearing brought about salvation, reversing Eve. But this salvation only comes to those who continue in faith, love, and holiness, gathering it all into maturity. You can depend on this.

Paul is admonishing a specific circumstance. Women were busy putting on a fashion show. He redirected their expressions of beauty back to where they should have been all along - toward God.

Romans 10:15 ...How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Next Paul instructs that everyone is to be quiet and obedient to the authorities placed over them, not just women.

Then comes a wonderful rendition of a truly confusing passage. Sure, women committed the first sin. (Actually Adam sinned first by omission. He was with Eve and didn't stop her.) But then Adam joined right in and also committed sin. Now here comes the truly awesome part. Eve (women) brought about the first sinful act, thereby bringing death to us all. And, Paul explains, it is women that brought us all salvation and eternal life. Because it was a woman that gave birth to our savior, Jesus. This act reversed Eve's sin.

Paul concludes this paragraph by telling us that, unless we allow the seed of the word to grow into fruit that brings repentance and acceptance of Jesus, we cannot be saved.

Thank You Lord for a really cool reading today. I'd never seen it in quite this way before. Thank You for the amazing role that women play in the redemption of us all. They are to be given much honor for their exalted position, not disdain. Help me to bless my bride. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Women rock dude! Jan
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1 Timothy 1 - The purpose of your life

Today's reading reminded me of a de-motivational poster that is a personal favorite. It is a picture of a sunken cargo ship, bow jutting out of the water, with these words written below the picture. "MISTAKES - It could be that the purpose of your life is to serve as a warning to others."

1 Timothy 1:15-16 This is a true saying, and everyone should believe it: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – and I was the worst of them all. But that is why God had mercy on me, so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.

Paul's life however, was much more than a warning. It was a blazing beacon that has drawn millions into the kingdom of heaven. May we ex-sinners follow his example and not only serve as a warning to others, but also as an inspiration.

Heavenly Father, we all serve as examples, some to good works, others to not so good. Help us to choose the good. Give us the desire and strength. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Blessings to you, Jan
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