August 7 ~ 1 Timothy 3:14-16
14-16 I hope to visit you soon, but just in case I'm delayed, I'm writing this letter so you'll know how things ought to go in God's household, this God-alive church, bastion of truth. This Christian life is a great mystery, far exceeding our understanding, but some things are clear enough:
He appeared in a human body,
was proved right by the invisible Spirit,
was seen by angels.
He was proclaimed among all kinds of peoples,
believed in all over the world,
taken up into heavenly glory.
(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.)
Several years ago, I subscribed to O Magazine – one of Oprah Winfrey’s publications. She always ended on the last page with an editorial titled, “What I Know for Sure.” As I have considered these scriptures in Timothy and Paul’s instructions for how Christians should conduct themselves – both within the church and without – I have been reminded of many things we seem to forget or let lapse in our daily Christian living – and “what *I* know for sure”.
I believe that we get so caught up in our own agendas and egos that often we forget the true focus of church and Christian living – Jesus Christ. We concern ourselves with “feeling the Holy Spirit” in worship and “getting something out of it” and being spoken to and made to feel welcome and loved. Some of us concern ourselves with obtaining a “role” in the church or community that “validates” us and makes us feel important, or special. We forget that in God’s eyes, none is greater than another – or more important. We forget that it’s not about whether we enjoy the music or the sermon – or if every note is exactly correct or the thermostat is set to our liking or the pastor delivers a message we like – or whether people like us.
Jesus didn’t come to earth and suffer for us so that we could always be comfortable and feel good about ourselves and our church and community. Paul has pointed out in his letters to Timothy that this is not an easy path… that being a Christian ain’t for sissies!
I told someone recently that “I don’t know everything,” and this person said, “Well, I thought you did.” She was referring to my knowledge of what was going on in a particular situation (I think!), but I will tell you right now that when it comes to matters of faith, I do NOT know everything. There are questions I cannot answer – mysteries that escape me. But I know the answers will be revealed to me in God’s perfect timing, which may not be until I get to heaven.
However, like Paul, there ARE things I do “know for sure,” and like him, they include:
- Jesus came to earth in human form.
- The Holy Spirit descended upon Christ, and God was pleased.
- Christ was seen by angels.
- Christ’s Gospel was preached to the nations.
- I believe in Jesus Christ completely and totally on faith, since I have never seen Him in the flesh.
- Jesus ascended into heaven (Glory), and He will come to earth again someday.
You may be asking… how do you KNOW these things? You have readily admitted you have never seen Jesus in the flesh. I know these things because the Bible tells me they are true, and I believe from the depths of my heart that the Word of God is infallible and 100% the truth.
I hope that you are constantly learning and growing as a Christian. I hope that you understand that we don’t have to have all of the answers… and if someone tries to trip you up because you don’t, be confident that there are some mysteries that will not be revealed to us in our earthly lives. Daniel 2:28 says “there is a God in heaven Who reveals mysteries.” And I would like to issue a challenge to all of us to listen to the Apostle Paul’s words and put our focus back on Jesus and take it off of ourselves. What I know for sure is that keeping Jesus Christ our total focus in every situation is ALL that really matters.
©2008 Debbie Robus
--------------------------------------------------------------------
August 6 ~ 1 Timothy 3:8-13
8-13 The same goes for those who want to be servants in the church: serious, not deceitful, not too free with the bottle, not in it for what they can get out of it. They must be reverent before the mystery of the faith, not using their position to try to run things. Let them prove themselves first. If they show they can do it, take them on. No exceptions are to be made for women—same qualifications: serious, dependable, not sharp-tongued, not overfond of wine. Servants in the church are to be committed to their spouses, attentive to their own children, and diligent in looking after their own affairs. Those who do this servant work will come to be highly respected, a real credit to this Jesus-faith.
