August 14 ~ 1 Timothy 6:17-21
17-19 Tell those rich in this world's wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage - to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they'll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life.
20-21 And oh, my dear Timothy, guard the treasure you were given! Guard it with your life. Avoid the talk-show religion and the practiced confusion of the so-called experts. People caught up in a lot of talk can miss the whole point of faith.
Overwhelming grace keep you!
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
I think I may have shared with you before that my husband and I sponsor a child in Ghana. Our “son” is Timothy Kodjo Owusu Frim. He goes by Kodjo, and he calls us “Mum” and “Dad”. We write letters to him and send him photos and coloring pages and small encouragement cards – and we give money to Compassion International each month, at Christmas and on Kodjo’s birthday, so that his needs will be met. He gets food, clothing, and schooling from our sponsorship, and some of the money goes to help his grandmother, with whom he lives. The average MONTHLY income in Kodjo’s village in Ghana is $32. Think about that… $32 per MONTH! We often spend that much or more on a single meal! And yet, Kodjo’s letters are full of prayers and blessings for US!!
I know we have all heard before that money is not everything, but each of us needs an occasional reminder. We are RICH, I tell you – RICH! Okay, so maybe we are not Bill Gates or Donald Trump rich, but we have so much more than much of the rest of the world. Yet often, those folks seem far happier - far more joyful and faith-filled than we are. They are busy serving God and helping others and building wealth that really matters.
We are so blessed. We are so wealthy – in every sense of the word. So why don’t we live like it? Why don’t we “share the wealth” with those around us? Words are cheap, and many of us “talk a good game,” but there is nothing of substance to back it up. Our faith is weak and our joy is fickle – it blows with the wind. We need to take a good hard look at how we are living… what is important to us… how we spend our money and our time, and what we are really made of… WHO holds the key to our future. We need the faith of a poor little 7-year-old boy from Ghana, who trusts in the same God as we do… but maybe more so.
I encourage you to examine your heart and your life. Find your true wealth in Jesus. You cannot put a dollar value on your salvation. He has already attained it for you. The rest is really just an added bonus. Let’s start living like blessed, wealthy children of the Most High God… because that’s exactly what we are!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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August 13 ~ 1 Timothy 6:11-16
11-12 But you, Timothy, man of God: Run for your life from all this. Pursue a righteous life - a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. Run hard and fast in the faith. Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to, the life you so fervently embraced in the presence of so many witnesses.
13-16 I'm charging you before the life-giving God and before Christ, who took his stand before Pontius Pilate and didn't give an inch: Keep this command to the letter, and don't slack off. Our Master, Jesus Christ, is on his way. He'll show up right on time, his arrival guaranteed by the Blessed and Undisputed Ruler, High King, High God. He's the only one death can't touch, his light so bright no one can get close. He's never been seen by human eyes - human eyes can't take him in! Honor to him, and eternal rule! Oh, yes.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Paul did a great job of encouraging Timothy. He laid out all the facts… told Timothy how to live a Godly life… and he reminded him of the rewards that would result – namely, the return of Jesus Christ! He described vividly how awesome and amazing it would be to stand in the physical presence of Jesus – a light so bright we humans could not take it in!
We know what to do… we’ve read the passage, heard the words. But do we have someone to encourage us… to cheer us on along the way? Are you encouraging others in their daily living for Jesus? Do you realize that much of Paul’s ministry was in the form of letters he wrote from prison? If God can use Paul in this manner to reach so many – to teach and encourage others – can’t He surely use us? Who can you encourage today? Did you know that forwarding this devotional (or one like it) to a friend would be a form of ministry and encouragement? Can you send a Christian e-card to someone today? Can you extend common courtesy to someone in a store, the cafeteria line, or your class? Can you pray for someone you barely know – and let someone else know that they are in your prayers today? Think outside the box. Find ways to minister like Paul – and to be Godly and faithful like Timothy. Remember – don’t slack off – Jesus is on His way!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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August 12 ~ 1 Timothy 6:2-5
2-5 These are the things I want you to teach and preach. If you have leaders there who teach otherwise, who refuse the solid words of our Master Jesus and this godly instruction, tag them for what they are: ignorant windbags who infect the air with germs of envy, controversy, bad-mouthing, suspicious rumors. Eventually there's an epidemic of backstabbing, and truth is but a distant memory. They think religion is a way to make a fast buck.
6-8 A devout life does bring wealth, but it's the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that's enough.
9-10 But if it's only money these leaders are after, they'll self-destruct in no time. Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Church has become “big business” in many places. And while it does cost money to operate as a church, making money the focus of a ministry is a serious, if not fatal mistake… and as we see here, it is not Biblical. Some people want us to believe that living a Spirit-filled Christian life will automatically translate to financial wealth. God will bless our faithfulness with rewards like a big house, fancy cars, jewelry, and more.
