The Daily Dose

God’s law

Knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate. 1 Timothy 1:9

The laws of the land.  Thankfully we have them.  Our country’s laws were established on many of the biblical laws of the Old Testament.  In fact, most of us know that the Ten Commandments used to be inscribed on the walls of every public school in the country.  The law is good.  It sets a standard to live by, and we have law enforcement to see that the laws of the land are followed.  In the next chapter of Timothy, it says that we have authorities so we can live a quiet and peaceable life in godliness and honesty, and that is a very good thing.

In today’s verse, it says that the laws are made for lawless and insubordinate people, not for the righteous.  I’m so glad it is true.  This is how we live in peace and safety.  Although, we know there is evil out there in the world, we don’t live in fear of that evil because we have laws that will be enforced if broken.  If you think about it, there are very few out there that hide out never to be found, because the law is there to bring them in to ensure punishment, rehabilitation and in many cases release them back into society to live within the laws.

In contrast, we as believers have God’s laws written on our hearts. Hebrews 10:16 says: “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them.”  As God’s people, we know what honors God and what doesn’t.  If we follow the conscience that He has put within us at the point of salvation, we will instinctively follow the laws of goodness and peace.  We get into trouble when we begin to take on a selfish attitude of, not what is best for me, but what I want at this moment.  Becoming so determined to get something that doesn’t belong to you results in behavior that is guaranteed to hurt someone else.

Paul makes a list of these activities and although some of them are not against our natural laws, they are against God’s law.  They are:

1. unholy and profane – God’s law
2. murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers – God’s and man’s law
3. manslayers – God’s and man’s law
4. fornicators – God’s law
5. sodomites – God’s law
6. kidnappers – God’s and man’s law
7. liars – God’s law
8. perjurers – God’s and man’s law  

In this list you can see that the things that are only God’s laws are still evil and selfish acts that are done because of an evil desire within a person.  The things against God’s law hurt other people and eventually even the person doing the evil.

Today I want to encourage you to consider God’s law of goodness and love written on your heart.  Then consider if there are any areas on this list that try to infect your life.  Hopefully not, but even telling a little lie can be a “go to” in a tight spot.  Let God’s consciousness guide you in your days activities and then you will have no need to worry about breaking His laws.

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Timothy 1:7-11

Your ministry

Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:5

I have been struggling the last couple of days trying to decide if Timothy was the direction that the Lord would have me go.  As I read the first chapter several times to pray about what to write about, I could not sense anything for my direction.  Finally, I started asking God if I should head in a different direction, especially since Timothy is a book written to a pastor.  I told God, this book is for pastors, not for me.  Who am I to write about instructions to pastors?  That’s when I finally had a break through.  I believe God showed me that the book isn’t for pastors, it is for ministers and leaders.  We all are ministers of the gospel and leaders in the kingdom of heaven, or at least we should be.  I felt like that was the answer I needed to move forward in this direction.  So, now to continue with 1 Timothy, I will proceed with a different mind set of how Paul’s words apply to all ministry, no matter what stage you are in.

So, in today’s text Paul is instructing Timothy to tell others not to teach other doctrines.  As we read on, he says that the message should be brought in love from a pure heart and good conscience with sincere faith.  This is also what the focus of our mission should be today.  We are to minister the good news of salvation in love from a pure/clean heart and good/clear conscience with sincerity of faith.  We are not to be distracted by other doctrines that causes separation.  God doesn’t want us to try to argue someone into salvation.  It is not a productive way to win people to the LORD and arguing usually in not done with a pure heart, clear conscience and sincere faith.  Think about it.  When we argue, usually the motivation is because we think we are right and want others to submit to our way of thinking.  This is the exact opposite of the instruction given here.  Arguing is prideful, because we are right and want others to know we are right.  Arguing is not motivated from a pure heart because it comes from a force that we want others to admit they were wrong.  Arguing and disputing certainly isn’t done in love because in your heart you believe the other person is wrong and should listen to you.

