Titus 3:4-But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared
:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.
Paul says this right after he reminds us of our own natural state before we were saved.
Father, You have me thinking about Your kindness, especially to the lost.
It began by 1 Tim 2:3 where Paul, in speaking to women, Paul tells them not to be malicious gossipers.
Of the 5 references to the word “gossips” in the New Testament, three of those references are directly spoken to women. That was interesting to me and something to take note of.
The other references are in Romans and in 2 Tim 3:3 where Your word talks about lovers of self, boastful, arrogant, haters of good, malicious gossips, …and more things that we would not want to be identified with!
Prov 20:19 He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets. Therefore do not associate with a gossip.
This word “gossip” in the Hebrew means “to be simple, entice, deceive, persuade.”
Well, Father in this Proverb You identify a gossip with a slanderer. A slanderer defames or injures another’s reputation.
Webster defines gossip as:
1. a person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts about others
2. a rumor or report of an intimate nature
You clearly command us not to be a gossip, which is as bad as all the other sins listed in 2 Tim 3:3, which most true followers of Christ would not consider themselves a part of or want to be seen as.
What does this have to do with kindness? In remembering something that Joyce Meyer said, “People just want to be shown kindness,” the question arises “Can gossip and kindness be of one spirit? Can we be kind to someone even though we are not with them?”
Rom 2:14 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance.
In Titus 3:2 Paul is instructing Titus to remind the church to “malign no one, to be uncontentious, gentle, showing every consideration for all men."
After this verse, he also then reminds them of how they themselves lived and acted foolishly before they knew Jesus.
Following this is the scripture quoted above:
: 4 "But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,"....it was Your mercy and love for us that gave us the opportunity to live freely,know You and to receive Your love. Without Jesus people walk in darkness.
So once again we, as Your Body, are reminded of Your love and kindness toward us in Christ our Living Lord.
To the extent we receive Your love, mercy, and kindness is the extent that we are enabled by Your Spirit to show the same to the lost as well as our brothers and sisters in Christ. It has nothing to do with whether we agree with their opinions, lives, or weaknesses….it has all to do with the Cross of Our Lord Jesus and the love You, our God and Father, demonstrated to us through it.
Thank You Father for reminding me to think kindness, to speak kindness, and to be kind to others.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
Our Gifts
In thinking about 2 Tim 1:7 I can see why You Father has reminded your children about the power of Your spirit within us. We need to be reminded.
You have gifted Your Body with wonderful gifts that are to be used for Your glory and perfect will.
When the spirit of fear comes to intimidate us our gifts are not at your disposal but they are held in bondage by fear and intimidation. The one thing the enemy does not want to see is the Body of Christ flowing in the gifts bestowed on them by Your grace.
2 Tim 1:6 Paul tells Timothy to “kindle afresh the gift of God”.
In looking this up in the various translations, these are the words used:
Stir up
Rekindle
Fan into flame
Keep ablaze
Keep using. Let it grow, as a small flame grows into a fire.
One I particularly liked is:
Let that grace of God which is in you, given to you by my hands, have living power.
Wow. You, the Lord of all, are saying to us to use our gifts, keep using our gifts, and do not let them grow cold. They are part of our new DNA in Christ.
Thank you Father for the gifts you have bestowed on us. Keep reminding us and enabling us to use them for Your Kingdom.
You have gifted Your Body with wonderful gifts that are to be used for Your glory and perfect will.
When the spirit of fear comes to intimidate us our gifts are not at your disposal but they are held in bondage by fear and intimidation. The one thing the enemy does not want to see is the Body of Christ flowing in the gifts bestowed on them by Your grace.
2 Tim 1:6 Paul tells Timothy to “kindle afresh the gift of God”.
In looking this up in the various translations, these are the words used:
Stir up
Rekindle
Fan into flame
Keep ablaze
Keep using. Let it grow, as a small flame grows into a fire.
