SCRIPTURE
“If anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules." 2 Timothy 2:5
OBSERVATION
Paul often compared the Christian life to an athletic competition. It requires training, endurance, and hard work. In this verse he reminds me that in order to win I have to play by the rules. I have a choice to enter the game (if anyone competes), but once I do I have to compete according to the playbook. The way this verse is written indicates there are other ways to run but only one that will end up receiving the prize at the finish line.
APPLICATION
I cannot run the race anyway I want. I have to run according to the rules God sets down. If I run without listening to the Coach I don't have a guarantee of the victor's crown. Sometimes its tough to stay on course but there are no shortcuts. If I want to run in God's race I have to run God's way. Ultimately it's about being like Jesus and following his word.
PRAYER
Father, running this race in life can be tough. I want my will to conform to yours so I will receive the victor's crown. Amen.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Bypassing the Chain of Command
SCRIPTURE
“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” 1 Timothy 2:1-2
OBSERVATION
Paul was encouraging Timothy to pray for everyone. Included in that "everyone" were kings and those in authority. What is remarkable to me is that when he wrote this they were living in the Roman Empire. No elections, freedom of speech, or voice of the people. Paul understood all authority was instituted by God and the best way to make a difference in that authority was to pray. Prayer goes right to the One who places kings in power spiritually bypassing the chain of command. Instead of going right to the top I can go over the top.
APPLICATION
If Paul could pray for kings and those in authority in an oppressive empire, surely I can pray for those in authority in the US. The real challenge presented by Paul is to sincerely pray for those who I disagree with or did not vote for. This passage doesn't give me a way out, to pray only for those who share my political opinions. It says to pray for "everyone" and "all those" in authority. This would include all those in government today.
PRAYER
Lord, thanks for reminding me again to pray for those in our government. The best way to bring about a peaceful, quiet life, is to pray. You are the ultimate authority and you have the final say in what happens. Give our local, state, and federal officials great doses of wisdom, and equip them for their position. Amen.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Fellowship of Suffering
“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:10-11
Fellowship of suffering. Now there’s an oxymoron. Or is it? Death and resurrection were common themes in Paul’s writings. Conversion is a death to self and a resurrection to new life, born again. Here Paul wants to know Christ, to connect with him, in the power of the resurrection and also to experience fellowship...not through worship, prayer, or walking with Christ…but through his sufferings. Paul, what are you thinking? Paul wrote these verses from prison, so if he could say having fellowship with Christ’s sufferings was something he wanted, that was beneficial, it has to be true. Following Jesus means living a life that mirrored his and part of his life was his suffering.
Now, I’m all for the resurrection, not such a big fan of the suffering. I have a high pain tolerance but Jesus suffered more than physically. He was misunderstood, rejected, and ridiculed. That kind of suffering hurts, it doesn’t matter who you are. Jesus suffered at the hands of people. I will too. The cool thing is I don’t have to go it alone. I can choose to have fellowship with Jesus in the suffering. He has already traveled the journey of life on earth and has shown me the way to the resurrection (the new life without pain) is through the cross (the ultimate source of pain). According to Paul, it helps me become more like Jesus. I’m trying to figure out how this works. Maybe, part of this fellowship means the situation becomes more bearable, helping me to persevere. Even when I suffer I can identify with Jesus. And, there’s always hope. Because after the suffering comes a resurrection, the light at the end of the tunnel. I don't always want it or understand it but Jesus wasn't exempt from the realities of life and I can't expect to be either.
Lord, I love the resurrection help me appreciate the fellowship I can have with Jesus, identifying with him when I suffer. I want to avoid it but if it helps me know Jesus better, give me the strength to endure.
Fellowship of suffering. Now there’s an oxymoron. Or is it? Death and resurrection were common themes in Paul’s writings. Conversion is a death to self and a resurrection to new life, born again. Here Paul wants to know Christ, to connect with him, in the power of the resurrection and also to experience fellowship...not through worship, prayer, or walking with Christ…but through his sufferings. Paul, what are you thinking? Paul wrote these verses from prison, so if he could say having fellowship with Christ’s sufferings was something he wanted, that was beneficial, it has to be true. Following Jesus means living a life that mirrored his and part of his life was his suffering.