Effective ministry must be done in the love of God.  Recognizing that the reason you are sharing with others is because God loves them and that is the reason you love them.  Not because of anything they have or have not done to deserve your love or God’s for that matter.  This is where a pure heart and clear conscience comes from.  Lastly, it is a step of faith to love others with God’s love.  You have to trust that God’s love will break through even the hardest of hearts.  Especially when a person is underserving of your love, you can still love them with God’s love.

Today I want to encourage you in whatever ministry you have.  Whether it is a position in your church, neighborhood or workplace, share the love of God first of all.  As you speak words of encouragement and love to those around you, remember that it is God’s love for them that is motivating your heart and God’s love is first of all pure.  Speak to others with the clear conscience that you are looking for nothing from them in return and your desire is only that they would know how much God loves them to the point of sending His son so He could have a relationship with them.  Lastly, recognize the sincerity of your faith because you are trusting that as you share God’s love with others, He will show up and make it so real to them.  It is not our place to prove God’s love for others is real, our job is to simply share it with other.  After we share, God does His part and shows up in their life to make Himself real to them.  That is what brings people to Him.

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Timothy 1:3-7

Next generation

To Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.  1 Timothy 1:2

This is thought provoking.  Paul is writing a letter to Timothy and he calls Timothy his son in the faith.  Timothy had a father.  We know because he is mentioned previously in the book of Acts.  However, Paul was Timothy’s spiritual father in that he mentored and train him up in the things of faith.  Timothy traveled with Paul on many of his missionary trips and then became the pastor/bishop of the church in Ephesus. 

So, what is a spiritual father or mother?  It is someone who walks with you in life and coaches/trains you in the things of the Spirit/God.  In the case of Paul and Timothy, Paul mentored Timothy until he was spiritually mature enough to take on a ministry of his own.  In a sense, Paul was duplicating himself in Timothy to reach the next generation.  To continue the work of the ministry after Paul was gone.

It is really the way the gospel has continued to grow and pass down through the ages, through training and teaching the up-and-coming leaders of the day.  In our day we have schools that train people for ministry, but that can only go so far.  Until you walk things out, there is training that cannot be taught in a classroom.  You may be thinking: “yes, but that was the apostle Paul, I’m not qualified to teach anyone?  The fact is every believer can bring others along with them.  It can be as simple as inviting a neighbor to church or a small group.  It can be something like praying with others or simply offering an encouraging word.  What ever opportunity God puts in front of you, you always have something to offer.

Today I want to encourage you to look for someone you can walk along with in life to help them spiritually.  Invite someone to church or offer that encouraging word.  Even if it is not accepted the first time, a seed was planted, and you can try again when the next opportunity comes.  We won’t live here forever, let’s make sure we all do our part to ensure the next generation carries on the good news.

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

Don’t get tired

But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.  2 Thessalonians 3:13

Here is the bottom line!  Keep doing good and don’t get tired of it.  Sometimes it can seem exhausting to always do the right thing and always do what is best for others.  Let’s face it, taking short cuts is the easier road to travel.  That’s the reason they are called short cuts.  However, to live honorably and uprightly, the right thing to do is always the good thing.  For example: is it the right thing to do to pass up every beggar on the street?  Or is it good to give, to help even though you don’t know what they will do with what you gave.  The fact is you have done your part and it was good.  Now the ball is in their court to do the right thing.  It may not happen, but they will continue to be in want, but you will continue to bless others and do good.

Another example is with family and friends.  It is good to bless them and consider them first, but our first thoughts are usually for ourselves.  It can be easy to get into the mind set that if I take care of everyone else, who will take care of me?  Don’t feel bad if you have ever thought that, you are not alone.  However, when you trust God that He is going to bless you as you are a blessing to others, He will and He is much better at it than you will ever be.

Paul ends up this chapter talking about not hanging out with those who don’t line their lives up with the Word of God.  He is careful to say don’t treat them like an enemy, but help them as a brother in the body of believers . . . by doing good and giving instruction.

