The Daily Dose

What age are you?

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

Timothy was a young pastor and obviously, he was feeling uncomfortable with it a little.  I’m sure it was hard to encourage and inspire those who had more hurts and life experiences than he did.  I can relate to these feelings on a smaller level.  Having spent many years in management beginning in my 20’s, it was uncomfortable when most of my crew was older than me.  Many times I felt intimidated because I didn’t have the “time” into the job that others did.  However, the majority of the people were responsive to me because I didn’t approach them with a superior attitude.  I tried to always maintain a “servant leadership” relationship.

In contrast, now I am on the other side of the spectrum.  Because of the time I wasted being far from God’s plan, I sometimes feel that maybe it’s to late.  Maybe its to late to have an effective ministry?  Maybe it’s to late to impact the world around me or maybe it’s too late to complete the plan and call on my life?  However, it just isn’t true.  God is working and God is reaching others through my life and through my gifts.  Here’s the thing, it really isn’t about me or my age at all, only about my yielded spirit to His.

In today’s verse, Paul tells Timothy how to be effective at whatever age you may be right now.  He says to: be an example in your words, behavior, love, spirit, faith and purity.  Paul also tells him to continue to operate in the gift that is in him.  He finishes this chapter by encouraging him to meditate on these things and fully surrender to these words.  Then progress will be seen and in that progress he can be motivated to keep doing it consistently.

Today I want to encourage you to be an example to those around you of the love and goodness of God.  No matter if you are younger or older, you can be an effective vessel where ever you are.  Line your words and life up with God’s love, Spirit, faith and purity and continue in that daily.  When you have your “down” time, think about it (meditate) and fully surrender to the Spirit’s prompts.  In doing these things, you will save both yourself and those who hear.

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Timothy 4:12-16

Start training

Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.  1 Timothy 4:8

Have you ever been in training?  Maybe for a marathon, or sporting event of some kind?  Maybe you took a class to train for a career choice or profession or maybe you went through military training.  The fact is we all go through different types of training throughout our life.  Whether in school or at work, training is inevitable and necessary for growth.

Today’s verse speaks about physical training.  Some people actually pay professional trainers to help them get in shape physically.  Paul says it is a good thing to give attention to your physical body, but there is a training that is much more profitable and that is training for godliness.  Training to live a godly and set apart life promises benefits in this life and throughout eternity.

So how do we go about training for godliness?  Well, it isn’t hard.  We have opportunities everyday to practice a godly attitude, the trick is to recognize and be aware that you are constantly in training and the tests are in our daily routine.  Training for godliness starts in your thoughts and extends to all your words and actions.  Becoming aware that life is one big test is the first place to start.  Every situation and person that you encounter each day offers you the chance to ask yourself, “is this a test?”  Instead of going with your natural instinct and reactions, take a minute to consider the best responses and decisions.  Especially when making a choice when you think ”Nope, that’s not for me”.  All aspects of our day are ultimately a test and good training ground for godliness.

Now when the real crisis comes along, you are an expert and spot it instantly. You have been training every minute of every day preparing for the big tests that are coming.

Today I want to encourage you to view everything you say and do through the lens of training.  Prepare each morning and make a plan of how you are going to exercise your faith muscle and trust God for the right responses to the situations you face throughout the day.  Let the Holy Spirit’s wisdom guide you around traps and obstacles that the enemy has set for you in the words you hear around you. Strengthen your inner spirit by spending time with God getting the game plan.  You are facing these decisions and tests everyday, go ahead and pass them on purpose.

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Timothy 4:6-11

Don’t turn away

Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.  1 Timothy 4:1

In this passage, Paul says that right now the Holy Spirit is clearly telling us that in the last days, some will turn away from the faith.  If they are turning away, that indicates that once they were living by faith in the blood of Jesus to save them and cleanse them from all unrighteousness.  How does this happen and how can we prevent it from happening to us.  I have often thought of this passage and considered, how can I be sure not to be part of the “some”?

Below I have listed the ways Paul describes that some will turn away.  I have also listed the opposite behavior so we can identify where we stand in our faith walk today.

