<\/p>\n
James 4:1-5:20; 1 Timothy 1:1-2:15<\/strong><\/span> James:<\/strong> James chapter 4 continues to just level me\u2026\u00a0 This book is phenomenal.\u00a0 I need to read this book more than just once a year when I come around to it in the Chronological Bible.\u00a0 The verse today that just made me set the Bible down for a minute and reflect was verse 4: \u201cYou adulterers! Don\u2019t you realize that friendship with this world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again, that if your aim is to enjoy this world, you can\u2019t be a friend of God.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0That is some heavy duty language\u2026\u00a0 it pierced me in reading it today.\u00a0 \u00a0Am I a friend of the world?\u00a0 Am I trying to be a friend of the world?\u00a0 Per this verse, where does this pursuit of the world put me with my relationship with God?\u00a0 \u00a0Am I an \u201cadulterer\u201d, in the sense of my relationship with God and the world?\u00a0 \u00a0(now, please keep in mind, I\u2019m a huge fan and believer of grace\u2026\u00a0 but sometimes we need to let verses like this really sink in.\u00a0 We need to reflect.\u00a0 And respond if need be\u2026 and let Jesus save us and heal us if need be\u2026)<\/span><\/p>\n Verse 7 is something surely each one of us should commit to memory: \u201cResist the Devil, and he will flee from you.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0This is so true.\u00a0 Resist.\u00a0 And he will flee!\u00a0 Please know this is true!\u00a0 Resist!<\/span><\/p>\n And verse 8 is so true as well: \u201cDraw close to God, and God will draw close to you.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Another one to put into memory \u2013 and practice each day.\u00a0 Have you drawn close to God this very day?\u00a0 And has God drawn close to you?<\/span><\/p>\n Verse 14 I think is so helpful for us to remember \u2013 and to give Thanks for each day we have: \u201cHow do you know what will happen tomorrow? For your life is like the morning fog\u2013it\u2019s here a little while, then it\u2019s gone.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Life is short.\u00a0 Every day is indeed a blessing and an opportunity to love and know God more.\u00a0 Please take advantage of each and every day God gives you.\u00a0 Diving into his Word each day is one amazing thing you can do every day.\u00a0 As is prayer of course!<\/span><\/p>\n Today we wrap up the book of James.\u00a0 This has been such a powerful book for me to read these past few days!\u00a0 I am convicted and challenged by this book, which is wonderful.\u00a0 Today in chapter 5, verse 5 stands out: \u201cThis treasure you have accumulated will stand as evidence against you on the day of judgment.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 This reminds me of the scene at the end of the movie \u201cSchindler\u2019s List\u201d where Oscar Schindler breaks down crying when the war is over \u2013 and after he has saved so many lives \u2013 and yet he cries out \u2013 \u201cThis gold pin \u2013 this pin could have saved a life! This car\u2026. could have saved 10 lives!\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0This scene \u2013 and this verse \u2013 makes me ask myself if I am using my finances wisely?\u00a0 Am I investing in others?\u00a0 Are my luxuries taking away from other\u2019s very lives?\u00a0 Am I accumulating treasure when I could have been serving others?\u00a0 I cannot encourage you enough to watch this scene in Schindler\u2019s List again if you haven\u2019t seen it in a while.\u00a0 Every time I watch this scene something happens to my heart that only God can explain\u2026\u00a0 it changes me\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n Verse 9 stands out: \u201cDon\u2019t grumble about each other, my brothers and sisters, or God will judge you.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 This is such a great reminder of Jesus\u2019 call to not judge others!\u00a0 Don\u2019t grumble about others.\u00a0 How often do we grumble about others?\u00a0 Are we grumbling about someone currently?\u00a0 Is this a healthy practice?\u00a0 By the way, I have been bad about grumbling about others recently \u2013 in fact, I almost got sideswiped on a freeway recently by a guy who was not paying attention to where he was going.\u00a0 In all honestly, I have no idea how we avoided not hitting each other, but for the grace of God.\u00a0 I was so shook up by the near miss I was \u201cgrumbling\u201d big time about this guy\u2019s carelessness.\u00a0 Interestingly and thankfully I was not cussing at him nor giving him bad gestures, but I was grumbling in my heart about how not smart I thought he was \u2013 and I immediately caught myself and asked God to forgive me for this sin.\u00a0 And I believe He did.\u00a0 Let us not grumble in our hearts about others.\u00a0 It is a sin.\u00a0 Let us stay away from grumble corner in our lives!\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42<\/span><\/p>\n The first half of verse 16 is so true \u2013 \u201cConfess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Is there someone in your life you can confess your sins to?\u00a0 Someone you can ask to pray for you?\u00a0 Do you believe this practice will heal you of that sin?<\/span><\/p>\n And the last half of verse 16 also is amazing to remember \u2013 \u201cThe earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0Are you praying for others?\u00a0 Earnestly?\u00a0 Do you believe prayer has great power and that God listens and can bring about wonderful results? <\/span><\/p>\n First Timothy:<\/strong> This week we begin Paul\u2019s first and second letters to Timothy! These are very powerful letters to read because Paul wrote them toward the end of his life. Paul\u2019s second letter to Timothy was likely the last letter he ever wrote. Some call this letter Paul\u2019s \u201clast will and testament.