Today I want to encourage you to not get tired of doing good to others.  When it comes right down to it, good works are only those works that we do toward others.  Doing good is helping, serving and blessing those who cross your path each day.  Whether it’s family, friends, neighbors, co-workers or even strangers, always watch for the opportunity to do a kind or loving deed.  Even Jesus said “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (see Acts 20:35)

Today’s scripture reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:13-18

Be an example

Not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.  2 Thessalonians 3:9

You are an example.  No matter how you live your life, you are an example of something.  Your life or at least part of your life is always on display.  What example are you setting?  Is it a godly, serving example or is it an idle, self-serving example?

In today’s text, the apostle Paul talks to the Thessalonians about how to be an example.  He starts out telling them to withdraw or stay away from those who walk disorderly/disorganized and anyone who does not line up with the Word of God.  Then he goes on to talk about how his team behaved when they were there in person.  He says they were not disruptive or out of order, and that they worked to support themselves so they were not a burden on the church.  Isn’t this interesting.  Even though he went there to minister the gospel and serve the people, he didn’t want to be a burden financially to them.  He qualifies this by saying his team was authorized, but they wanted to be an example to the church on how to conduct themselves in ministry.

He concludes this section by saying that those who do not work shouldn’t expect to eat and they are displaying an unruly life of being a busybody.  Lastly, he tells them how to handle the people who refuse to work.  He says they should work in quietness and eat their own bread. 

Yikes!  Those words seem kind of harsh, though I guess Paul was never one to beat around the bush.  The point is that we are setting an example in the church and in the world.  In doing that we are representing all of heaven. What message is it that we want to convey?  Do we want to display the goodness and love of God, or do we want to show them that the kingdom of heaven is stingy and needy?

Today I want to encourage you to be an example of the goodness and love of God.  Even when you have opportunity to cut corners and do the minimum requirement, become that person that goes the extra mile and beyond the call of duty.  In setting the example of taking care of the biz as you see it needed, it won’t be long until you notice the people around you take a step up too. 

Today’s scripture reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Pray for us

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2

I love these verses because it makes me realize that the apostle Paul, who was one of the all time great ministers, depended on the prayers of God’s people.  He was not only successful because of God’s help, it was also because of the church faithfully praying for him and his team.  It makes sense because this is how God planned for it to work.  All things/people working together for good and for God’s purpose.  Just as the apostle Paul talked to the people in Corinth (see 1 Corinthians 12) about the church being one body, his ministry depended on that “body” to sustain them through prayer.  Even though he wasn’t with them physically all the time, he remained as part of the body so that his team would receive life and empowerment through the body (of believers) praying. 

I am also inspired by the words that he asked them to be praying.  He said “Pray that the word of the LORD runs quickly and is glorified.  That they would be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men.”  He said the word of God spread quickly in Thessalonica and he wants them to pray that it will move the same way where ever his team goes.  Then, of course we all know the persecution that Paul’s team faced on a daily basis, so he asked them to pray that they would not come up against so much opposition and that the message would have a clear path to get through.  Obviously, their prayers were answered.  Paul’s success in reaching the known world of his time is evidence of that.

How does this apply to us today?  We can pray too.  Pray for ministries around the world and for ministries in your local area.  What is really great is that we don’t have to wonder or make up what we think we should pray.  We can pray the same thing that Paul asked the Thessalonians to pray.  We can pray that the word of the Lord spreads quickly in our area and around the world.  We can see this is happening more and more as modern ways of communication are expanding.  We can also pray all barriers or obstructions out of the way for the message to get through.

Today I want to encourage you to pray.  Pray for your ministry, pray for local ministries and pray for ministries around the world.  Pray for internet ministries and pray for all media ministries that the word would spread even quicker than it already does.  Also pray all roadblocks out of the way.  We all have this part in the body.  No matter what ministry you are a part of, your number one ministry is to pray!

Today’s scripture reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

The “lawless one”

Don’t you remember that I told you about all this when I was with you?  2 Thessalonians 2:5

The next part of this chapter is very interesting and very relevant to us today.  Paul reminds the Thessalonians what he had previously told them about what would be going on when Jesus returns.  The interesting part is that we can use this scripture to identify the times we are living in today.  We can identify that Jesus has not returned because these things have not happened. 

Let’s take a look at what Paul described. 

