Setting a Godly Example

I've just recovered recently from the cold flu symptoms of fever, chills, and cold sweat. By the grace of God, however, I am once again sitting down and typing up a devotional blog post. This morning, I read from 1 Timothy 4 (1 and 2 Timothy are two of my personal favorites books in the Bible since Timothy is my middle name) and again I am struck with both the joy and responsibility of being a minister of the Gospel.

1 Timothy 4:6-16 says, “6 If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters,[a] you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. 10 That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.

11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

To set a godly example, one must first train to be godly. I know what this means. In high school, I trained six days a week for 3+ hours each day for tennis. I was determined to be fit, play hard, and train even harder. Physical training included running, conditioning, and building endurance. Paul tells Timothy that physical training does have some value, but spiritual training (godliness) has sooooo much more value. Godliness holds value not just in present life but also for eternal life.

I hope we can take this heart so that we can set a godly example to others. Can I encourage you this morning to set an example in one of the following today: 1) In speech: say something kind or encouraging to someone today or 2) In life: do something kind or encouraging, maybe give a gift to your friend or a neighbor or 3) In love: tell someone that you care for them and are praying for them today or 4) In purity: commit yourself to obeying God and confessing anything that you may be putting above God.

If you are really bold, maybe you can try practicing all four of those things this week. For Paul reminds us, that if we persevere in godliness we will save both ourselves and those who we come in contact with.

Faith and Gratitude: The Twin Guardians of the Soul

Colossians 2:1-8 says, "I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.

6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces[a] of this world rather than on Christ.

The two guardians of the soul that I want to talk about today is Faith and Gratitude. Actually, both Faith and Gratitude have a whole lot more meaning than the picture I shared above. So let's dig right in... What is Faith? Faith can be defined as “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” in Hebrews 11:1. Faith is best described as a "channel of living trust", an assurance—that stretches from man to God.

Faith enables us to stand firm in our beliefs. Faith enables us to weather the storms of life. Faith enables us to see beyond present circumstance or when we can't see we can trust that God sees our circumstances. Being rooted in Christ gives Christians a firm foundation, a foundation that cannot be shaken by trials or hardships.

The role of faith in our daily life is how we choose to live each day either rooted in ourselves or rooted in Christ. Faith comes from a right relationship with God and overflows into an assurance that God cares for us deeply. How can we guard ourselves from doubt? How can we guard ourselves from despair? How can we guard ourselves from fear, worry, and stress? The answer is to allow faith to reign in our lives and take heart that greater is He that is in us then he that is in the world.

What is gratitude? Gratitude can be defined as in "and whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" in Colossians 3:17. Gratitude here is giving thanks to God in everything both word and deed.

Gratitude (overflowing thankfulness) is a guardian of the soul. Think about it, when our hearts are not thankful, we are vulnerable to the enemy's attacks of sadness, depression, anger, jealousy, and many other schemes of the devil. A song of thanksgiving is one of the best medicines to cure the soul. So encouraging a daily habit of thanksgiving is like taking a daily multivitamin or a daily vaccination against the sickness of trials and tribulations.

The role of gratitude applies to our daily life and how we interact not only with God but with others. How can we guard ourselves against complaining? How can we guard ourselves against blaming others? How can we guard ourselves against sarcasm, criticism, and cynicism? The answer is to fill are life both words and deeds with overflowing thanksgiving.

Fighting Joylessness as Forgiven Sinner

The foundation of our joy is Jesus Christ: His blood, His righteousness, His living, His dying, and His rising from the dead. What a powerful line that is for us to remember. I want to begin today by making a distinction between happiness and joy. When I was young, I thought both words to mean almost the same thing that is that "joy" and "happiness" were namely about "feeling good". However, if we look at the Bible...the words translated into joy appear many more times than the words translated into happiness. Depending on the translation, the Bible uses the words “happy” and “happiness” about 30 times, while “joy” and “rejoice” appear over 300 times.

In an article in Psychology Today, research is also showing that happiness is different from joy. Here are a few quotes from an article saying, "happiness is external. It's based on situations, events, people, places, things, and thoughts...The transitory things of life are happiness-based...When you need nothing more than your truth and the love of a good God to bring peace, then you have settled into the abiding joy that is not rocked by relationships. It's not rocked by anything."

So today's blog post is to remind us that joy doesn't come from external circumstances nor does it come from even "inward feelings. Happiness might come from external things or internal feelings. But true joy comes, the joy that cannot be quenched by hell fire, the joy that survives for all eternity...this joy comes from the Gospel of Jesus Christ and what He has done for you and me.

Ephesians 6:7 says, "Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free." This passage is referring to slaves obeying their masters wholeheartedly. Because believe it or not, there existed a lot of slavery in Roman times and when a servant became a Christians it was a HARD and DIFFICULT struggle to serve their masters. (If you put yourselves in a Christian slave's shoe, its like serving two masters: an earthly master and a Heavenly Lord.) So Paul reminds us that even if we were servants and slaves to slave masters...we can still have joy. Why? Because of Jesus Christ. As Christians are reward is in heaven, not on earth, so let us remember who we are serving the Lord of time, space, and all living things.

Are you Weary in Well-Doing?

This next post is tied into the last post on "Lukewarm and Loving It?" so please read the first one before beginning this next one. I hope that everyone really wrestles with the question of being lukewarm. In Revelation 3:16, the apostle John writes, "So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth." I personally do not want to be spit out...I think neither do you. We need to spend time with God and ask Him how we can be ON FIRE for Jesus.

Our theme today for the second part of the video-blog series is "How to Live a Life of Joy when Feeling Joyless?". There are times in our life when it is hard to find joy, hard to find happiness, hard to find excitement, and hard not to be bored. However, if we let the truth of Ephesians 2:1-10 sink into our lives. I think we would come to find that our joy is not from external circumstances, not from our wants or desires, and not from our own actions. Joy comes from Christ. Paul writes in Ephesians 2:1-10 that we are made ALIVE in CHRIST, not made alive in ourselves, not made alive in our victories, not made alive in our happiness...no we are made alive in CHRIST and CHRIST ALONE:

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Pastor Martin Lloyd Jones gives a great three minute message how not giving up in well-doing. Yes, we will face hard times. Yes, we will even feel weary. But our hope is in Christ. Remember, the apostle Paul reminds us that God who is rich in mercy will seat US with HIM in the HEAVEN in CHRIST...that is our true hope of joy in this world. Please take a moment to watch this video and let the Gospel sink into your soul...that we are made ALIVE in CHRIST.