TEACH YOUR CHILDREN WELL: I Timothy 3:2

Have you ever heard someone say, maybe even yourself, "I've become my father!" An utterance of exasperation I have spoken after yelling at one of my children.  Whether we like it or not, as parents we are teachers. In truth, we are the primary teachers of our children. 

"Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach". I Timothy 3:2

If you are a father, you are a teacher. In one way or another you teach your children values and behavior. You teach them by what you do and by what you say. 

You have heard the expression, "Actions speak louder than words".  What you actually do can show what you really believe. My dad used to say some not so good things about people when he was driving.  I still haven't figured out why he had it in for bald guys who drove Ramblers. But, how my dad treated people was what taught me how to treat people. I learned to address people as Mr. and Mrs., Ma'am and Sir. Whether someone was his boss or his employee, they were my dad's friend, whom he treated with respect. My parent's moved a few times and each time dad would request this one pair of gentlemen. He called them Sir. Dad remember their names, asked them about their children. You could see the mutual respect come into their faces when he spoke to them as men doing their job. I learned how to treat people and that knowledge has enable me to have many good relationships with people I work with. The point of course, is that even though my dad said some pretty stupid stuff, what he did taught me. His actions were louder than his words. 

What you say does matter, though. You must say the truth in love. It matters how you say things too. My family and I were doing a little geocaching and we hiked down into this little canyon to get a few caches. On the way back up my youngest son was getting tired and starting to complain and wanting to rest all the time. I got behind him and started talking him up the last part of the hill. I told him that he needed to learn to push through things when it got hard. I didn't yell, I kind of whispered almost in his ear. I just kept encouraging him that the difference between people who are great or who do great things and those who don't is the great ones learn to press on and to push through when everyone else quits. He dug in and pushed his way to the top. 

What we do and what we say teaches our children the truths we want them to know and live by. Trusting God to, by his grace and power, help us to teach our children, is what we do.

Father, help us to trust you and teach our children to live by faith in your light. Praise be to you in us today!

WELCOME WITH RESPECT: I Timothy 3:2

People will listen to a man or woman of experience. When Phil Jackson first became the Lakers head coach he showed Shaq his NBA championship rings. Shaq respected that his new coach knew what it took to be a champion. 

"Now an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach". I Timothy 3:2

Respect is a very important word for me. I want my wife and children to respect me. As a leader for my son's Cub Scout Pack and coach for some of his sports teams I need to be respectable. I need to be a man of my word. I think respect has to do with both actions and attitude. If I do my job with skill, that is respectable. We had parent conferences last week at the school I teach at. When I great parents I always try to address them as Ma'am or Sir. That instantly tells them I respect them. I don't care what they look like or where they come from when I address them with respect, they almost always treat me with respect. 

Being hospitable is very much in tune with being respectable. Because being hospitable is able how you treat someone. Making others feel comfortable and welcome is not just about having people over for dinner. Jesus told us to be the servant. Putting other peoples needs before out own is definitely Christlike. I think it is hospitable. And I don't think you need to be an overseer in the church to be hospitable. 

One little aside. I have been to and a part of a few churches. Some are more hospitable than others. Sometimes churches have little times for people to great each other. It is easy to find someone you know but, maybe finding a guest and making them feel welcome would be a great little ministry.

Father, help us to be respectable and hospitable. Praise be to you in us today!

BE ON THE LOOKOUT: I Timothy 3:2

I want to continue to look at these characteristics of a church leader as the characteristics of a godly husband and father. 

"Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach". I Timothy 3:2 

I think it is telling that whenever you have someone commit a heinous crime that the media shows a picture of the killer when they were in elementary school. Then they wonder how that innocent looking child became a mass murderer. I have worked for good while in a middle school with discipline. Ninety-nine percent of the students with behavior issues have a missing or missing in action father. When people question why these children behave without remorse and seem to have very little understanding of right and wrong and no ability to empathize with other human beings, they often find a gap in the parent - child relationship. 