1. The Holy Spirit is holding back the revealing of the “lawless one”
2. The mystery of lawlessness is already at work;
3. After the church/Holy Spirit is taken away, then the “lawless one” will be revealed.
4. The coming of the “lawless one” is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,
5. Unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
6. For this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,
7. Those who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness will be condemned.

This plainly explains that the Holy Sprit in the body of Christ, the church, is restraining the “anti-christ” from being revealed.  When the church is taken up to heaven, then he will come.  There is no point to be looking for him now and trying to figure out who he is.  He will not be revealed until Jesus come to get us, therefore it is not for us as believers to know who he is.  When he does come, it will be obvious who he is because he does signs and wonders like no one else can.  Whether they are tricks or real, it just doesn’t matter because people will be deceived into believing that he is God in the flesh.  All those who believe and fall for the lie will be condemned.

Paul finishes this part of his letter by telling the Thessalonians how thankful he is for them because they believed and that God has set the apart for His glory!  He concludes by offering hope in grace, comfort for their hearts and that God would establish them in every good word and work.  That is a great closing and excellent prayer for us, also.

Today I want to encourage you to not be looking for the “lawless one”.  Don’t be wondering who it is or when he will be known.  Instead, be looking to the eternal One, the One who can save your soul from destruction.  Then pray the prayer of hope by grace, comfort for your heart and be grounded in every good word and work.  We don’t know how much time we have left here, but we do know He is coming soon.  Make every day count for eternity by sharing the love of God in the world you live in.

Today’s scripture reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:5-17

Rumors

Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2

This passage is a good example of what happens when rumors get started.  In the apostle Paul’s day, someone started a story that Paul was teaching that Jesus had returned and taken the Christians with Him to heaven.  The only problem with that was that the Thessalonians were still here.  They became unsettled and alarmed by this message and who wouldn’t?  So, when word got back to Paul of the rumors that were going around about his teaching, he quickly wrote a letter to the Thessalonian church to assure them this story was not true.

The same thing happens today.  I’m sure all of us have become unsettled, angered and even hurt by a story we were told that wasn’t exactly accurate.  Especially if it was said that it came from someone we trusted.  It happens quite often that people will repeat part of what a pastor or teacher said and then those who hear immediately jump to the wrong conclusion.  Many public ministries suffer damage due to rumors that are started because someone disagreed with something that was said or twisted it’s meaning.  What about when someone predicts when the LORD will come?  That really gets people upset.  Everyone seems to want to argue that it isn’t time yet.  Almost as if they are not even looking for Him.  I agree that these predictions are not necessary, but let’s face it, in the world we live in, He could come at any time now.

The point of all this is, rumors start even about the best ministries out there. Paul’s ministry team was probably the greatest team ever since the church began, and there were many determined to bring him down.  This is an excellent opportunity to recognize that just because you have seen or heard it on the internet (aka facebook) doesn’t necessarily mean it is true.  Don’t believe everything you see and hear.  Search it out for yourself and by all means, DON’T REPEAT IT!!  There is enough damage done without you adding to it.  The saddest part about it is the judgment that will be faced someday for spreading stories about God’s ministers.  Whether true or not, it is not the place of a believer to condemn or put down any ministry.

Today I want to encourage you to not repeat rumors or bad reports for that matter.  Don’t be the person that searches for what they can find wrong with a ministry.  Look and rejoice about what God is doing in them instead.  We are all imperfect people which means there are no perfect ministries/ministers.  Pray for those who are in the public eye and scrutinized for everything they say and do.  Just because you hear stories doesn’t mean they are true and if they are true, let God take care of it.  He’s pretty smart and He will avenge those who are wrongly using His name.

Today’s scripture reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4

His faith and power

Therefore, we always pray for you that our God would count you worthy of His calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, 2 Thessalonians 1:11

This verse makes me smile.  Think about it.  Paul is praying that God will fulfill all the pleasure of His goodness for the Thessalonians.  Not only that but also that they would walk out God’s good pleasure with faith and power.  The truly amazing part of this is that God wants to do this for you and me today.  It says right here, it gives God pleasure to do good works in me and through me.  That is, according to His goodness which is far better than anything I can imagine.  So why wouldn’t I trust Him with every area of my life.  He wants good for me and He is well able to get it to me. 

