Scripture
1 Timothy 1:5 The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.
Observation
The purpose of Paul's writing to Timothy was application, not just knowledge. The result would be people filled with love that emanates from three sources: a heart that is pure - that deals with motives and perspectives; a conscience that is clear - that deals with staying far from sin and living a life of quick repentance, and a genuine faith - that deals with an authentic trust in God, not only in word, but in action and in thougth.
Application.
Focussing on having a pure heart, clear conscience and genuine faith is nice, but it must result in an infilling of love. The goal of my teaching is love. I must not mistake spiritual purity as the goal, but as a means to the goal - to be filled (to overflowing) with love.
Prayer
Lord, please help me to have a pure heart, a clear conscience and a genuine faith, that I might overflow with love for people. Help me to be a better lover of people.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Keep Practicing
Scripture
Philippians 4:9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
Observation
Paul writes for the church in Phillipi to keep practicing, not keep learning. Do what he had already instructed them to do, what he modelled for them. In doing so, he says "The God of Peace" would be with them. God Himself, who is the author of peace, will instil that in them.
Application
Put into practice what I have learned and received. Knowing isn't enough; doing is where it's at. And make it a practice, a custom, a habit. "It is my practice to....". So what are the things that I have learned or been given that I need to add. I'm glad there are some that I am already doing, but there are others I am not doing. I am in the practice of working for the Lord very hard, and reading through the Bible each year, and going to church, and both planning and preparing. But I see what I need to make a practice, is a dedicated intentional set aside strategic and ordered prayer life.
Prayer
Lord, as I move towards this kind of a prayer life, may it not only be systematic and intentional, may it be life giving and accomplish much.
Philippians 4:9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
Observation
Paul writes for the church in Phillipi to keep practicing, not keep learning. Do what he had already instructed them to do, what he modelled for them. In doing so, he says "The God of Peace" would be with them. God Himself, who is the author of peace, will instil that in them.
Application
Put into practice what I have learned and received. Knowing isn't enough; doing is where it's at. And make it a practice, a custom, a habit. "It is my practice to....". So what are the things that I have learned or been given that I need to add. I'm glad there are some that I am already doing, but there are others I am not doing. I am in the practice of working for the Lord very hard, and reading through the Bible each year, and going to church, and both planning and preparing. But I see what I need to make a practice, is a dedicated intentional set aside strategic and ordered prayer life.
Prayer
Lord, as I move towards this kind of a prayer life, may it not only be systematic and intentional, may it be life giving and accomplish much.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Words: Good, Helpful & Encouraging
Scripture
Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Eph 4:29
Observation
Good, helpful and encouraging. I can think of someone who consistently says the opposite of this text. Most everything they say is not good, helpful or encouraging. And it makes me want to avoid them.It makes them come across as judgemental, mean, uncaring, and self righteous. I'm thinking Paul was writing to the Ephesians that they might be winsome.
Application
I need to look at my life and filter my words through this text. Good, Helpful, Encouraging. I wonder how often I will talk?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I don't look at other's failures with this text, as in, "boy, could they ever use this"; I look at myself. I know there are many times I speak what is not good, helpful or encouraging. Please touch my thoughts, and my heart, so that I might speak what is good, helpful and encouraging. To my family, to our staff, to our church, to the world.
Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Eph 4:29
Observation
Good, helpful and encouraging. I can think of someone who consistently says the opposite of this text. Most everything they say is not good, helpful or encouraging. And it makes me want to avoid them.It makes them come across as judgemental, mean, uncaring, and self righteous. I'm thinking Paul was writing to the Ephesians that they might be winsome.
Application
I need to look at my life and filter my words through this text. Good, Helpful, Encouraging. I wonder how often I will talk?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I don't look at other's failures with this text, as in, "boy, could they ever use this"; I look at myself. I know there are many times I speak what is not good, helpful or encouraging. Please touch my thoughts, and my heart, so that I might speak what is good, helpful and encouraging. To my family, to our staff, to our church, to the world.
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