One I particularly liked is:
Let that grace of God which is in you, given to you by my hands, have living power.
Wow. You, the Lord of all, are saying to us to use our gifts, keep using our gifts, and do not let them grow cold. They are part of our new DNA in Christ.
Thank you Father for the gifts you have bestowed on us. Keep reminding us and enabling us to use them for Your Kingdom.
Paul's Wisdom
2 Tim 1:6-7
For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
:7 For God did not give you a spirit of timidity but of power, love, and a sound mind.
You know what Father? 2 Tim 1:7 has been quoted and memorized by so many of your children and helped them in times of fear. But you brought to my attention the verses before it, which truly I have not thought of as often in relation to this verse.
Paul wrote to Timothy, who was as dear to him as a son, to encourage him. Paul spoke of how “I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day, longing to see you”.
He prayed for Timothy unceasingly and told him he was reminded of Timothy’s sincere and genuine faith. Paul also reminds Timothy of the gift given to him when Paul laid hands on him for ministry.
Then to me it was interesting how Paul approached something in Timothy that needed to be addressed and encouraged. His fear. His timidity.
He didn’t say anything like “you need to….” (like I probably would have). But he directed Timothy’s thoughts to You, Father. To the fact that basically You had already given him ministry gifts, you had equipped him already with Your spirit of love, discipline and a sound mind.
I loved the way Paul approached Timothy to encourage him and did it so that the focus was on what God had already given to him. To see that these gifts enabled him to minister in a way that was not natural to Timothy. The burden was not to be on Timothy to think it was all up to him.
It was God who had gifted him and who was the One on whom Timothy could depend on to use the gifts accordingly when needed. Timothy could lean on, depend on, and believe God to help him in all times when fear knocked on his door. God’s spirit was bigger, stronger, and more powerful than his own natural heart and mind.
Thank you Father for reminding me of the power of Your Holy Spirit within me and also helping me see the wisdom Paul used in ministering to Timothy.
You are the spirit of Wisdom itself and there is no true wisdom without Your word and Your Spirit.
For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
:7 For God did not give you a spirit of timidity but of power, love, and a sound mind.
You know what Father? 2 Tim 1:7 has been quoted and memorized by so many of your children and helped them in times of fear. But you brought to my attention the verses before it, which truly I have not thought of as often in relation to this verse.
Paul wrote to Timothy, who was as dear to him as a son, to encourage him. Paul spoke of how “I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day, longing to see you”.
He prayed for Timothy unceasingly and told him he was reminded of Timothy’s sincere and genuine faith. Paul also reminds Timothy of the gift given to him when Paul laid hands on him for ministry.
Then to me it was interesting how Paul approached something in Timothy that needed to be addressed and encouraged. His fear. His timidity.
He didn’t say anything like “you need to….” (like I probably would have). But he directed Timothy’s thoughts to You, Father. To the fact that basically You had already given him ministry gifts, you had equipped him already with Your spirit of love, discipline and a sound mind.
I loved the way Paul approached Timothy to encourage him and did it so that the focus was on what God had already given to him. To see that these gifts enabled him to minister in a way that was not natural to Timothy. The burden was not to be on Timothy to think it was all up to him.
It was God who had gifted him and who was the One on whom Timothy could depend on to use the gifts accordingly when needed. Timothy could lean on, depend on, and believe God to help him in all times when fear knocked on his door. God’s spirit was bigger, stronger, and more powerful than his own natural heart and mind.
Thank you Father for reminding me of the power of Your Holy Spirit within me and also helping me see the wisdom Paul used in ministering to Timothy.
You are the spirit of Wisdom itself and there is no true wisdom without Your word and Your Spirit.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Scatter!
1 Tim 6:18-19
Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.
:19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.
In thinking of this Father, I wondered if the last phrase, take hold of that which is life indeed, meant this life or life eternal
The words “ready to share”, 2843, means inclined to make others sharers in one’s possessions, inclined to impart, free in giving, liberal.