“Some” Christians will depart from the faith – some will grow closer in their faith walk

“some” Christians will give heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons – some will shut out the voice of the enemy by shutting out the voices of the world.

“some” Christians will speak lies in hypocrisy – some will speak the truth of God’s Word in love

“some” Christians will have their own conscience seared with a hot iron – some will follow a good conscience of what is right in God’s eyes

“some” Christians will forbid to marry – some will honor the covenant of marriage that God ordained from the beginning of time.

Don’t be the one that thinks you have it all together and that you would never be one of the “some” that turn away.  Be one of those who are watching and on guard for the enemies attacks no matter how subtle.  Start by making quiet time with God a priority of your day.  Decide that it is important to stay as close to God as possible and commit all your ways to Him.  In that way, He will direct your path.

Today I want to encourage you to stand watch because this age is drawing to a close.  We are on the verge of His return and in our last days here on the earth.  Determine not to slip away from Him, but press in like you never have before.  Make a plan and set a goal to take a step closer to Him each day.  Maybe by a couple extra minutes in your quiet time, a few extra minutes in your prayer time.  Even a few more minutes in your personal praise and worship time.  These are not things you do to check off a list or be more religious minded, these are activities that strengthen your relationship and communication with your Father.  You are the one who decides how close you are going to be to Him.  Take a step closer to Him each day and He will step closer to you. (James 4:8)

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Timothy 4:1-5

The greatest Love

Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith: Christ was revealed in a human body and vindicated (justified) by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and announced to the nations. He was believed in throughout the world and taken to heaven in glory. 1 Timothy 3:16

In yesterday’s reading, Paul talked about leaders holding to the great mystery of our faith.  In today’s verse, he gives us the clear definition of the mystery.  It starts out with Christ was revealed in a human body.  As I read that my first thought is to change the word Christ to Jesus, because that is His name.  However, the word Christ is not His name, it is His anointing.  Christ actually means anointed one or anointing.  As I began to read this passage, I was reminded that the word Christ is used here on purpose to say the anointed one/anointing became flesh.  This is God’s anointing.  Now I am faced with considering what does anoint mean? I always have equated it with oil or a substance that is used in the anointing process, but the actual meaning of the word is to smear or rub on.  That is really thought provoking!  God smeared and rubbed Himself on a human body, Jesus) to become a human being.  What a great mystery?  Jesus was not anointed with oil, He was anointed with God’s Spirit!

The next part of the mystery is that Jesus was vindicated by the Holy Spirit.  He was declared sinless, without spot or blame in this world by God’s Spirit.  Like the high priest of the old testament had to examine the sacrificial lamb before it could be sacrificed, Jesus was examined and found to be perfect – the perfect sacrifice.  He was seen by angels.  Certainly, we know that angels ministered to Him after He fasted in the wilderness when He began His earthly ministry.  Angels were there when He ascended into Heaven.  Angels rolled away the stone at the tomb when He was resurrected and spoke to the women that came to anoint His body at the tomb.  We know that fallen angels saw Him when He called them out of people and commanded them to go.  Jesus mentioned angels on His way to the cross and said He could call them if that was part of the plan.

Then, He was announced to the nations and believed throughout the world.  Jesus was preached to the nations on the day of Pentecost and many were saved and took the message with them.  The last part of the mystery is He was taken to heaven in glory.  We know these things, but because they happened so long ago, I don’t think we fully grasp the significance of them in today’s world.

Today I want to encourage you to take a fresh look at the mystery of faith revealed to us now.  This is not a history lesson or just an event that happened long ago.  This is the gospel and has just as much power and energy in it today as it did 2000 years ago.  Meditate on these truths and make a big deal in your heart about what Jesus did for them and that it still reaches us today. The greatest mystery is why He did it and we know the answer is because He loved us with the greatest love ever!  Thank your Heavenly Father for this great mystery and ask Him to stir it up in your heart and life today.  This is not common and should not be made little.  We have a great God and Father and He has done this great and mighty work in Jesus.  Let’s get excited and share the good news just as they did on the day of Pentecost so many years ago. 