The truth is that God DOES reward faithfulness, but not necessarily on this earth in OUR lifetime. Your reward of riches and rubies and diamonds may be awaiting you in heaven! Your reward on this earth may be the ability to pay all of your bills, put food on your table and clothes on your back, and stay out of debt.
It’s okay to have nice things. It is okay to aspire to being financially secure. But don’t make this the main focus of your life. Keep Jesus as your main focus. Work hard and do what God calls you to do, and He will take care of your needs in return.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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August 11 ~ 1 Timothy 5:1-2
1-2 Don't be harsh or impatient with an older man. Talk to him as you would your own father, and to the younger men as your brothers. Reverently honor an older woman as you would your mother, and the younger women as sisters.
(Scripture from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
When I was in junior high school, my neighbors (and fellow church members) started a ministry in the local nursing home. This neighbor and his wife went every Tuesday evening to the nursing home to conduct a church service, and they recruited me to go along and play the piano while the residents sang hymns. Now, on the surface, that didn’t seem like a whole lot of fun for a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl to spend time with old people in a nursing home. But I have to tell you, in short order, those people won me over, and I got really attached. I began to learn things about some of the residents, and they became special to me.
Additionally, my mother’s paternal grandparents lived well into their 80’s and died when I was in about the sixth grade. I spent many fun times at my great-grandparents’ meager country home in Wilburn. Several of my elderly relatives have spent time in the nursing home and my paternal grandmother is still “up and going” at the young age of nearly 96. So I have spent a LOT of time with elderly folks, and I have come to respect and admire them for their many fine qualities, and I have developed a deep affection for the elderly.
I wish I could say that I am always patient with older folks. I wish I could say that, as my grandmother’s guardian, I am never harsh with her. I do try my best to honor and revere her, and I DO value her wisdom and life experiences. I respect the incredible journey that has been her life and all that it has encompassed. I know it’s hard. When it takes forever for an elderly person to tell you something – or remember what he/she wanted to say – and you are in a hurry, it can be really frustrating. And as I see others who are impatient and harsh with elderly persons – sometimes store clerks or medical personnel or a stressed-out relative who is acting as caregiver – I am reminded that, no matter how bad our day may be, God still expects us to “respect our elders.” And I am challenged to bite my tongue and do better myself.
Did you know that God also calls us to be good mentors? It’s right here in this passage. No matter our age, we can be “big brothers” or “big sisters” in Christ to those who are younger. We can be good examples to follow. We can be a shoulder to lean on or a source of knowledge and advice when needed.
I told you being a Christian isn’t easy! The responsibilities and the “stakes” are high – but the rewards are even higher! Showing respect for our elders and helping those who are younger is a challenge – but it is a very good place to start, don’t you think?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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August 10 ~ 1 Timothy 4:11-16
11-14 Get the word out. Teach all these things. And don't let anyone put you down because you're young. Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity. Stay at your post reading Scripture, giving counsel, teaching. And that special gift of ministry you were given when the leaders of the church laid hands on you and prayed - keep that dusted off and in use.
15-16 Cultivate these things. Immerse yourself in them. The people will all see you mature right before their eyes! Keep a firm grasp on both your character and your teaching. Don't be diverted. Just keep at it. Both you and those who hear you will experience salvation.
(Scripture from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
I know people who are mature Christians at a young age, and those who are still immature in their faith in their 80’s and 90’s. I know people who became Christians and immediately got busy learning all they could – reading and studying and growing daily in knowledge and faith. They actually were more effective witnesses than some who had been Christians for decades! I know many faithful Christians who don’t teach or preach, but the manner in which they conduct themselves daily is a stronger witness for Jesus than that of many well-known evangelists. When it comes to Christian faith and witness, age truly is “just a number.” Paul is reminding us not to let that keep us from sharing Jesus with others and offering wise counsel and encouragement.
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul lists the parts of the church body as: apostles, prophets, teachers, miracle workers, healers, helpers, organizers, and those who pray in tongues. He explains that we don’t all have ALL of these skills and roles, just like your eyes don’t do the same thing as your arms, but they are both parts of your body. I don’t know what your “church body part” is. You may have more than one of these. You may be a great organizer AND a helper. You may be a wonderful teacher, and an apostle (special messenger) - or lay speaker. God might have called you into full-time ministry or medicine. He might have given you the gift of speaking in tongues or performing miracles in His name.