The idea of being temperate and self-controlled has to do with being aware of your own sinful nature, the world we live in (which is darkness) and how it affects you and your marriage and family. The word temperate has the meaning of vigilant with a clear head. Kind of like the idea of being on watch for your family and marriage. You need to first of all have yourself rightly connected to under the reign of Christ. Then you need to be involved in your marriage and in the lives of your children. It's funny that if I ask my wife or my daughter how their day was, they'll tell me, often in detail. My son, on the other hand, does not feel the need to tell me the details. That is why even though I try to be involved with both my children's lives my connection with my son is different.

As a husband and father I need to be aware and proactive as the leader of my home. I know it is easy to not be aware. It is easy to miss what might be really happening in my marriage or with my children. I know my family needs the forgiveness, grace and mercy of God. We need God to reign over us and in us, starting with me. 

For me, I try to talk, listen and pray with and for my family (not necessarily in that order). Even as I write this blog post I am "reminded" of some things with my family I need to attend to a bit more. I encourage you to be aware of what is going on in your marriage and family and to check your yourself with regards to being the shepherd of your home. 

God has called each of men to be the servant-leader of our marriage and family. He will enable you. 

Father, help us to be temperate and self-controlled. Praise be to you in us today!

LEAD YOUR MARRIAGE & FAMILY: I Timothy 3:2

I want to take a look at these verses as encouragement to men in regards to being the servant-leader of your marriage and family.

"Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach". I Timothy 3:2

I just think these are very good ideals that all men should seek to have in their lives. I believe they are all the fruit of Christ like living.

"be above reproach" - Basically, no one should have anything on me. Now, we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. So, I am not talking about perfection. What we are talking about is keeping your life in order. Recently I had situation with my sons' little league baseball league. I am a volunteer manager. During our draft night, I had asked someone if they would help coach the team. There was a misunderstanding that was my fault. Unintentional, but still it was because of my actions. So, when the President of the league told me what was wrong, I just told him I was sorry, I wasn't trying to do anything but try to ask a parent to help coach. But, it was still my bad. And I asked him what he would like me to do to make things right. He didn't know. So, I called who I thought I might of negatively affected. As far as I know I made things right. 

"the husband of but one wife" - Because I am more concerned with any man as the servant-leader of his marriage and family I am going to discuss divorce accept to say, God's forgiveness includes divorce. As a husband and a father we are to be one woman men. I especially want to emphasize your heart. There is only one woman who gets to hear what's in my heart. If she isn't in the mood. No one else gets to hear it. I work in education and I used to work in restaurants. I always have boundaries, even conversationally, because I have seen men incited to leave their marriage because the other women simply gave them a little attention and a little praise. 

I think that will do for today. Men, keep things clean, and be a one women man. 

Father, help us to keep our lives above reproach and to be one with our wives. Praise be to you in us today!

IN A LITTLE WHILE: Psalm 37:10-11

"A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
     though you look for them, they will not be found.
 But the meek will inherit the land
     and enjoy great peace." 
 Psalm 37:10-11

No matter how you want to slice it, no matter how you want to count time, in God's eyes the wicked have but a limited amount of time before their time is up. 

I was managing a Mimi's Cafe. John (the name has been changed to protect the guilty), who managed the day shift was, was your basic little punk with a little dog complex. I managed the late shift. One day I noticed he was taking money from my drawer. He said he was just making change. It did explain why my drawer was coming up off my more than it should and his was always right on. I told the General Manager and he just kind of blew me off. The second senior manager found out and told the GM and he listened. John quit because he caught wind they were going to fire him. It took a little while but, John the wicked was no more. 

You may find yourself in a place where the wicked seem to be "getting away with it". God sees. God knows. You are his child. In a little while...

Father, help us to keep out eyes on you ever when the wicked seem to be getting away with all kinds of evil. We place ourselves in your hands. Be glorified in us. Praise be to you in us today!