(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 hope you don’t think you are “off the hook” with regard to responsibilities just because you may not be a church leader. This passage clearly explains that we, just as church leaders, have to be kind and polite at Wal-Mart, watch how we dress and behave, avoid being “drunk and disorderly”, and humble ourselves at all times! While the church family may provide us with a wonderful opportunity for Christian fun and fellowship, the church is not to be used strictly for “social networking.” While we may prefer to “trade” with those who attend our church, the focus of our attendance on Sunday mornings should not be to pass out our business card and “make deals.”
I have thought a lot lately about Godly behavior, and how even the little things I do have a big impact on my witness. The times I am short with others – or maybe somewhat unkind (even with family!) are not the behavior of a respected servant. The times I pass judgment on others without truly knowing their situation are not a credit to my faith in Jesus. When we ask someone to help or take on a project or a committee assignment in the church for which they are not Spiritually equipped or ready just because we need another warm body, we are being unfair to that person – and to God. That is not good servanthood!
If God calls you to serve in some capacity in the church, by all means, be obedient and serve. But sometimes I think we forget that true service to God starts with being committed to our family – our parents, our siblings, our spouses, our children and our friends. True service begins with studying God’s word and developing a solid prayer life and developing ourselves Spiritually. True service starts with an awareness of who we are and how we treat others – how we behave at all times (not just in public) – and Who people see when they look at us. True servanthood begins “in our own back yard!”
As children of the Most High God, we have a responsibility to “be all we can be” for HIS army, which is the one that matters most. We have an obligation to pay close attention to how we act, how we treat others, what we do, and Who we serve. It is a gift to be a servant of God, and we must not take this privilege lightly! We must strive to humbly set ourselves apart and aspire to greatness in the Lord. It’s a daunting proposition… and if you are like me, it’s an incredible challenge. I’m giving it my best shot… taking this faith-in-Jesus servanthood on with all I have, and I’m in it for the long haul… are you?
©2008 Debbie Robus
------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 5 ~ 1 Timothy 3:1-7
1-7 If anyone wants to provide leadership in the church, good! But there are preconditions: A leader must be well-thought-of, committed to his wife, cool and collected, accessible, and hospitable. He must know what he's talking about, not be overfond of wine, not pushy but gentle, not thin-skinned, not money-hungry. He must handle his own affairs well, attentive to his own children and having their respect. For if someone is unable to handle his own affairs, how can he take care of God's church? He must not be a new believer, lest the position go to his head and the Devil trip him up. Outsiders must think well of him, or else the Devil will figure out a way to lure him into his trap.
(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 visited GirlScouts.org to get the exact wording of the Girl Scout Promise and the Girl Scout Law… you can visit the website for the actual oaths. I’m thinking these could be modified as great models for the Christian leader Paul is describing to Timothy…
The Christian Leader Promise
On my honor, I will try: To serve God, my church and my country, to help people at all times, and to live by the Laws of God.
The Christian Leader Law
I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect the authority of God and the church, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a brother/sister to everyone, in Jesus’ name.
Paul is right… if we are unable to manage our own lives and accomplish these things, how can we lead others? I am sure you can think of leaders who exemplify EVERY ONE of these qualities - and more. Sadly, leaders in churches around the globe come to mind who have fallen far short. While I am not defending leaders we perceive to be doing a poor job, can I tell you that it is HARD to be a leader in the church!
These are high standards, and one has to be on guard at all times. On the other hand, we must look at the whole person, and this goes both ways. Leaders ARE called to a high standard… but we, as the church body are called to check our opinions at the door and avoid judging others.
Finally, Paul mentions new believers and their role as leaders in the church. I am not sure there is a “magic number” or date when “new believers” become “old believers.” And surely, some “new Christians” have a “fire in the belly” for Jesus and sharing His gospel. But again, we must look at the whole picture, and the truth is that the bar IS raised for leaders – and those who lead in the church should be seasoned and grounded in all of the qualities Paul has listed for Timothy.