Whatever your role – and you DO have one – the key is to prayerfully figure out what that role is, and then to DO IT! Don’t use age as an excuse – either physical or Spiritual. You are never too young OR too old to serve God and share His message with others, and certainly living a life of faith by example is never out of date! So pay attention to the last verses of this passage. Cultivate your witness, keep at it, and don’t get diverted. Then stand back and watch the blessings flow in all directions!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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August 9 ~ 1 Timothy 4:6-10
6-10 You've been raised on the Message of the faith and have followed sound teaching. Now pass on this counsel to the followers of Jesus there, and you'll be a good servant of Jesus. Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion. Exercise daily in God — no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart. This is why we've thrown ourselves into this venture so totally. We're banking on the living God, Savior of all men and women, especially believers.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
I used to be a runner. In my twenties, I ran as much as six miles a day. I ran 10k races and trained in between, and I have the stiff knees today to prove it! I was very faithful to my training, and it really upset me if I had to miss a day’s run. A fellow teacher, who happened to be a neighbor, decided she would like to take up running. She asked if she could join me on my daily runs, and I agreed. At first, she could barely run a tenth of a mile. I encouraged her, and I would run ahead, then loop back and catch up with her. Soon, she could run a half mile, then a mile, and ultimately, she could do a full three-mile trek with me. We started training one late winter, and the summer proved to be a brutally hot one, but we persevered, running in 100-degree heat each evening at 8:00. Since we had trained and conditioned ourselves, we had adapted to the heat and were able to handle it.
Several years earlier, my husband’s brother – a veteran of several marathons – had encouraged me as I developed my running routine. He had looped along with me on a couple of runs and told me, “you can make it another mile” and helped me to gain in distance and confidence. In helping my neighbor friend, I was passing on what had been shared with me. And this is what Paul is talking about Spiritually. We know what is sound and fundamental to our Christian faith. Now it is time to share that with others – to counsel and encourage them in developing THEIR faith. It is our responsibility to see that people are well-grounded in the basics of Bible study and prayer, so that they don’t get bogged down by side issues – practices and routines that some may say are “spiritual” but are not necessarily scriptural (and there IS a difference!). It is time to condition ourselves and others, so that we can adapt to any situation Satan throws at us and stay on course!
Paul is right – I know from my perspective, my daily “Spiritual workout” routine could definitely use some work. I need to become more disciplined and to make daily Bible study and prayer time so much a part of my day that I can’t imagine missing them. We seem to set aside time for everything from a daily trip to the gym to watching our favorite television programs to walking the dog. So why on earth would we give time spent with God and developing our faith any less attention? Isn’t it time for a revamp of our priorities? Like the old song, I’m wondering… “what condition is your (Spiritual) condition in” these days? Isn’t it time we got Spiritually fit once and for all?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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August 8 ~ 1 Timothy 4:1-5
1-5 The Spirit makes it clear that as time goes on, some are going to give up on the faith and chase after demonic illusions put forth by professional liars. These liars have lied so well and for so long that they've lost their capacity for truth. They will tell you not to get married. They'll tell you not to eat this or that food - perfectly good food God created to be eaten heartily and with thanksgiving by believers who know better! Everything God created is good, and to be received with thanks. Nothing is to be sneered at and thrown out. God's Word and our prayers make every item in creation holy.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
In my twenties and thirties, I tried all sorts of diets. This one was great… that one was better. Don’t eat carbs. No – wait! – FAT is the culprit! Eat only wieners for one day, bananas another, and boiled eggs for another, and you’ll lose 10 pounds in three days! There were others. I know people who have tried all of the commercial diet programs, and for awhile, they have success with each one. And you know what happens? The human body loses its capacity to lose weight… all of the diets create what is known as a “yo-yo” effect, and losing weight becomes harder than ever to accomplish. The concept of consuming fewer calories than you burn seems to elude many of us as we search for a magic bullet to melt away the pounds and inches!
So it is with our faith. Someone tells us that baptism by immersion is necessary for salvation. Someone else says “a little sprinkle” will do ya. Someone says we can’t use musical instruments in worship – someone else says a piano and organ are okay, but do NOT use drums! Someone else says God made all instruments, so anything goes! Some say dancing is a sin. Others dance in church as part of the ministry! Do you see how this can all get confusing? And when you factor in that we, as humans, tend to believe what we WANT to believe if given a choice, it is easy to see how quickly the truth becomes distorted… until we don’t have a CLUE what actually IS the truth any more and nothing works!
There is only one solution to this. Recently I heard an evangelist say, “Don’t take my word for all of this. Don’t just say, ‘Well, Pastor said this or that, so that’s what I believe.’ I have given you the tools. I have taught you to read scripture and discern it for yourself. You know how to pray. Now go see for YOURSELF what the Bible has to say – see what God is telling you in His word.” That is incredibly sound advice! I am not saying you should never consult a concordance or study with others or get someone else’s opinion – or listen to your pastor and Sunday School teachers. But we have fallen so far away from pure and simple Bible study and prayer and LISTENING to what God is telling each one of US. The time has come to simplify our faith – to put our “Spiritual diet” on a diet! The time has come to see God’s holiness in everything and everyone He created, to thank Him for his grace and mercy, and to humbly seek HIM for ourselves and make things right!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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