I loved what one commentary said: Earthly riches scattered in faith lay up in store a sure increase of heavenly riches.
That makes me want to scatter. But even aside from the rewards that giving brings in the eternal, to me You have shown me that real life is found in giving.
God gave His only begotten Son to enable us to become His children. The Cross is all about the love given to the world, so that we could know the Father and His deep unchanging love for us. This truth transforms the most hardened heart.
You just brought to my mind yesterday’s thoughts on Amazima ministry and their ministering to the poor in Uganda. What was noticeable in the pictures shown in the work they do, is the joy on the faces of the people they serve as well as on Katie. The life they live is not easy.
You also brought to me the memory that in my own life the truest most pure joy that I have experienced has been in the most difficult times. Those were times when my body was physically exhausted and yet the act of putting Mom or Cl above myself, was the most rewarding.
“For the joy set before Him He endured the Cross….” Hebrews 12::2 Jesus is our example. Nothing can compare with the sacrifice He endured for me.
And the Cross compels us to scatter. To not hold onto our possessions but to hold them loosely.
You know what Father? I want to hold onto a lot of things I have, even more than I really know.
But it is wonderful that Your word comes and transforms this heart of mine and encourages it to give and to scatter. To remember that these earthly treasures are meaningless if not scattered by faith or held loosely to bring joy to our lives, as You say in 1 Tim 6:17, ” who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy,”
Thank You Father for Your grace and love for me.
Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.
:19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.
In thinking of this Father, I wondered if the last phrase, take hold of that which is life indeed, meant this life or life eternal
The words “ready to share”, 2843, means inclined to make others sharers in one’s possessions, inclined to impart, free in giving, liberal.
I loved what one commentary said: Earthly riches scattered in faith lay up in store a sure increase of heavenly riches.
That makes me want to scatter. But even aside from the rewards that giving brings in the eternal, to me You have shown me that real life is found in giving.
God gave His only begotten Son to enable us to become His children. The Cross is all about the love given to the world, so that we could know the Father and His deep unchanging love for us. This truth transforms the most hardened heart.
You just brought to my mind yesterday’s thoughts on Amazima ministry and their ministering to the poor in Uganda. What was noticeable in the pictures shown in the work they do, is the joy on the faces of the people they serve as well as on Katie. The life they live is not easy.
You also brought to me the memory that in my own life the truest most pure joy that I have experienced has been in the most difficult times. Those were times when my body was physically exhausted and yet the act of putting Mom or Cl above myself, was the most rewarding.
“For the joy set before Him He endured the Cross….” Hebrews 12::2 Jesus is our example. Nothing can compare with the sacrifice He endured for me.
And the Cross compels us to scatter. To not hold onto our possessions but to hold them loosely.
You know what Father? I want to hold onto a lot of things I have, even more than I really know.
But it is wonderful that Your word comes and transforms this heart of mine and encourages it to give and to scatter. To remember that these earthly treasures are meaningless if not scattered by faith or held loosely to bring joy to our lives, as You say in 1 Tim 6:17, ” who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy,”
Thank You Father for Your grace and love for me.
Friday, January 29, 2010
I Am Amazed
Father, I am so overwhelmed by your goodness to us. You have brought us a baby from across the world that you picked out for C and her family. Now we have another grandchild with great big beautiful eyes and I know that you will give her a heart to know You and love You.
I am also amazed at the calling you place on people’s lives and when they answer and say “yes” You are able to be the Magnificent God that You are and simply place a blanket of love over them which extends to those you bring to them.
C shared with me the blog spot of Katie Davis, Amazima.org ministry. God has called her to Uganda where she lives with and serves the poverty stricken children and their families. She is a modern day Mother Teresa that has been gifted with a heart to follow Your calling on her life.