If you have never received the great gift of Salvation, invite Jesus into you heart today.  Pray this prayer and Jesus will come in and transform you into a carrier of the good news to change the world around you:

God in heaven, I know I’m a sinner and I need a Savior.  I want to turn away from my sinful life to the life You have planned for me.  Please forgive me for my sins, cleanse me from my past, and make me Your new creation.  I know your Son, Jesus died for me.  I believe in my heart that You raised Him form the dead.  At this very moment, I accept, confess, and proclaim Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior . . . to be Lord of my life from this day forward.  I now have a right relationship with God my Father. I also ask for Your Holy Spirit to guide me and to empower me to do the things that You have planned for my life in Jesus name, Amen

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Timothy 3:14-16

Mystery of the faith

They must be committed to the mystery of the faith now revealed and must live with a clear conscience.  1 Timothy 3:9

The mystery of faith now revealed.  As we continue to read in 1 Timothy 3, Paul goes on with the requirements for deacons and church leaders.  In today’s passage he talks about being committed to the mystery of the faith now revealed.  Living by faith in the work that Jesus did on the cross and after the cross, was what Paul’s ministry was all about.  I have to keep in mind that up until Jesus died and paid the penalty for sin, all ministry was done through the high priest and the sacrifices made by them. Paul doesn’t call it the mystery of faith because it was a secret that no one could know about, but that it was beyond our way of thinking how God had reach each individual through His only Son, Jesus.  This mystery extended to all people, which was also foreign to the people of Israel.  It was the mystery of a love so great that it was beyond any earthly understanding.  Paul actually says this mystery is now revealed, so it is no longer a mystery, but faith is required to not only believe it, but also to understand it.

This mystery of faith is what our relationship with God is founded on still today.  Although we learn this from the beginning of our conversion into God’s family, we still need to continuously renew our mind to it because it is such a big deal.  If we do not purposefully decide to walk by faith and fill up with the knowledge of that, it can become ineffective and commonplace. It is a big deal and in fact, the biggest, most important thing in your life here in this world.  It should be evident in all you do, not just as a deacon or leader of the church, but as a child of God, you need continuous revelation of that mystery in your heart.

The second part of the verse says to live with a clear conscience.  God has supernaturally planted His love into your heart when you received it through Jesus.  This is where our conscience comes from.  You can look at it this way, that when you received Jesus into your heart and life, you received conscientiousness or became alive.  Although it is not always automatic, if you follow your conscience to do what is right (according to God’s Word), you will make wise decisions.  Especially in those times when no one is looking.

Today I want to encourage you to hold on to the mystery of faith in the love and sacrifice of God.  Make a purposeful effort each day to renew your mind to that love and offer of salvation that is so important in your life. Then follow your conscience to keep it clear of speaking or doing anything that is against God and serve others wherever you are.  Remember, you are in ministry everyday, even if it isn’t in the church building.

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Timothy 3:8-13

An honorable position

This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be a church leader(ministry), he desires an honorable position. 1 Timothy 3:1

I hope you will forgive me for inserting the word ministry, but I see this passage as applying to anyone who desires to be in ministry, not just as pastor.  Paul says here in this passage that a desire to be in ministry is an honorable position.  Other translations say a good work.  It is a good work to be in the ministry, and whether you are the church pastor, worship leader or small group leader, your standard of living should be different than the rest of the world.  As I go through this list that Paul gave to Timothy, it seems like it is reasonable for all believers to live by.  The list below is the list that Paul gives in today’s text with the contrasting attitude for you to evaluate which side of the list you identify with.

1. Be faithful to your spouse – adulterous
2. Exercise self-control – no restraint
3. Live wisely – live foolishly
4. Have a good reputation – have a bad reputation
5. Hospitable – be a recluse
6. Able to teach –  misguiding
7. Not a drinker – drunkard
8. Not violent – violent/short temper
9. Not greedy for money – greedy/selfish
10. Gentle – harsh
11. Not quarrelsome – contentious
12. Not covetous – lustful
13. Rules his own home – ignores family
14. Not prideful – full of pride/arrogant
15. Have a good testimony in the world – bad report in the world

Whether in ministry or not, as a Christian and child of God, the attributes that Paul discusses here should not be far from who you are.  If you identified an area where you were on the opposite side of the list, consider how your life would be better if an adjustment was made.