HANG ON, GOD'S IN CONTROL: Psalm 37:8-9

"Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
     do not fret - it leads only to evil.
 For evil men will be cut off,
     but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land."
 Psalm 37:8-9

If you have any sense of justice it's pretty easy to get upset over the evil and injustice there is in this world. I consider myself to be a passionate person. Anger falls into that area of myself that can be very passionate. If something seems wrong to me, it can be very wrong. I tell you, when I look around this world I often wonder what is going on. 

I think David obviously felt this way a lot. Psalm 37 was his personal reminder that even though it may sometimes look like evil people are getting away with evil and not having to pay for it, God is ultimately in control. In the end, God will provide for his people and they will inherit the land. 

Wherever you are at, know that even though it may look like evil people are in total bliss and suffer no ill affects for their action, they will. And God will bless his people. If Jesus is your Savior and Lord, you are his child and he will take care of you. 

Father, open our eyes to see you reigning even now. Praise be to you in us today!

THE NOBLE TASK OF SERVICE: I Timothy 3:1

"Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task." I Timothy 3:1

If you desire to serve God. That's a good thing. Don't let anyone discourage you. Just remember, it's service. It's about doing what needs to be done, whether anyone knows or sees. 

Some churches call this being a Bishop or an Elder. It is someone who is deeply concerned about the spiritual welfare of those around them. Frankly, what I have seen is that people who seek this place of service just do it then are sort of recognized and given more direct responsibility and opportunities to serve. 

If you desire to serve. Serve. Find a way, find a place and serve. 

Just one little word about dealing with some people who might not be exactly encouraging. I have encountered some people in leadership who like to sort of be Holy Spirit helpers. Sometimes they set up hoops for possible leaders to jump threw. They like to put timetables and offer "suggestions" of possible service opportunities to prove yourself. Then there are others who like to emphasize their experience as the prescribed path to leadership. My personal favorite is the "I wasn't even thinking about being a leader" so, therefore if anyone else is thinking about it then they must not really be humble enough to be considered as a leader. 

My advice: Do your best to serve in a Christlike manner. The apostle Paul says desiring to serve is a noble task. 

Father, help us to serve you. Be glorified in our attempts to serve you faithfully. Praise be to you in us today!

PRAY LIKE A MAN: I Timothy 2:8

I think the single most challenging leadership experience I ever had (outside of being a husband and a father) was as Dorm Council President in Bible College. Getting half a dozen twenty-one year old young men, who all think they hear from God, to agree was wonderful preparation for just about any situation I have encountered since. The only thing that comes close is dealing with teachers. So, I totally get why Paul felt the need to tell men how to pray together. 

"I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing." I Timothy 2:8

It is hard to imagine an argument breaking out at a prayer meeting. But, the danger in thinking they we hear God better than anyone else is thinking that we hear God better than anyone else. 

God himself makes us holy. Jesus Christ died for our sins to make us holy, and he does. The idea of lifting up holy hands is a reminder that God himself makes us holy, not we ourselves. That should lead to thankfulness and humility. 

I am not sure that the anger Paul was talking about was just toward each other. It is pretty easy to get all worked up about the evil in this world, which is some sense should get us angry. But, remember, God did not meet us with anger, but with grace. His love compels us. We love because he first loved us. He so loved the world that he sent his only Son. 

The word disputing is translated "doubting" in the KJV. The Greek has the idea of deliberated within yourself, hesitation, doubting. James 1:6 said, "But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt...". I am not trying to push a name it and claim it doctrine. I just think the idea is to pray Biblically. If it is in God's Word, it's God's will. (Use common sense please. No so no Judas hung himself, so you should...) 

Father, help us to pray with love and assurance. May your kingdom advance in and through us today. Grant us at least one redemptive conversation. Praise be to you in us today!

GOD WANTS EVERYONE: I Timothy 2:3-4

It is nice to know you are doing the right thing. My first year as a categorical program advisor was quite a learning experience. I had to attend a training for helping parents connect in meaningful ways with schools. A school in another part of the state had run a monthly program called "Family Fridays" where parents came and read for one hour with their child one Friday a month. My boss liked the idea and we began having our version if "Family Fridays". It was a huge success because positive parent involvement is highly valued in educational circles. 