Now, I’m all for the resurrection, not such a big fan of the suffering. I have a high pain tolerance but Jesus suffered more than physically. He was misunderstood, rejected, and ridiculed. That kind of suffering hurts, it doesn’t matter who you are. Jesus suffered at the hands of people. I will too. The cool thing is I don’t have to go it alone. I can choose to have fellowship with Jesus in the suffering. He has already traveled the journey of life on earth and has shown me the way to the resurrection (the new life without pain) is through the cross (the ultimate source of pain). According to Paul, it helps me become more like Jesus. I’m trying to figure out how this works. Maybe, part of this fellowship means the situation becomes more bearable, helping me to persevere. Even when I suffer I can identify with Jesus. And, there’s always hope. Because after the suffering comes a resurrection, the light at the end of the tunnel. I don't always want it or understand it but Jesus wasn't exempt from the realities of life and I can't expect to be either.
Lord, I love the resurrection help me appreciate the fellowship I can have with Jesus, identifying with him when I suffer. I want to avoid it but if it helps me know Jesus better, give me the strength to endure.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Bare Life
"From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on the earth--he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do." Psalm 33:13-14
Earlier in this psalm we are reminded about the greatness of God. The heavens and stars were made by the breath of his mouth. In verse 13 we are reminded that this creation, the universe, is not too big for God. People are not just dots on the earth. Although God lives in heaven he is still able to see all who are on the earth. He sees right into the hearts he formed it. He not only sees but he considers (thinks about, weighs) everything. He contemplates every part of our lives.
Sometimes I think God only cares about the spiritual stuff. Attending church, going to small group, reading the bible...those are the things he sees and cares about or rather, that I want him to care about. But God considers it all. Everything everybody does. That doesn't leave much out. From his all-knowing perspective nothing goes unnoticed. My life is laid out bare before him.
It's hard to live with the constant awareness of God's gaze on my life. The things I want him see are no problem. But what about the things I don't want him to see? I hope I somehow drop off of God's radar. That somehow he loses track of me for a little while and then when I'm doing what he wants I suddenly reappear on his horizon. It doesn't work that way. I'm always there.
This should have a profound impact on the way I live. Ok, I can't hide from God, even when I want to. He is considering everything I do. I wonder how he feels about it? About all of it? Not just the good parts? My goal in becoming more like Christ is to give everything to God to consider. Scary? Definitely. But it's God and he knows me better than I know myself.
Lord, as you consider everything I do today, may I choose the things that please you. Thanks for reminding me that my life is bare before you.
Earlier in this psalm we are reminded about the greatness of God. The heavens and stars were made by the breath of his mouth. In verse 13 we are reminded that this creation, the universe, is not too big for God. People are not just dots on the earth. Although God lives in heaven he is still able to see all who are on the earth. He sees right into the hearts he formed it. He not only sees but he considers (thinks about, weighs) everything. He contemplates every part of our lives.
Sometimes I think God only cares about the spiritual stuff. Attending church, going to small group, reading the bible...those are the things he sees and cares about or rather, that I want him to care about. But God considers it all. Everything everybody does. That doesn't leave much out. From his all-knowing perspective nothing goes unnoticed. My life is laid out bare before him.
It's hard to live with the constant awareness of God's gaze on my life. The things I want him see are no problem. But what about the things I don't want him to see? I hope I somehow drop off of God's radar. That somehow he loses track of me for a little while and then when I'm doing what he wants I suddenly reappear on his horizon. It doesn't work that way. I'm always there.
This should have a profound impact on the way I live. Ok, I can't hide from God, even when I want to. He is considering everything I do. I wonder how he feels about it? About all of it? Not just the good parts? My goal in becoming more like Christ is to give everything to God to consider. Scary? Definitely. But it's God and he knows me better than I know myself.
Lord, as you consider everything I do today, may I choose the things that please you. Thanks for reminding me that my life is bare before you.
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