"The Grace of God Has Appeared To All People"

"....Teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine....For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.  It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope-- the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good."  (2 Timothy 2, NIV)

After a life time in the Church, my take on this text is that it should have been included in the "Four Spiritual Laws."  Evangelism/charismatic-ism has made far too much emphasis on, "Only believe," and it has been exactly that, "Only believe."  To speak of such things as in our text would not build the modern "church."  It offends bebop religion.

What a blessing reading our text today.  Salvation is not only what Jesus saves us from.  Salvation is equally what Jesus saves us for.  I suspect that our text would not go over very well with the "seeker friendlies."  Who wants to talk about, "....say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives..," and, "to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself..."?  What I call, adaptable christianity, rails on such commands in our text as Victorian Christianity, "Hell fire and brimstone," judgmental, "holier than thou," all of which is code for, "Let's tweak the Bible to make it "relevant." 

"But for us who are being saved, it is the power of God", i.e., "....the grace of God...that offers salvation to all people...in...the great God and Savior, Jesus Christ."  Why would anyone in their right mind reject, "the power of God...to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people for His very own," for the childish, temper-tantrum desire to be "left alone," to the "don't judge me" attitude; "after all, God knows my heart."  Yes, and that is the reason He keeps reminding us with today's text.

Paul then tells Titus, "These, then, are the things you should teach.  Encourage and rebuke with all authority."  And, I might add, "These...are the things you should", do.  The Gospel is not for some mental "believing" process; it is for the doing, for the living.  Isn't this what we who are "after" Jesus really want?  If you listen to the many testimonies we have all heard over the years, so many of them are thanking Jesus for delivering them from, "....ungodliness and worldly passions, and..," a life lived without, "self-control[]." 

Twice in the Amplified Bible the phrase, "reminding you," occurs.  Voila.

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You that You, "appeared...to all people."  Amen.
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Thanks to those who are praying for Sarah.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

There Are So Many Lonely People

"The first time I was brought before the judge, no one was with me.  Everyone had abandoned me....But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength....Hurry so you can get here before winter."  (2 Timothy 4, NLT)

I had lunch with Andrew yesterday, the day of reading this text.  There were two secretaries from the college in the restaurant.  Later, he told me that one of them seemed so very lonely.  She had just lost her mother and had no other family, seemed lost.  I wanted to go back in the restaurant and do something, listen, attempt comfort, whatever; she had left.  There are so many "out there" like her.

Many religious people are like that Polish student who was in a Bible conference where I was teaching during the communist era.  "Paul would never have been like that."  Of course not; most religious people need heroes who have no problems.  Yet Paul had been abandoned by, "everyone," in a way that most of us have never known.  If we read this last Epistle without religious glasses, we see a human being who knew what loneliness was like, "Hurry so you can get here before winter," and I don't think, as some, that he just needed, "the coat I left with Carpus at Troas."  He needed a friend.

Sometimes in life, the abandonment is imagined and not real.  In those few cases, however, where it is real, you and I need to have our "antennae" out.  What about you today?  Is there an, "Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm...?"  Is there in your life a sense of, "Everyone abandoned me"?  I don't mean to sound corny, but I haven't.  Sometimes we just have to reach out to others and not expect everyone to know just what is going on in our lives.  Seek out in your local Church some brother/sister in Jesus who just may be willing to be with you in difficult times.

Nevertheless, I so very strongly bring our attention to, "But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength...."  This is Jesus, "The Lord [who] is My Shepherd....Yea, though....everyone abandoned [you]."

Father, in Jesus' Name, in the Holy Spirit keep me "alert."  Amen.
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* Please pray for Sarah.  She injured her leg over a month ago, and is having much discomfort.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

Beware of Those "Itching Ears"

"....I give you this charge:  Preach the Word....For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.  Instead, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."  (2 Timothy 4;3, NIV)

"Preach the Word," and, "itching ears," are two different worlds. 

If I read the Bible daily, nothing any preacher, Bible teacher, fellow Believer in Jesus says should ever come as a shock.  That only happens when I am not a person committed to, "the Words of God."  If, on the other hand, I am an, "itching ears," person, those who preach and teach, those whose lives are totally surrendered to Jesus, "the Word," will be a continual "shock."