\u201d Please pay close attention to Paul\u2019s teachings in these letters this next week. We cannot hear the teachings in these letters often enough!<\/span><\/p>\n ~ First Timothy ~<\/strong> First and Second Timothy and Titus are considered to be \u201cThe Pastoral Letters\u201d because they provide instruction about the care of churches.\u00a0 We have some powerful teachings from Paul today in First Timothy chapter 1.\u00a0 One very interesting thing to note is that Paul uses the clause \u201cThis is a trustworthy saying\u201d in verse 15.\u00a0 What\u2019s interesting about this is that this clause is found nowhere else in the New Testament except for its use 5 times in the Pastoral Letters to identify an important teaching.\u00a0 So, here is the important teaching in verse 15: \u201cThis is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: \u201cChrist Jesus came into the world to save sinners\u201d\u201d<\/em> What do you think about this teaching?\u00a0 So simple a teaching at first glance, and yet of course so profound in it\u2019s meaning!\u00a0 I like how Paul starts off this letter to Timothy with a lot of humility.<\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on today\u2019s readings in First Timothy chapter 1 titled \u201cCritical Concerns for Pastoral Ministry\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n 1 Timothy 2 starts of with yet another reminder to pray for others\u2026 I love and need this type of reminder in verses 1 and 2\u2026 often! \u201cI urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God\u2019s mercy upon them, and give thanks. Pray this way for kings and all others who are in authority, so that we can live in peace and quietness, in godliness and dignity.\u201d<\/em> This is powerful. Pray for all people. Make requests for them. Plead God\u2019s mercy upon them. Give thanks. Pray for those leading our government. I think these verses are very appropriate during a time of local and national elections coming up. Pray for all of the candidates. Make requests for them. Plead God\u2019s mercy upon them. Give thanks.\u00a0 Pray.<\/span><\/p>\n The other thing these opening two verses remind me of is to \u201cPray the News.\u201d I think often times we read about all of the bad news in the world and maybe feel a bit helpless or hopeless in the midst of it all. However, I strongly believe that God has blessed us with the ability to \u201cPray the News.\u201d Pray for earthquake victims, the people starving and dying in other parts of the world, the person who was in a car crash in your town, etc. etc. Pray for them. Make requests for them. Plead God\u2019s mercy upon them. Give thanks.\u00a0 Will you join me in \u201cPraying the News\u201d each day?<\/span><\/p>\n I realize that Paul\u2019s instructions for women in today\u2019s readings can be controversial.\u00a0 This is one of those days that if you have the Tyndale Publishers One Year Bible Companion to please read the 3 questions & answers for today.\u00a0 All 3 relate to these instructions of Paul\u2019s.\u00a0 Basically, the instructions for women in today\u2019s readings can either be interpreted as being: 1. historically conditioned \u2013 instructions just for the women of the church in Ephesus at that time and place or 2. universal and timeless instructions.\u00a0 Honestly, different Christian denominations interpret these verses different ways \u2013 but probably along one of the two lines above for the most part.\u00a0 The One Year Bible Companion does a great job of going down these 2 paths, with some detail placed on why the instructions could be being historically conditioned because of the Ephesian church having a unique case of prevalent false teachings.\u00a0 Overall, know that Paul did not forbid women from ever teaching or being active in church life.\u00a0 Priscilla taught Apollos, a great preacher from Acts.\u00a0 Phoebe worked in the church (see Romans 16:1).\u00a0 Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa, Eudia and Syntyche were all women who were the Lord\u2019s workers in the New Testament as well (see Romans 16:6, 12 and Philippians 4:2). If you want to dive into further study on 1 Timothy 2:15 today: \u201cBut women will be saved through childbearing\u2026\u201d <\/em>please check out an in depth look at this verse on <\/span>bible.org at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video:<\/strong>\u00a0 James 4:8 reminds me of Michael W. Smith\u2019s song \u201cDraw Me Close:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
~ Click here to read today\u2019s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~<\/span><\/em>
~ Listen to today\u2019s Scripture with <\/em>The ESV Bible<\/em><\/span> ~<\/p>\n
Author<\/span>: Paul the apostle
Place<\/span>: Uncertain
Date<\/span>: A.D. 64
Content<\/span>: This letter was written by Paul near the end of his life and he addressed it to his associate Timothy, whom he had left in Ephesus to correct some problems in the church. By this time problems had arisen concerning doctrine, church practice, church government, and various aspects of Christian living. Paul wrote to instruct Timothy concerning these matters so that the church would function properly. He also wrote to encourage Timothy so that he would not become weary in his Christian life, but would live wholly to the glory of God. There are some specific regulations given for the ordination of church officers as well.
Theme<\/span>: The importance of right belief and right behavior form the theme of this book. Paul stresses that we must know the truth and defend it against the false doctrines that arise. We must also be very careful to live lives that are consistent with the truth so that Satan will not get an advantage over the people of God. The importance of dedicated and pure-hearted men to lead the church is also stressed. (Above commentary is from <\/em>Tyndale Publishers \u201cThe One Year Bible Companion\u201d<\/em> p. 29)<\/em>\u00a0 Below is an image of Timothy receiving from a messenger one of Paul\u2019s letters to him:<\/span><\/p>\n