Today I want to encourage you to live the life of a believer, set apart for ministry.  By walking in your purpose each day, you are walking out the plan of God for your life.  Being in ministry doesn’t mean you have to be perfect, but using this list as a guideline will empower you to strengthen these areas in your life.  Ask the Holy Spirit to help you each day to keep these principles as part of your daily walk and focus your attention on how you can better love others with God’s love.  Walking in God’s love will make walking in His way more attainable.

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Timothy 1:1-7

Women in church

And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do. 1 Timothy 2:9 & 10

Sometimes it is hard to be a woman.  There seems to be a separate set of rules that only apply to us, some even seem controlling and condescending.  It is true that a woman is to submit to her own husband, and that is not a bad thing.  It is actually a position of protection for her.  However, that doesn’t mean that we are inferior to all men.  Women were created to be a special gift for their husband and when a marriage is lined up with the creator, it is a beautiful thing!

Today’s passage talks about appropriate behavior for women in the church.  It says that women shouldn’t be trying to draw attention to themselves by their appearance, but to be modest.  Paul goes on to say that what should be noted about a woman is the good things she does, not how beautiful she is on the outside.  Of course, there is nothing wrong with being beautiful, but Paul is speaking to Pastor Timothy and telling him that women should not be a distraction to the man in the congregation.  Paul doesn’t have anything against women, he merely wants them to be noticed for doing God’s work, not for how good they look or how much they are talking.

This passage often gets overlooked or even misinterpreted to give a women very little place in the church, but that is not the heart of God.  God has a place for each one of us in the work of ministry and it is in doing good work for the kingdom of heaven.

Today I want to encourage you if you are a woman in ministry to first of all, be secure in who you are in Christ Jesus.  Your wholeness is in Him, not in the attention that comes from being in the spotlight.  Maybe your ministry is behind the scenes, but there can still be the temptation to call attention to yourself.  Let your delight be in the glory that you are giving God by fulfilling your purpose and be confident in His love for you as you do it.  Here’s the thing:  God loves women too and He didn’t make us so that we would be put in our place.  He put us in our place and gave us a good work to do there!

Today’s scripture reading:  1 Timothy 2:8-15

He desires all of us

In the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:3&4

God desires that all people would be saved.  John 3:16 says God loved the world so much that He gave His most precious and only Son. He gave Jesus so that anyone and everyone who believes in Him and His death, (paying the penalty for sin) resurrection from the dead, and ascension into heaven, that He is alive and living still, would not die an eternal death separated from God but have life everlasting with our loving Father.  God went to great lengths to make a way for us to be rescued from the sin that Adam and Eve committed, and He made it easy for us too.  Jesus did all the hard work. All we have to do is receive the gift that Jesus died to save us (every person on the earth). 

I know I am going on about this, but this is God’s heart!  He didn’t spare any expense.  He gave it all to get us back from the clutches of His enemy, that old serpent.  2 Peter 3:9 says God wants everyone to come to repentance.  It makes sense too.  Why would He sacrifice His only Son just to get some of us back.  Isn’t that price big enough for all of us?  Of course it is.  The price that Jesus paid was more than enough.  He got the keys to death and one day soon, He will seal the devil in that pit for all eternity.

So, the bottom line is, God wants all people back.  People are His creation and we are His greatest creation.  We are the only part of His creation that was made in His image.  That is a great honor and on top of that, He created us to be His family.  I love Him so much!  Now, He is depending on us, His sons and daughters, to let the world know that He made a way to escape the grip and traps of sin.  He wants us to be so filled up with gratitude and thankfulness that it flows out of us wherever we are.  He wants us to share with the people that come into our life His great love for them.  A love so great, He made a way to get everyone back.