"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 Timothy 2:3-4 

What pleases God our Savior is when we pray for our leaders. What God really wants is that all men be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. 

Think about that. Think about the people you work with. God wants them to be saved. Think about your family. God wants them to be saved. What we are really talking about is the way God views people in comparison to how we view them. I tend to look at people as those who accept Christ or those who reject Christ. 

My pastor says to pray for at least one redemptive conversation a day. What opportunities will present themselves today? Who is it that God is interested in saving? Be ready and be willing.

Father, help us to share your salvation and knowledge with the world around us. Praise be to you in us today!

FIGHT ON & HOLD ON: I Timothy 1:18-19

I remember the day I truly committed my life to following Christ. It was at a summer church camp at Hume Lake during a share the bread and share the wine communion service. The next year I began attending a Bible study where I began to learn what following Christ was really all about. I & II Timothy have resonated in a special way for me because I was young when I first set my heart on serving Christ.  

"Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience." I Timothy 1:18-19

The two lessons from these verses that are to fight on and hold on. 

Paul, wanted to Timothy to succeed so he wrote him the instructions we find in this book. He tells him to fight the good fight. Sometimes we hear the words meek and turn the other cheek and think Christianity is all about being passive. No. Paul realized that serving Christ is spiritual warfare. It is a battle for the souls of every human being on the planet. We each have our battlegrounds. Each one of us is engaged with the enemy daily, at home and work and everywhere in between. Fight on!

Hold on to the faith and a good conscience. Because we believe that Christ died for our sins, rose again to conquer sin and death,  and now sits at the right hand of the Father interceding on our behalf, we live accordingly. The Declaration of Independence says, "We hold these truths to be self-evident". The writers then acted according to those beliefs they held. In that same way, we hold to our faith in Christ and act according to that faith. The instruction we find in the Bible let us know how to engage in this battle. 

So, fight on and hold on. 

Father, thank you for your Word. Help us to fight the good fight and hold on to the faith we have in Christ. Praise be to you in us today!

A Prayer for our Leaders: I Timothy 2:1-2

"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." I Timothy 2:1-2

Father, we pray for our President, Governors, Senators, Representatives, Mayors and all those in government. We ask that you would grant them wisdom and guidance. We pray that you would protect those who can not protect themselves and empower those who can. 

We pray that our leaders would humble themselves in the realization that You are the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and that all life flows from you. Liberty and justice are ultimately in your hands and each will have to give an accounting for themselves to you. 

Father, protect our nation and may your freedom reign. 

BE STILL BEFORE GOD: Psalm 37:7

"Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
     do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
 when men carry out their wicked schemes." Psalm 37:7

A teacher at Capernwray Bible School used to tells us that we all needed to learn to wait upon the Lord. He would say, "You are so impatient you can't even spell wait. It's W-A-I-T, wait!" Then whenever he would bring it up the whole class would say it out loud in unison. It is true, we really do struggle with the idea of waiting on God. 

One thing I would like to think about is that verse 7 says, "Be still before the LORD" (emphasis mine). Sometimes, I just need a walk with the Lord.  I don't need my cell phone. I don't need worship music playing in my mp3 player. I just need to walk and be silent. I just need to get my head clear. If God wants to put something or someone on my heart, he will. But mostly, I just need remember that God is Sovereign and has unfailing love for me.

I encourage you to spend some time before the Lord, being still. Remember who he is...

Father, thank you that you are Sovereign Lord over our lives and that you have unfailing love for us. Praise be to you in us today!

YOU TRUST AND GOD DOES: Psalm 37:5-6

"Commit your way to the LORD;
     trust in him and he will do this:
 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
     the justice of your cause like the noonday sun." 
 Psalm 37:5-6

Commit. In the dictionary it says, "To give in trust or charge; consign." The Hebrew means "to roll, roll away, roll down, roll together. " The idea is to roll something up to give it up. Think of your life on a paper, all the pieces gathered together. You roll it up and give it to the LORD. Then you let him do, what he wants to do.

