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 sincere young man who earnestly desired to serve the Lord. Yet certain weaknesses in Timothy's life hindered him from serving God confidently. Timothy was very young to be a religious leader, and apparently some doubted his abilities. Timothy had a tender nature and was sickly (1 Tim. 5:23). His was an inauspicious beginning for a young minister of the gospel in an age of persecution!
Paul urged Timothy not to allow his youthful insecurity to blunt his zeal and faithfulness in doing what God had told him. Rather than arguing with those who criticized Timothy, Paul urged him to live as an example of godliness. Paul advised Timothy to live a life that was so spotless in word, conduct, love, spirit, faith, and purity that his life could serve as a model for others in the church to follow. Timothy's life was to be the evidence that God had called him. God looked beyond Timothy's youth, timidity, and physical weakness and saw his sincere heart.
As you seek to follow God's will, you may identify with Timothy. Perhaps some things about you seem to disqualify you from serving the Lord effectively. You may be sensitive because you are a new Christian or because you come from a sinful past. Perhaps you have little education or money or social status. You may have previously experienced failure in your service for God. Don’t allow this to intimidate you from following God's will. Your area of weakness may be God's means of demonstrating His strength (2 Cor. 12:9). Allow God to demonstrate His call upon you by transforming your life into a model of godliness.- Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day
In Corinthians Paul describes the body of Christ and compares it to a physical body.
There are always going to be people who base their successes and their failures by what their life looks like with other people.
I am no Paul. I am not an Andrew or a John. I am not you, nor is there anyone out there who is me. My writing isn't my own. It is compelled by the Spirit. I go back later to read what I posted and it blows my mind. Where did it come from?
Prayer began long ago, farther back than you may think, concerning me. It was prayer that guided my parents. Prayer that saw me through some beyond rough patches in life. Prayer changes people.
Prayer helps answer the question of what God's Will is for the life of the believer. The most obvious is to read and obey the Scriptures. To get specific about careers and use of talents learned takes time to understand. We are a microwave society. We ask Amazon for something and expect it within a certain timeframe. We type something in Google and expect results in seconds to our queries.
God isn't a genie. He isn't the ultimate incarnation of Amazon mixed with Google. He isn't there only as our provider. He is our protector. He is our Creator. He is our Savior. He is the Potter while we are the clay. He directs the nations. He moves this person to interact with that person. He removes sin and washes wounds. He is outside of time, we are in it.
Many misconceptions have been taught concerning God. Satan loves to twist and manipulate Scripture to his own ends. He has tried to hijack the promise of God in the rainbow. He has tried to hijack the depiction of Noah's Ark. It isn't a lovely children's story. The Lord directs 2 of every kind of animal and insect on the planet to the Ark and floods the world after He shuts Noah and his family in that Ark. Billions die of drowning and the ensuing global disaster.
We each, who are believers, have a role and responsibility in the body of Christ. Protecting the Scriptures is the job of the Holy Spirit, through us. Teaching the whole counsel of God is the role of men called by God for that purpose. Not women.
There's plenty of turmoil in this world. But, as Blackaby points out, prayer is a constant communication tool between us and God. Prayer - should - bring out the truth in the hearts of believers before God.
Prayer shouldn't be lists only. But heartfelt thanks and petitions. Prayer shouldn't end because we stood up to go do something.
Prayer is your personal God given right to always be able to enter the Throne room of your Savior.
There is only one way to Heaven. It isn't through any other means but through Christ. Prayer is always at your right hand.
Do you pray? There's nothing formal about it. It's your heart speaking to the heart of God. It's going to reveal things in your life that need to change. It's going to show you where you have grown. It's going to show you things you never would have seen without Jesus.
Those who are believers have a purpose in the body of Christ. In the parable of the worker's in the fields. None were specifically told what to go do in the field. But to go. They would be shown after they obeyed the call to go. None came running out of the fields due to what was asked of them.
So instead of a life lived for ourselves, ask God what He wants of you to do.
No comments:
Post a Comment