Today I want to encourage you to give our heavenly Father some praise and thanksgiving once again for the provision of salvation He made and the sacrifice He gave . . . the perfect Lamb of God, Jesus!  Tell Him how much you love Him and how honored you are to be part of His family!  Then tell others.  Let the world know that you are so thankful that you never have to spend a day in hell separated from the Father who loves you.  Let today be the day that you start reaching out to the lost and broken of the world.  Not for you and not because you have to do it, only because He wants all His family back!

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Timothy 2:1-7

Instructions in the Word

Timothy, my son, here are my instructions for you, based on the prophetic words spoken about you earlier. May they help you fight well in the Lord’s battles.  1 Timothy 1:18

Such and encouraging verse.  Though I always expected that to go into ministry, someone would see the gift on me and help to draw it out with a word of encouragement of some kind.  Maybe, something kind of like that has happened to me in the past as a prayer and scripture prayed over me.  At another time with my husband a pastor prayed a scripture over us that I had been praying in my private time with God.  A “word” of God from God’s Word.  Peter called it a “more sure word” in the scriptures.  2 Peter 1:19 says: We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well that you take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:  He was saying that the prophetic word of scripture is what lights up the darkness of your heart and leads you on the path God has for you.

I also like that Paul tells Timothy that he is fighting in the LORD’s battle.  It isn’t Timothy’s fight, although I’m sure he felt like it was some days.  Just like we all do when we get wearing in the work of the LORD.  This reminds me of 2 Chronicles 20:15 when one of the Levite’s prophesied over King Jehoshaphat.  He said “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.  This is the same message for us today.  We are in a battle, but it isn’t our fight, it’s God’s.  When you are on God’s side, you are going to win those battles every time.

Today I want to encourage you to follow the prophetic words in the scriptures to your planned path.  Words like: God makes all grace abound to you so you have all sufficiency in all things for every good work (2 Cor. 9:8)  If you are not sure where to start, do a scripture search on “good work”.  God has planned many good works that you would do before the world began. (Eph. 2:10) So, take some time to consider and pray about what they might be.  Next, when you come up against the battles in life remember that it’s not your fight, it’s God’s.  He going to win, so just stay close to Him and He will get you through, every time.

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Timothy 1:18-20

Be faithful

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.  1 Timothy 1:12

This is an excellent life verse and one I can relate to personally.  God has put me into ministry.  Oh, I know it is not on the level of the apostle Paul’s ministry, but he has asked me to minister beyond myself.  He has enabled and equipped me for ministry and although I don’t always get it right, He gives me mercy and grace each day to get up and go after it again.  He has counted me faithful in that I am consistent in the little things that grow bigger.

This is what faithfulness is all about.  It is about what habits you establish and then do consistently on a daily basis.  For instant, you can have the habit of getting up and going to work each day, getting there on time and doing your best work while you are there.  You would be counted a faithful employee because of your consistent performance and dependability.  In contrast, you could consistently get up at noon, move to the couch, watch tv and social media all day.  However, even though you are consistent at this routine and have established a habit, you are not called faithful.

Faithfulness is only attributed to those things that are good and contributing to a cause beyond self.  In Paul’s case his faithfulness was in contributing to the kingdom of heaven.  He had established habits of ministering the gospel consistently and living a godly life to back up his message.  He was put into the ministry because he was faithful.  He goes on to say his success in ministry was because of God’s mercy and grace.

Ministry starts with faithfulness.  Whether it is faithfully attending church services, faithfully serving in your church or faithfully serving in your community, the enablement and equipping God gives comes after you have first established habits of consistently doing the right things for others.

Today I want to encourage you to examine your faithful attitude.  Are you consistent at doing the right things that are good for you and others? Have you established habits that strengthen and grow those around you?  A good test of this would be your relationships with your boss or those you work or serve closely with.  Decide today to take a step up in your faithfulness by starting one new habit of faithfulness.  The first place to start in your faithfulness is setting aside quiet time with you Father each day.  Become faithful in your relationship with God and He will lead you to the next steps to enable and equip you for the ministry.

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Timothy 1:12-17