Letting God do what he wants to do is one facet of trust. What does God want to do? He wants your righteousness, which is in Christ, to shine like the dawn. Think of that. The sun coming up out of the darkness. Isn't that what we are? The light of Christ in the darkness of this world. Living for Christ, is living for justice. He will make your cause shine like the noonday son. 

I think that is a pretty good deal. We roll up our lives, give them to God, and he makes them worthwhile and meaningful. When his kingdom comes into a hearts, his kingdom is lived out through our lives.

Father, thank you that we can give everything to you, the good and the bad, and trust in you to make us righteous people in this unjust world. Praise be to you in us today!

THE WORST SINNER: I Timothy 1:15-16

No one is more difficult to deal with than someone who is convinced of there own self-righteousness. Because everything will turn out to be someone else's fault. Paul took the opposite approach.  

"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." I Timothy 1:15-16

Humility is knowing exactly who you are before God. Paul knew exactly who he was before God: the worst of sinners. I might want to argue with Paul over that. And that is the point of what he is saying. We should all see ourselves as the worst of sinners. 

Realizing that without God's mercy you would be lost in your sins is the bedrock of our faith. Realizing that I am a sinner, the worst, is the bedrock of our interpersonal relationships. Without that humility we just look for fault in others. When you find fault in others you can demand that they change, rather than yourself. When you see others as sinners greater than you, you tend to find reasons they don't deserve mercy, second chances or patience. 

Realizing our own sinfulness is also at the root of evangelism. Like Paul when we realize the depth of the mercy and grace of God to us, the worst of sinners, we see the world as people in need of mercy and grace. We don't look down, we just reach out. 

Father, thank you for your mercy to me, the worst of sinners! Display your unlimited patience in me today! Praise be to you in us today!

YOU ARE CONSIDERED: I Timothy 1:12-14

One time I had applied for a job and the official time had expired to be offered a position. A few days later my boss came over to my office and told me to call this one location who was going to offer me the job. They didn't ask me a thing. They just offered me the position. I asked them (later) why they didn't "interview" me. They told me that one of the supervisors had recommended me and on the strength of his recommendation, they felt they could hire me. The next time I saw him I thanked him for considering me.  

"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 me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus." I Timothy 1:12-14 

The difference between being considered for the position I had worked my backside off to get to and being considered faithful to serve God is that there is no way I would ever be considered, on my own merit, faithful enough. Honestly, none of us are. But, that is the beauty of the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ our Lord to all of us. None of us deserve to be his servants. Yet, we are all considered...

Consider what God does, not what you do. God gives you strength. God appoints you to his service. Everyone has a place and a purpose. God shows you mercy. God pours out grace upon you! Along with the grace he pours out faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 

Here's the deal. You are given grace in Christ Jesus. That grace is not just a new clean slate. That grace is a life of opportunities to be a conduit of the grace to others. What will God do in you today?

Father, open our eyes to see the opportunities you place before us to share your grace with this dead and empty world. Grant us at least one redemptive conversation today. Praise be to you in us today!

THE GOAL IS LOVE: I Timothy 1:5

Before I became a teacher I managed a Mimi's Cafe. The general manager had a style of leadership that I just don't respond well to. Every two weeks or so he would just go off and start yelling at everyone. His goal was to keep everyone on the alert and to make everyone pay more attention to little details. It just made people quit, it didn't make people better food servers or cooks. Apply that to Christian leadership. What should be the goal? The goal is love. 

"The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."         I Timothy 1:5

The Apostle Paul tells young Timothy, who was dealing with "certain men" who taught false doctrine, that the goal, the end in mind is love. When people teach false doctrine, quiet often you will find a motive that is all about the person teaching it. I'll be honest, I get an inner red warning flag when someone name's their ministry after themselves. 

