Paul did nothing to merit or qualify for God’s mercy…quite the opposite! In Acts 8:3 we see him doing everything he could to destroy the Church by going house to house, dragging out both men & women and putting them into prison. This was not simple harassment but an attempt to ravage the fledgling Church into oblivion…it was calculated mistreatment for the pure pleasure of afflicting pain on others. But on that dusty road to Damascus Jesus got ahold of Paul (or Saul) and he became a changed man. Yet Paul is not saying here that ignorance can excuse sin…for we don’t know what we don’t know. Later, in this letter to Timothy, Paul is impressing on Timothy the “even though’s” of his past life. Even though Paul reviled & tried to destroy the good name of Jesus…even though he oppressed & tormented innocent people…even though he was a violent man…God still showed him mercy. Or as we see in verses 15-16, “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 in Him and receive eternal life.” Maybe your life right now isn’t all it could be and you’re searching for peace…know that just like Paul all your “even though’s” will never negate the mercy & grace of God if you will just believe.
Jeremiah 32:17 ” Ah, Sovereign Lord, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for You.”
The wonders of God aren’t ever too difficult for Him. It’s beyond our comprehension though to imagine that God called into being the universe by His absolute power – creating everything out of nothing. But Jesus attested to this in Matthew 19:26 when He said, “With God all things are possible.” Elsewhere in Jeremiah, the prophet wrote, “He made the earth by His power; He founded the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding.” (Jeremiah 51:15) God is the Maker of all things…sovereign over all…existing before time began. So it’s simple – the miracles of God are an easy thing in His eyes, for He can accomplish what He desires according to His Divine Will.
Matthew 5:39 ” Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
Have you ever had someone lambaste you with such a stinging & malicious accusation that it was worse than being backhanded across the face? And as you stood there in startled disbelief, you could feel two forces rising up within you. The old you immediately taking offense with feelings of indignation & resentment…while the new you taking a very deep ragged breath and then imitating the very nature of Jesus Christ…demonstrating humility & meekness. Romans 12:18 calls us to be a peacemaker by obligation & aim…while still acknowledging that harmony isn’t always possible – since truth divides as well as unites – we should still strive for peace in all relationships. For that insult can become a opportunity to show the incredible sweetness of the Lord…of speaking a blessing rather than a curse, and praying for your enemies. (Matthew 5:44)
I Peter 1:6 ” Though now for a little while you may have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.”
If you live in this world you will experience trials, affliction, illness, and personal loss…there’s no way around it. And while you may successfully find distractions during the day to divert your mind & attention…it’s when your head hits the pillow at night and you’re alone with those troubling thoughts…when confusing & conflicting emotions overwhelm you…and when that tear-stained pillow bear witness to the grief, sorrow, & emotional pain within… that’s when only God’s Presence can quiet your mind. Charles Spurgeon once said, “When you go through a trial, the sovereignty of God is the pillow upon which you lay your head.” Only God can be our shelter & refuge, for only God is Sovereign over all, and only in Him can we truly find peace, comfort, and hope. “The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces…” (Isaiah 25:8)
II Timothy 4:2 ” Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction.”
To know the mind, heart, & Will of God, we must know His Word. For all of Scripture is God-breathed…prompted, inspired, and divinely breathed out in perfect form & fashion. So then as Believers of God, we are to be spiritual messengers of God’s Word to the world…this Gospel Message so ingrained within us, that it has become part of our being. But here Paul also warns Timothy of several pitfalls. First, preach the Word with great patience. For thumping people over the head with your Bible will never get you converts, neither will irritation & intolerance help people to see The Way any clearer. Secondly, we are to teach the full doctrine of Christ, not overlooking any part just because we don’t think it’s important. If it’s in the Bible, it’s important…and besides, we have no idea what detail of the Gospel Message will tug at & convict the person we’re telling it to. Preach the Word.
II Corinthians 8:16-17 ” I thank God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative.”
Titus was one of Paul’s most trusted & able assistants…and here, he is sending Titus back to the Church in Corinth ahead of Paul’s own return. But Titus’s journey was not inspired only by Paul’s ardent zeal for the Church in Corinth, but by his own keen interest, eagerness, & drive to do the Will of God. Oh that we would have the same enthusiasm & ambition to serve God as we did when we were running after the things of the world. That somehow our “Party Hearty” mentality & determination to have fun & a good time could be translated & transformed into the same kind of wholehearted eagerness to do God’s Kingdom Work now. Or as the words of Charles Spurgeon challenges fellow Believers, ” Your body was a willing horse when it was in the service of the devil, let it not be a sluggish hack now that it draws the chariot of Christ.”
Matthew 13: 24-25 ” Jesus told them another parable; ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.’ “
The weeds Jesus is speaking of here are called darnel or “mimic weed”, a plant that looks remarkably like wheat, but its seed is toxic to humans. In fact, according to Ancient Roman Law, sowing this weed seed in your enemy’s field was prohibited. So what was Jesus saying in this parable? As we know, Jesus spoke in Parables to explain Spiritual Truths and we just need to look a little further in Chapter 13 to see His explanation. Starting in verses 36-43, Jesus spells it out for His disciples. The field is the whole world, the Sower is the Son of Man with the good seed being worshippers of God. The enemy, the devil, then comes to sow the darnel seed, the false & deceptive imposter, into the world. And so as Believers, we live in the midst of a very broken world…coexisting with unrighteousness, evil, and perversion at every turn. But Jesus went on to encourage His disciples that regardless of what we see around us, God’s reign advances quietly but sovereignly as the Day of The Lord draws closer.
Proverb 30:5-6 “Every Word of God is flawless…do not add to His Words.”
Charles Spurgeon once penned, “Be assured, there is nothing new in Theology except that which is false.” The infallible Word of God is reliable, certain, and incapable of error. Every Word in the Bible is perfect & flawless, thus unable to mislead, deceive, or disappoint. Yet it’s when men think the Word of God is too old fashion, needs to be revised & revamped that falsehoods raise their ugly heads. God’s instructions to Moses for the people was clear, “Don’t add to what I command you and don’t subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.” (Deuteronomy 4:2) which was later reiterated again in the last Chapter of Revelation…Don’t add or take away from this Book. So all we can say about the Word of God is Yes & Amen.
Joshua 24:15 “…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…”
The choice is entirely yours. It all boils down to your will against God’s, and just who is on the throne of your life. It’s the difference between being obedient or rebellious, faithful or faithless. It means willingly yielding your allegiance to God rather than holding on to selfish wants & desires. Your choice to serve God is entirely your choice to make… and it’s a deliberate determination you’ll make…not something, I’m sorry to say, that you’ll automatically fall into. For you can’t serve two masters, (Matthew 6:24) otherwise you’ll sadly find out that you’re devoted to one & despise the other.
Isaiah 59:1-2 ” Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.”
John 9:31 puts it well, “God doesn’t listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does His Will.” But nor can we suppose that God can be manipulated, cajoled, bullied, or flattered into helping those who are habitually disobedient. Sin separates us from God & hinders our prayers, for you can’t continue to sin and expect your voice to be heard on high. (Isaiah 58:4) So in the end, the words of Jeremiah 5:25 ring so true…”Your sins have deprived you of good.” … the goodness of God, happiness, wisdom, peace and joy.
Safetypinlove 