Paul was a “spiritual” father to Timothy, but it was at his mother’s knee as a toddler he truly learned about Jesus. (II Timothy 3:15) It was the consistent teaching of both his grandmother and mother that established Timothy’s firm and confident belief in Jesus Christ and His Gospel…which gives all Christian women hope for their children regardless of the family dynamics.
Tag: belief in Jesus
Joshua 22:5 “But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to obey His commands, to hold fast to Him and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul.”
This verse brings together the very essence of what every Christian strives to do on a daily basis. We are to love God and in doing so, love others. We are to imitate His ways… obey His word…and resist the pull of the world, cleaving only to God…for in that is eternal life and unspeakable joy.
Mark 4: 26-29 ” He also said, ‘This is what the Kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed spouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces the grain – first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.’ “
The Kingdom of God is within the human heart, and just like the Spring soil, the seed is planted and grows. We may not totally understand how both happen…but by faith and trust we have this assurance…that our personal relationship with Jesus will grow within us, just like the life found inside that seed.
Isaiah 58:7 ” Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”
In this entire chapter, Isaiah is contrasting how the Children of Israel fasted, to what true fasting was meant to be. Fasting can become very self-centered…I’m denying myself, I’m going without, I’m abstaining from…I, I, I….you get the picture. But Isaiah wanted them to know that true fasting wasn’t about them and what they were doing at all, but rather, of reaching out to others around them. And interestingly enough, another meaning for fast – firm and secure – is exactly what the message of the Good News is. And what better people to help the poor than Christians who can fill the need both physically and spiritually?
Romans 14: 10-12 ” You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: ‘As surely as I live’, says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.’ So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.”
We are casual to judge others. We become judge, jury, and executioner with a glance or comment…judging others more harshly than ourselves. But there will come a time when all our judging will cease…for the great Judgment Day will come and it will be God doing the judging. And at that moment…all will recognize and submit to His authority alone. For at the name of Jesus every knee will bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. (Philippians 2: 10-11)
Philippians 2: 14-16 ” Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life.”
These verses aren’t asking you to go around singing all day, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…” But they are asking you to make a difference in the world and to not hide your faith. When you allow the love of Jesus to shine through you…people sense it…they know there’s something different about you…and they’re drawn to the light.
Galatians 6: 7-8 ” Do not be deceived: God can not be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
We sow our wild oats, and what do we get in return? Lung cancer from damaging long-term cigarette smoke…Hepatitis C from IV drug use…Sexually transmitted diseases from promiscuous activity…Cirrhosis of the liver from chronic alcohol abuse. It doesn’t sound like great compensation for a few minutes of pleasure. That’s why God’s offer is far superior with lasting benefits…for it says in Romans 6:23, ” For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
John 7:37 ” Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.”
When Jesus stood, He did so without bias or partiality towards any certain people group. When He spoke, it wasn’t directed to only a select few. Jesus showed no favoritism, bigotry, or chauvinism as He invited all to accept the free gift of eternal life. And that invitation still stands today to every man, woman, and child across this wide world. There is no barrier left that can prevent you from receiving this gift offered by a loving Savior.
I John 2:17 ” The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”
All the world’s affections and fascinations will not last…they are here but a day and then gone. The only thing that remains…the only true thing we can base our life and faith around is the person of Jesus Christ. For it’s by Him and Him alone that we might be saved.
Mark 10:48 ” Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, ‘ Son of David, have mercy on me!’ “
Blind Bartimaeus was begging by the roadside near Jericho, when from all the commotion, he realized Jesus was walking his way. He started shouting at the top of his lungs trying get the attention of Jesus who he heard healed people. And he continued to yell…and yell – to the point the gathering crowd reprimanded him sharply. But Bartimaeus was undeterred…for he just knew that Jesus could heal him…so he kept calling out, ” Jesus, heal me!” Don’t ever allow other people’s disapproval or doubt stop you from reaching out to Jesus and receiving your healing…just keep on yelling!
Safetypinlove 