So what does it look like to walk out God’s good pleasure.  Your life will look like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bring forth fruit in its season, whose leaf does not wither and whatever you do will prosper. (Psalms 1:3)  When God works His good pleasure in you, He always gives you the victory (1 Cor. 15:57) and always causes you to triumph/win (2 Cor. 2:14).  That is so clear in His gift of Salvation.  Romans 8:32 says that He did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, so why wouldn’t God, along with His gift of Jesus, also freely give us all things?  Certainly God would not have given us the best gift He could give and then hold everything else back from us. Now He has nothing to lose.  He wants us to have all things that are necessary to live a godly life.  2 Peter 1:3 says that by his diving power, God has given us all thing that pertain to life and godliness through our relationship with Christ Jesus.

So now the question is, how does God fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness in me?  The answer is in the last part of the verse. By walking in faith with His power.  Another translation says: He gives you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.  This speaks to me because it is how I live my life.  When I get a nudge or prompting from the Holy Spirit, I look to God for the faith and power to accomplish it.  It doesn’t always look possible and sometimes it doesn’t even make sense in my natural mind.  However, I know He is able to do the great task, no matter what it is if I will yield to Him and take the steps of obedience as He walks me through the process.  Maybe it’s in finding a place to live, encouraging my family, serving in ministry, writing books or even things as simple as praying for my husband and watching God do amazingly good works in and through him.  Now I surrender my whole life to God’s good pleasure because there is no greater way to live.

What about you?  Today I want to encourage you to look for God to show up in your life with the good pleasure of His goodness by walking in obedience in faith and power.  God doesn’t demand obedience from us so that He can control and manipulate us, God requires obedience from us so He can get His good pleasure to us.  He knows where all the good things are that He has planned for us and if we follow His direction, we will run right into them!

Today’s scripture reading: 2 Thessalonians 1

He will pay back?

God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you.  2 Thessalonians 1:6

This passage reminds me of another scripture.  It is Romans 12:19 that says Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.  Both of these passages are clear that we are not to repay anyone for an evil done.  Our part is not to pay back, our part is to forgive and to love.  God does the pay back and that is only after the one deserving of it has had every opportunity to repent and ask God to forgive them.

God’s plan and desire is for His people to love and forgive other people to the point that they are open to hear the message of the gospel.  So why is this so difficult to do?  Why is it against our nature to let go of hurts and words that come against what we stand for in the Kingdom of heaven?  As was discussed a couple days ago, it doesn’t have to be hard if you make it a practice.  Just like you practice growing your faith and increasing in love, you can practice forgiving others. 

The first place to start is choose a scripture that you can turn to in the time when you want to fight back.  At the point that a wrong is done to you, say something like: Ephesians 4:32 – be kind to one another, forgiving each other just as God in Christ Jesus forgave you. Matthew 6:14 If you forgive others when they sin against you, you heavenly Father will also forgive you. Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Luke 6:37 – Forgive and you will be forgiven or Mark 11:25 – And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.

Of course, there are others, but selecting a verse ahead of time to go to when you know it is right to forgive, will lead you in the direction of making the habit of forgiveness. Then, pray for the person that has come against you.  Prayer will open the door to connect them to God.  In lifting that person up in prayer, you are draining your hurt feelings out and filling back up with love at the same time.

I’ve seen it happen so many times, never really considering why.  When I was mistreated, reprimanded, humiliated or embarrassed by someone, I focused on forgiving and praying to rid myself of the hurt I felt.  Not long after, I would hear of failure or misfortune coming to them.  I didn’t will that, I didn’t even think it, my only concern was to keep my heart headed in the right direction.  Whether it was God, or just a result of a prideful attitude, the fall came to them none the less.

Today I want to encourage you to let God handle the payment for a wrong done.  Keep yourself and your heart clean from the bitterness and resentment that can result from payback.  Forgive and pray and if you find you can’t do this, ask God for help.  He will empower you.  God will avenge you and you don’t even have to have anything to do with it.

Today’s scripture reading: 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10