What an inspiration Your life in others is to me. It makes me to desire You all the more, but more importantly to live a life, the life You have given to me, that demonstrates Your love to others as You have demonstrated it to Your Body. Quite frankly, I cannot look at my own heart which seems so lacking, but at the heart of Jesus, Your Risen Son,Which indwells me….and there lies my hope. Not in what I am but in Who You are.
I love You Father and thank you for moving my heart by the amazing lives and testimonies of Your children around the world.
I am also amazed at the calling you place on people’s lives and when they answer and say “yes” You are able to be the Magnificent God that You are and simply place a blanket of love over them which extends to those you bring to them.
C shared with me the blog spot of Katie Davis, Amazima.org ministry. God has called her to Uganda where she lives with and serves the poverty stricken children and their families. She is a modern day Mother Teresa that has been gifted with a heart to follow Your calling on her life.
What an inspiration Your life in others is to me. It makes me to desire You all the more, but more importantly to live a life, the life You have given to me, that demonstrates Your love to others as You have demonstrated it to Your Body. Quite frankly, I cannot look at my own heart which seems so lacking, but at the heart of Jesus, Your Risen Son,Which indwells me….and there lies my hope. Not in what I am but in Who You are.
I love You Father and thank you for moving my heart by the amazing lives and testimonies of Your children around the world.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
The Mercy of God
1 Tim 1:12-17
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service:
:13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor.
And yet I was shown mercy, because I acted ignorantly in unbelief.
:14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.
:15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners among whom I am foremost of all.
:16 And yet for this reason I found mercy in order that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
I love this…:17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor, glory, forever and forever. Amen.
This passage really spoke to me today Father.
First, as you did with Paul, you have done with us as believers…You have put us into service. We were chosen, called and appointed to serve the Most High God.
Paul thought he loved you, but really he was violently opposed to Your children and persecuted them. He stood by when Stephen was stoned to death. He thought he was right in Your eyes.
Yet what stood out is that he says he acted ignorantly in unbelief. That is the way it is when a person is lost. They are ignorant of Your love for them, of the grace and mercy that is extended to them at the Cross. This most beautiful, magnificent gift is set before them, yet they cannot see it.
But Paul’s eyes were opened and he could look back and see the abundance of grace that You poured out on him along with faith and love that is found in Jesus. This is mercy at its ultimate level when a Holy God accepts sinners as they are because Jesus paid the price for their sins at the Cross of Calvary.
No matter what a person has done, said, or thought in their life, they are able to find mercy at the throne of the Creator of this world. Each time a person accepts the Lord Jesus as Lord of their life, it is demonstrating to the world His perfect patience toward those who walk in darkness.
Because as believers, we are in Him and we have His Spirit indwelling us, we are able to extend His perfect patience to those who are lost. It is His love and patience within us that draws the lost to Him.
Thank you Father for the mercy that You also continually pour out to me daily as a believer.
As I walk through the day, You are with me in my imperfections, loving me every step of the way.
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service:
:13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor.
And yet I was shown mercy, because I acted ignorantly in unbelief.
:14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.
:15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners among whom I am foremost of all.
:16 And yet for this reason I found mercy in order that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
I love this…:17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor, glory, forever and forever. Amen.
This passage really spoke to me today Father.
First, as you did with Paul, you have done with us as believers…You have put us into service. We were chosen, called and appointed to serve the Most High God.
Paul thought he loved you, but really he was violently opposed to Your children and persecuted them. He stood by when Stephen was stoned to death. He thought he was right in Your eyes.
Yet what stood out is that he says he acted ignorantly in unbelief. That is the way it is when a person is lost. They are ignorant of Your love for them, of the grace and mercy that is extended to them at the Cross. This most beautiful, magnificent gift is set before them, yet they cannot see it.
But Paul’s eyes were opened and he could look back and see the abundance of grace that You poured out on him along with faith and love that is found in Jesus. This is mercy at its ultimate level when a Holy God accepts sinners as they are because Jesus paid the price for their sins at the Cross of Calvary.