Are you leadership material – now or in the future? Is God calling you to serve in a leadership role in the church? If you feel Him tugging at your spirit in this area, I encourage you to study this passage and the attributes Paul has defined. See how you stack up – and where you need work… then prayerfully ask God to help you become an exemplary caretaker of His church.
©2008 Debbie Robus
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
August 4 ~ 1 Timothy 2:8-15
8-10 Since prayer is at the bottom of all this, what I want mostly is for men to pray - not shaking angry fists at enemies but raising holy hands to God. 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.
11-15 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.
(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 have read this passage in no less than six translations, and I know men are going to LOVE it at first glance, because Paul is saying that women are to be submissive to men and to stay quiet and obedient and let the men do all of the talking and decision making. This is a great example of taking scripture out of context. Look at EVERYTHING Paul says here before you jump to any major conclusions.
First of all, Paul is telling men AND women to raise holy hands to God and pray. He is also telling us to ALL stay humble… to focus more on beauty of the heart and less on outward appearance. Is he saying we can’t dress nicely and look nice? Absolutely not! He is just saying we must be balanced and not spend an exorbitant amount of time and energy on appearances at the expense of the work of sharing the Gospel with others.
I know churches where men will not “sit under” a woman who teaches a Sunday School class, and they cite this scripture as part of their reasoning. Did they read the last part? Did they see that childbearing reversed Eve? And did you notice that salvation requires faithfulness, love and holiness, and an ever deepening maturity in one’s Spiritual walk?
I have utmost respect for a Godly man who is head of his household. But there are many homes where the man is not living a life of faithfulness, love, and holiness – he is not Spiritually mature and walking in salvation. Should he be allowed to head his family… to teach them and be the guiding force for his children? On the other hand, if the mother is faithful, loving and holy and truly walking in salvation in this situation, don’t you think God would want HER to teach and guide her children?
In addition, I believe that now more than ever, God is anointing WOMEN to help spread the gospel and to teach both believers and non-believers the word of God. We are seeing several examples on a national level… Joyce Meyer, Kay Arthur, Beth Moore, and Priscilla Shirer, to name a few… and even more in small cities and communities throughout the world. God is calling women to put down the mirror and pick up The Book, and they are responding! We have embraced our salvation and holiness, and we are answering His call!So what do we need to take away from this passage? For me, I see that:
- It’s not about ME – how I look or whether I am in fashion – it is about my heart, my faithfulness, my holiness before God. I must spend less time getting manicures and reading fashion magazines and more time praying and studying God’s word.
- God is calling men AND women to be leaders in their homes and churches – to be His disciples and spread His gospel. Paul says God calls MEN to be the leaders, but He will use women, also. And certainly, women ARE called to learn about God’s word and to share this message with others.
- Often, in order to get the FULL meaning of a scripture passage, we have to study the surrounding verses and get the complete context of what is being said.
The woman may have sinned first, but as this passage puts it, man was right there on her heels to join her. God can use ALL of us sinners, if we will humble ourselves and walk in the holiness of His salvation. How and where is He using you?
©2008 Debbie Robus
-------------------------------------------------
August 3 ~ 1 Timothy 2:1-7
1-3 The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live.
4-7 He wants not only us but everyone saved, you know, everyone to get to know the truth we've learned: that there's one God and only one, and one Priest-Mediator between God and us—Jesus, who offered himself in exchange for everyone held captive by sin, to set them all free. Eventually the news is going to get out. This and this only has been my appointed work: getting this news to those who have never heard of God, and explaining how it works by simple faith and plain truth.
(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.)