What do we need to concern ourselves with? Having a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith. We of course are not talking about perfection, but I think a bit of humility sort of keeps us in check. When we are sincerely seeking God we know our own need for Christ. We also enjoy the forgiveness and grace that God provides in Christ. We love because he first loves us. He is our righteousness, holiness and redemption (I Corinthians 1:30). I don't deserve that love, that mercy, that grace and that forgiveness. But, I am thankful that I have it. 

The goal it to pass on that love from God to whoever God puts in our paths today. 

Father, grant us at least one redemptive conversation today. Use us in your kingdom! Praise be to you in us today!

LET THERE BE PEACE: II Thessalonians 3:16

I worked a few times with people who just seemed to be constantly in crisis, constantly in a state of friction with one or more co-workers. There is no peace with people like that. When it is the boss, it can make life miserable. The good news is that God is not like that. God is the God of peace. 

"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you." II Thessalonians 3:16

Think about this: God sent his One and Only Son, Jesus Christ, to die in your place. Why? Romans 5:1 says, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Yes, God brings the peace. 

Living at peace is a very good thing. Allowing God to reign at all times and in every way is how you make a way for peace. Sometimes living by faith, following the teachings of Christ will put you in conflict with the world, but, you will be at peace with God.  If you are at peace with God, then it is up to God to deal with the world. He will. 

Take a little mental inventory of your life at this moment. Is God reigning (as far as you are concerned) in your marriage? Your family? Your finances? Your work? Your hobbies? 

If he is not. Give him reign. There will be peace. Because if you know you are doing what God wants you to do, he reigns. When God reigns, his peace reigns.

Father, help us to let you reign in every area of our lives. Praise be to you in us today!

HOW TO DELIGHT YOURSELF IN GOD: Psalm 37:3-4

"Trust in the LORD and do good;
     dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
 Delight yourself in the LORD
     and he will give you the desires of your heart."
 Psalm 37:3-4

On occasion I will watch the Discovery Channel show "Gold Rush". It's high pseudo-real life drama. The drama is that these people are risking everything to hit it big. They often encounter circumstances that seem out of their control. They are left with the option of giving up or just pressing on. Well, as Christians we are given one more option when things seem at their worst. We can delight ourselves in the Lord. 

Trust in the Lord, do good, dwell in the land, enjoy safe pasture and delight yourself in the Lord.  That is David's advice. Really, verse three is just how to delight yourself in the Lord. How do you delight yourself in the Lord? 

• You trust him to be Sovereign over everything do good where you are at. 
• Live by faith where you live. 
• Enjoy the safety and security of knowing that if you are trusting God, if you aren't where you are supposed to be, he can move you. Therefore, if you are trying to trust him you can trust he will reign over your life.

Father, help us to trust you right where you have us. Thank you that if you want to move us, you can. Praise be to you in us today!

IN THE END, GOD WINS, WE WIN: Psalm 37:1-2

"Do not fret because of evil men
     or be envious of those who do wrong;
  for like the grass they will soon wither, 
    like green plants they will soon die away." Psalm 37:1-2

As a middle school teacher I see this everyday, all day. The alpha punks rule the yard. They try to intimidate the smaller, less physical students. That all changes after high school. I tell the kids who are "geeks" to just hang in there, because later in life, geeks rule the world. Spiritually speaking, that is what David is telling us. 

The Bible tells us that even though sometimes in this life it looks like evil men get everything they want and enjoy a lot of success, it is all just temporary.  In the telling story of The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) Jesus emphasizes that some may have it all on earth, but in eternity they will just have torment, while others will spend eternity in complete fulfillment. 

So, while we might feel a bit shortchanged in this life, in eternity, we will have all we need and more. All our tears will be wiped away and we will enjoy complete fulfillment for eternity. Remember, God has eternity in store for us. 

Father, help us to rest in you and rely on you, even when life is unfair. Praise be to you in us, today!

NEVER TIRE OF DOING GOOD: II Thessalonians 3:13

I am sure that almost everyone has been on one end or both of the "I don't care what everyone else is doing, you do what is right" conversation. In the middle of an exhortation the Apostle Paul reminds the Thessalonians to just keep doing what is right.