No matter what a person has done, said, or thought in their life, they are able to find mercy at the throne of the Creator of this world. Each time a person accepts the Lord Jesus as Lord of their life, it is demonstrating to the world His perfect patience toward those who walk in darkness.
Because as believers, we are in Him and we have His Spirit indwelling us, we are able to extend His perfect patience to those who are lost. It is His love and patience within us that draws the lost to Him.
Thank you Father for the mercy that You also continually pour out to me daily as a believer.
As I walk through the day, You are with me in my imperfections, loving me every step of the way.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
New Clothes
Col 3:3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
To me that means Father that we are inseparable, that my real life is hidden and reveals Your life to others.
Hidden in this verse can also mean to escape notice, to conceal that it may not become known.
My life becomes more hidden as you teach me Your ways.
Col 3:10
You say to “put on the new self”. This new self is being renewed to a true knowledge that enables us to become like our Creator. Truth draws us closer to You, Father. We begin to think like you, to act like you, and to actually live in Your presence more.
The word “put” means to clothe oneself. We are to put on new clothing. This is clothing that is put on after we have died. Now that we are raised up with Christ, and are hidden with Him, we have new clothing to wear.
So when I consider clothing I think of what I wear. I put on clothing that I like, that make me feel good, that compliments my hair and skin coloring, that speak of my taste and personality. It is a reflection of who we are and You just brought to my mind, also it can tell who or what owns us. Who or what dominates our life.
Clothing can tell the world a lot about us.
Since I have died I have changed clothed. I’ve taken off the old clothing of anger, wrath, bad feelings toward others, abusive hard speech, and anything like these.
I’ve got new clothes that make me look really good!
My new regenerated self, this hidden self loves compassion and understanding of others. It is kind, humble, gentle and patient, which means to be tireless, long-suffering and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper. Most importantly, it is ready to forgive as Christ has forgiven me.
And after I put on this new clothing, putting the final touch on, love, will complete and unite all of it together.
The secret? The secret that believers know and the world does not know, is that what really makes us look good and draws people to us is Jesus Christ with Whom I am hidden. This new clothing reveals the resurrected Christ.
Remind me Father to consider well what I am wearing each day.
To me that means Father that we are inseparable, that my real life is hidden and reveals Your life to others.
Hidden in this verse can also mean to escape notice, to conceal that it may not become known.
My life becomes more hidden as you teach me Your ways.
Col 3:10
You say to “put on the new self”. This new self is being renewed to a true knowledge that enables us to become like our Creator. Truth draws us closer to You, Father. We begin to think like you, to act like you, and to actually live in Your presence more.
The word “put” means to clothe oneself. We are to put on new clothing. This is clothing that is put on after we have died. Now that we are raised up with Christ, and are hidden with Him, we have new clothing to wear.
So when I consider clothing I think of what I wear. I put on clothing that I like, that make me feel good, that compliments my hair and skin coloring, that speak of my taste and personality. It is a reflection of who we are and You just brought to my mind, also it can tell who or what owns us. Who or what dominates our life.
Clothing can tell the world a lot about us.
Since I have died I have changed clothed. I’ve taken off the old clothing of anger, wrath, bad feelings toward others, abusive hard speech, and anything like these.
I’ve got new clothes that make me look really good!
My new regenerated self, this hidden self loves compassion and understanding of others. It is kind, humble, gentle and patient, which means to be tireless, long-suffering and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper. Most importantly, it is ready to forgive as Christ has forgiven me.
And after I put on this new clothing, putting the final touch on, love, will complete and unite all of it together.
The secret? The secret that believers know and the world does not know, is that what really makes us look good and draws people to us is Jesus Christ with Whom I am hidden. This new clothing reveals the resurrected Christ.
Remind me Father to consider well what I am wearing each day.
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