As Christians, exactly what does God call us to do for Him? Surely Jesus has taught us to love one another as we love ourselves and to do to others as we would have done to us. He has told us to “feed my sheep” and minister to others. But did you realize we are CALLED to PRAY? Did you realize that God’s word tells us to pray for our government leaders and for families and neighbors and friends and enemies? Did you know that we are called to pray “every way we know how, which could include everything from the Lord’s Prayer to praying the Psalms to just sitting quietly and talking to God like you talk to your best friend?” This could even include singing prayers, drawing prayers, or writing your prayers down in a journal. But the bottom line is to pray – often and in any way possible – and for many people and situations, not just those “in our own back yard.”
The other thing God calls us to do as Christians is to spread the word about Him… to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how God works and grants us grace and mercy through simple acts of faith and trust in His word and promises.
I know these seem simple – pray and tell others – how hard can that be? Well, when was the last time you prayed – I mean really prayed with a humble heart? When was the last time you prayed for your government and our leaders? When was the last time you prayed for your church and church leaders? When was the last time you told someone about Jesus or even invited someone to church? When was the last time you shared a scripture or a note of encouragement and reminded somebody how important they were to God?
All of these things are simple things, but they do take time and effort… and being conscious and deliberate in our efforts. They won’t “just happen.” We have to stay focused on God and our faith and our efforts to increase – in both our own spiritual growth and connection to Him and our witness to others.I have seen a commercial lately for a fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association called “Memory Walk.” Their “pitch” is that you ask three people to walk, and they ask three people, and so on and so on… and all of this effort results in hundreds, if not thousands of people walking and raising funds for this organization. Now, if we apply this to our Spiritual life… you tell three people, and they tell three people, and so on and so on… do you see the potential for growing God’s kingdom? So what are you waiting for? Get busy… pray for three people – or more. Tell others the Good News! See what can be accomplished in short order. THIS is the way our Savior God wants us to live!
©2008 Debbie Robus
--------------------------------------------------------
August 2 ~ 1 Timothy 1:12-20
12-14 I'm so grateful to Christ Jesus for making me adequate to do this work. He went out on a limb, you know, in trusting me with this ministry. The only credentials I brought to it were invective and witch hunts and arrogance. But I was treated mercifully because I didn't know what I was doing—didn't know Who I was doing it against! Grace mixed with faith and love poured over me and into me. And all because of Jesus.
15-19 Here's a word you can take to heart and depend on: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. I'm proof—Public Sinner Number One—of someone who could never have made it apart from sheer mercy. And now he shows me off—evidence of his endless patience—to those who are right on the edge of trusting him forever.
Deep honor and bright glory to the King of All Time
One God, Immortal, Invisible, ever and always. Oh, yes!
I'm passing this work on to you, my son Timothy. The prophetic word that was directed to you prepared us for this. All those prayers are coming together now so you will do this well, fearless in your struggle, keeping a firm grip on your faith and on yourself. After all, this is a fight we're in.
19-20 There are some, you know, who by relaxing their grip and thinking anything goes have made a thorough mess of their faith. Hymenaeus and Alexander are two of them. I let them wander off to Satan to be taught a lesson or two about not blaspheming.
(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.)
Each time I do laundry, I find stains on a few pieces of clothing that must get special attention. Sometimes it is a grease stain from a lawnmower or small tool – or cooking oil. Sometimes it is a grass stain or a “dirty collar” from body oil and perspiration. Sometimes it is something really nasty looking that makes me think, “THAT will NEVER come out!” But each time, I fill my laundry sink with super hot water and Oxyclean and watch the cleaner do its magic and remove the stain.
I have found that sometimes, if I am not working in bright light, a stain will get by me… or seem to pop up out of nowhere. You get to church or somewhere else and look down at your nice clean khaki pants and there it is… the stain you didn’t see. Or sometimes, there is a stubborn stain that just won’t seem to go away. It may even disappear for awhile, but the next thing you know, it’s back. That seems to happen with rugs and carpets… you shampoo and get the stain out (or so you think), but in a few weeks or months, it is back again.