"And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right." II Thessalonians 3:13

Sometimes, doing what is right, can be like swimming upstream. A bit hard but you know it is the right way to go. Yes, living a life as a servant of Jesus Christ can be seem hard. But, God will in one way or another refresh you. 

It is amazing that so many who call themselves preachers or ministers forget that they are called to serve, not be served. I understand that sometimes when you lead you need to sort of spread out the load with those who are serving with you. But, that is different from being unwilling to do some hard work. 

The point of what Paul is saying is that serving God is always about serving others. And in particular he is talking about paying your own way. I once shared a house with some other Christian brothers. One guy thought God told him to not work and just worship all day. Well, when he ran out out money he wanted to eat everyone else's food. We all told him that if God was guiding God would provide, outside of our food. He started working again. 

Never tire of doing good.

Father, help us to always trust you and never tire of doing good. Praise be to you in us today.

GOD IS FAITHFUL: II Thessalonians 3:3

I have worked with several administrators during my tenure as an educator. Some, have been good and some, have not. The good ones generally do what they say and you know they are on your side. Frankly, they are few and far between. But, they really can help a school be successful. As a Christian, the Lord is faithful to always be there with us. That is our strength.

"But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one." II Thessalonians 3:3

The wonderful truth is that God is faithful, even when we are not. Paul also shared with Timothy, "if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself" II Timothy 2:13. This is meant to be a lifeline, not a loophole. The truth that God is faithful to always be there to strengthen and protect us is awesome! Sometimes, we fail. We try to be holy, but, we still fail. But God is faithful and just to forgive us. That is good news! That is the gospel. 

Father, help us to rely on grow in your grace. Thank you for your faithfulness! Praise be to you in us today!

TIME TO OPEN THE GIFTS!: II Thessalonians 2"16-17

Who doesn't like opening a gift? Come on. Admit it. Everybody does. I even like opening stuff I buy on Ebay. As a parent I love to see my children's faces when they open a special gift. Or sometimes I bring home some chocolate for my wife and daughter. Apparently, the gift of chocolate never gets old. Now just think about some of the things God gives us.

"May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved  us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word." II Thessalonians 2:16-17

First of all, he just loves you. It isn't just that he loved the world. He loves you. The thing about God's love is the it is actually about action, not warm fuzzies. 

One of the gifts is his grace. Grace that gives eternal encouragement and good hope. Eternal encouragement. Think about that. Encouragement that just keeps going. And good hope. Not a false hope. Not a existential leap of faith hope, but a good hope. Who is good? God is good. God can not lie. God can not change. 

Another gift is being able to act (good deeds) and speaks on his behalf. You know. Serving God. Using the gifts that he has given you. God wants to encourage your heart and strengthen you as you step out in faith. 

Father, thank you for eternal encouragement, good hope, and strength that you graciously give to us. Help us to enjoy and use these gifts to know you and make you known. Praise be to you in us today!

IT'S THE FUNDAMENTALS: II Thessalonians 2:15

I am blessed to be able to help coach and manage my youngest sons' baseball teams. A new season is beginning and what do we start with? The basics, the fundamentals. In Christianity we need to always remember the basics, the fundamental truths about God, Christ and salvation.

"So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter." II Thessalonians 2:15

What we stand firm in and hold on to is the truth found is Scripture about the saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul was all about knowing the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Remember, Jesus died for our sins. For my sins. For your sins. For the sins of the whole world. The Spirit sanctifies us. Every thought we have is the Holy Spirit working in us to sanctify us through our faith in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

So, stand firm in the truth, the truth the Jesus died for you and rose again to conquer death and sin. He now sits at the right hand of the Father, ever living to intercede on our behalf. The Holy Spirit leads us into all truth in Christ as we hold to the truth found in Scripture. We don't make things up. We don't add to the truth. We just believe the truth and let the Spirit change us into the image of Jesus Christ. 