For far too many, "itching ears," is the way they choose a local church.
Of course, this is not the only reason some leave a local church; there are indeed legitimate reasons.  But I choose not to dwell on that.  What came to me this morning is, How much of that, "itching ears," doctrine really helps people?

You and I know that a life of just pursuing justification for our beliefs, our life style, going to church services and conferences where they, "prophesy smooth things," keeps us from the real help, the real healing that we all need.  Anyway, if life were a "smooth" journey, "smooth things," would be the answer.  Have you found it, "smooth"?

"Sound doctrine," the Truth in Jesus, is that which alone can heal what the Bible calls, "a broken spirit." Paul told Timothy, and our Lord Jesus, "The Word of God," tells us in the, "Preach the Word," command that the only "source" of life, healing, "and the pursuit of happiness" is in daily reading, meditating, and obeying the, "God-Breathed," Words.  You know my continual testimony.

Whatever suffering, heartache, rejection, shattered dreams a person may be facing today, "itching ears," and, "prophesy smooth things," is not the answer; you and I know that.  The thought occurred to me the other day: An absolute commitment to Jesus Christ is synonymous with continual submission to His Words.  I cannot talk of, "born again," or, "saved," or Christian, or preacher, or missionary, or active church member if "The Book" does not dominate my life.

The hymn says that when heartache comes, "take it to the Lord in prayer."  I would add, Let Jesus "take it to you" in His Words.

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You that I see in Your Words to me a very fine Father.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

KTBTIB Nottingham sent you a video

"If it had not been the Lord Who was on our side--LET ISRAEL NOW SAY-- if it had not been the Lord Who was on our side..., then.., then.., then...." (From Psalm 124:1-4, ESV)

This includes, of course, you and me.

There are many opinions as to just what these Psalms were written for, but it is for sure that they were written for the People of The Covenant, People of Jesus Christ.  They are to me "reminder Psalms," Psalms which tell me to remember and never forget that, "If it had not been the Lord Jesus Christ who was on [my] side...," well, unimaginable.

I was reading/listening to my Psalms today, 121-125.  I cannot tell you the blessed time I had, and am still having.  The version is not that important, but it happened to be in the ESV.  I kept wondering why I was "experiencing" what I was.  It does not surprise me, of course; the Words are the very Breath of, "The Word of God," Jesus.  I highly recommend you give it a try.  Now if you are so inclined to say, "O, I've done that before," well, so have I, many, many times.  But remember the nature of, "God-Breathed," Words, "....They are life to those who find them, and medicine to all their flesh."  They are, "alive and active...."  I think the word can be, fresh.
 
Psalm 124 was of particular blessing this morning.  Our text seemed to be shouting out to me, "If it had not been the Lord...."  Whatever follows those words in life, the answer is still the same: "I don't want to think about it."  Those persons or things, "....would have swallowed us alive....The flood would have swept us away....Then over us would have gone the raging waters.

But, ah, my friend, "Blessed be the Lord Jesus Who has not given us as prey to their teeth!  We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers....Our help is in the Name of the Lord [Jesus Christ], Who made heaven and earth."

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You so much for, well, right now.  Amen.

KTBTIB Nottingham has shared a video with you on YouTube

It's Psalm 119 Day-- Yippee

"I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation." (Psalm 119:99, NASB)

"Insight," is not your, "smarter than."  "Insight," is only in, "The Word of God," Himself, Jesus, in His Words.  "Insight," does not come from "book learnin'.  It comes from Book-reading.  Whatever, "insight," you and I have comes only in, "Your Testimonies/Word."  Never, ever think that it is your "natural ability." 

Here are some verses of which I took particular "note," this month as I read Psalm 119.  "....Your Word...produces reverence for You....And I will walk at liberty, for I seek Your Precepts (Words)....This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your Word has preserved me alive....From Your Precepts (Words) I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way....Trouble and anguish have found me, yet Your Commandments (Words) are my delight....Many are my persecutors and adversaries, yet I do not turn aside from Your Testimonies (Words)....Those who love Your Law (Words) have great peace."

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote that if we ignore "morning prayers," the rest of the day is "lost."  I add to that, If we ignore, "the Words of God," the rest of the day is "lost."  Has this day been a "lost" day so far.  You know where the "lost and found department" is.

Father, in Jesus'  Name, there have been way too many lost days in my life.  I pray that I have learned something.  Amen.
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* Fall Mission:  October 28-November 15

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2