Paul is sort of describing himself like this. He was a stain…at times a dirty nasty stain (invective means “abusive”), and yet, through the grace and mercy of God through Jesus, he was made clean and useful. He was “wearable” again. Was he perfect? Not at all. Did some of his stains reappear from time to time? Most certainly… and as he points out in the case of Hymenaeus and Alexander, sometimes the “stains” were stubborn and seemed to be somewhat hopeless – or at the very least in need of more work.
In the case of my laundry, some stains require a lot of patience – and maybe a long soak. Others come out with just a spray of stain remover. But I am determined to keep working on them and not toss aside a serviceable piece of clothing. And that’s how it is for us with God. He sees our usefulness. He sees us clean and bright and stain (sin) free. He sees us for what we can become… not who and what we were. And through His grace and mercy, we useless sinful creatures become valuable to God and His Kingdom.
I don’t know about you, but I find that awesome and amazing… and so did Paul. I feel incredibly blessed that what God did for those who lived in Jesus’ day and before, He will do for you and me. I want to be as clean and fresh and stain-free as possible, don’t you? I want to keep a firm grip on my faith and “fight the good fight” for Christ. What about you – are you in?
©2008 Debbie Robus
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 1 ~ 1 Timothy 1:1-11
1-2 I, Paul, am an apostle on special assignment for Christ, our living hope. Under God our Savior's command, I'm writing this to you, Timothy, my son in the faith. All the best from our God and Christ be yours!
3-4 On my way to the province of Macedonia, I advised you to stay in Ephesus. Well, I haven't changed my mind. Stay right there on top of things so that the teaching stays on track. Apparently some people have been introducing fantasy stories and fanciful family trees that digress into silliness instead of pulling the people back into the center, deepening faith and obedience.
5-7 The whole point of what we're urging is simply love - love uncontaminated by self-interest and counterfeit faith, a life open to God. Those who fail to keep to this point soon wander off into cul-de-sacs of gossip. They set themselves up as experts on religious issues, but haven't the remotest idea of what they're holding forth with such imposing eloquence.
8-11 It's true that moral guidance and counsel need to be given, but the way you say it and to whom you say it are as important as what you say. It's obvious, isn't it, that the law code isn't primarily for people who live responsibly, but for the irresponsible, who defy all authority, riding roughshod over God, life, sex, truth, whatever! They are contemptuous of this great Message I've been put in charge of by this great God.
(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.)
Do you have an older brother or sister to whom you were always compared? I remember my sister and brother being so upset when a teacher would say, “Your sister did it this way,” or compared them to me in some manner. Or maybe you have relatives in your lineage who have embarrassed your family in some way, and you are concerned that people will remind you of these shortcomings… and may have already! Don’t you wish people would just see you for yourself and not compare you to anyone else? Sometimes it may be convenient to “trade on the family name,” but in plenty of cases, people want to be judged on their own merits, and not the deeds (good OR bad) of their family members past and present.
That’s what Paul is reminding Timothy… because, you see, we do it in the church, too. We look at people and evaluate their Spiritual life on the basis of their family reputation. We say, “I’m sure he is a fine Christian, because his daddy surely was,” or we say, “she is just like her grandmother… and her grandmother never darkened the church doors, so that’s where she gets it.” OR, we expect church leaders to behave a certain way… can’t you think of preachers’ kids who you watched with a critical eye, almost waiting for them to mess up so you could talk about them and judge?
Look, we need to be good examples, and we need good examples to follow. If you are still young, you need to become parents and adults who are a Godly influence for others, especially young people who are watching you. But we are not responsible for the behavior of our parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, or our forefathers – good or bad! We are not going to be judged by God based on our heritage. We are going to be totally, completely evaluated by God for what WE did ourselves… how we lived, who we blessed in His name, when and where we shared the Gospel, and Who WE served!
Law is good… past history is a great thing and a wonderful motivator and teacher, but in the end, it is up to US to determine our Spiritual path and legacy. How are YOU doing?
©2008 Debbie Robus