Father, thank you for the truth found in the Bible. Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ for dying for our sins and ever living to intercede for us. Thank you for this great salvation! Praise be to you in us today!

CALLED TO SHARE: II Thessalonians 2:14

"He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." II Thessalonians 2:14

Mitch Kupchak, current general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers, played one of his final seasons for the Lakers as a player. He didn't play very much during the regular season and he was a bit discouraged. Jerry West pulled him aside and told him he didn't get him to play a lot of minutes during the regular season. He got him because during the playoffs there would come a time when he would play a few very important minutes. Sure enough, during a game in the championships, Mitch was called upon to come in and play some very significant spurts. He did and made some great plays that helped the Lakers win another championship. 

We may not know all the exact details of what God is going to do in our lives. We do know he called us to sanctify us in Christ. We do know that we are called to share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. He has some very significant moments planned for our lives.

What does God have in store for you today? Be open, be ready and be willing. Ask God to give you at least one opportunity to share his glory today. One act of love. One act of forgiveness. One act of mercy. One word of encouragement. One...

Father, use me today to share your glory with the people you put before me. Praise be to you in us today!

THERE IS ENOUGH FOR YOU: Psalms 71:14-15

"But as for me, I will always have hope;
     I will praise you more and more.
 My mouth will tell of your righteousness, 
     of your salvation all day long,
     though I know not its measure." Psalm 71:14-15

There are a lot of things I don't know. There is a lot I do not fully understand. I don't know the depth of God's salvation nor the full meaning of Christ as my righteousness. I just know that it is enough. Because of that truth, I will always have hope. I will be able to praise God more and more. 

You don't need to know everything about Christ, his death and  resurrection, his intercessory role before the Father and the promise of his second coming. You just need to know it is enough. Christ's righteousness in you, your salvation, is a lifetime lesson learned everyday.

Father, open the eyes of our understanding to see you in our lives today. Praise be to you in us today!

FINDING REFUGE IN GOD: Psalm 36:7-9

     "How priceless is your unfailing love!
 Both high and low among men
     find refuge in the shadow of your wings.
 They feast on the abundance of your house;
     you give them drink from your river of delights.
 For with you is the fountain of live;
     in you light we see light." Psalm 36:7-9

God's unfailing love....

• for everyone... that means you.
• provides refuge as we seek to abide in him.
• abundance... Christ came that we might have life, more abundantly, to the fullest.
• drink from the river of delights. Yes, often our life is supposed to consist of enjoyment.
• life, eternal life is knowing we are connected to eternity in Christ. Life is not just about the here and now, but, there will be eternity with God. He will provide justice. We look for grace and mercy in Christ.
• light. The true color of something is best seen in sunlight, not artificial light. In the same way, the light of God's Word tells us the truth in ways the nothing or no one else can. 

Find refuge in God's unfailing love today.

Father, show us yourself today! Open the eyes of our understanding to see your love in us today! Praise be to you in us today!

TODAY IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FAITH: II Thessalonians 2:13

"But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth." II Thessalonians 2:13

Why be thankful? Because does the saving work, we believe. Sometimes we forget the beautiful simplicity of God's work in our lives. 

Paul reminds us that despite the whole world that will refuse to believe the truth, we are part of the chosen who do believe. That is the reason to be thankful. Thankful because the Spirit is working in us. The sanctifying work of the Spirit is an ongoing process. God is working now. Salvation is not just a ticket to get into heaven when we die. Salvation is the continuous work of the Spirit in our lives shaping us into the image of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

What is our job? Our job is to believe and act accordingly. Because we believe God is working in our lives we seek him, daily. That is why you are reading this, today. That is why we read the Bible on a daily basis. That is why we go to church. 

Now, here is a great question: What opportunity will become evident today for me to act in faith? Think about that today as you go about your daily business. What opportunities to act in faith will God provide? Be ready.

Father, open our eyes to see your work in our lives. Help us to live by faith. Praise be to you in us today!