He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Colossians 1:15-20

..since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1

Can you say you have peace with God? I look out on my friends and this world around me and I have to say I don’t see the peace that they claim they have. Our lives are in contrast to the world we live in. The peace we have with God *ONLY* comes from Jesus Christ as Lord. Not our stuff, not our schedule, not our jobs, not the morning cup of coffee… only Jesus. Are we living our lives at peace with God?

 God, today, help us to be faithful to share this peace with our friends, family, neighbors, co-workers and our enemies. That you God, would continue to show mercy and love to us, your creation, as we seek to do your good will.

Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Psalms 51:6-7

We KNOW that our hearts are deceitful & incurable (Jer 17:9) but what is this “secret heart”? Could it be the hidden grace that God had prepared from the beginning of time, knowing that our own sacrifice would never be whole and we would need another?

God today grant me the ability to show your grace and mercy to those around me, let me extend the Gospel in word and deed to those I come in contact with. Let my life be the reflection of your hidden heart and NOT my own. To God be the Glory.

Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.
1 Timothy 6:20-21

In this final instruction in 1st Timothy there is clear instructions to avoid the thinking of the “rich” in earthly possessions.  One of the discussions I most often have with unChristian friends is one regarding money and wealth.  Where I see my needs as ones relative to the ministry God has called us to, they see things differently.

For a long time I chased the $ and the dream of becoming rich and in my process of  trying to “provide for my family” I found myself destroying the very family relationship I was trying to “sustain.”  Not that it wouldn’t be easier if money wasn’t a constant battle… but when placed in proper perspective the financial needs of this family are being met.  Now it is MY responsibility to make sure the emotional and spiritual needs of this family are being met as well.

I have books on how rich people think, how they act, how they got rich and how they continue to get richer.  Good reading and really good knowledge for the business responsibility in my life.  however, when dealing with the spiritual needs of my family they have little bearing.    My instruction has to be from that which is central to our lives (or should be) the completion of the Holy Spirit’s revelation in the form of the Living Word of God. It is here that we must pursue the knowledge of “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness” (1 Timothy 6:11) and it is  here that we must learn to “father” my children.

Now for the shift of thought, this is intended for the Pastor’s heart and it is an amazing thing to see how my relationship with my family can be reflected in the ministry God has called me to.  To work with people from all aspects of life it is not a matter of rich vs. poor it is a matter of family.  The same correction, the same scripture, the same teaching the same instruction from the same completed Word of God.  This is what we were called to preach/teach/sustain in the Grace that is given to us.  This is where we live, in the present age, looking to a future land and home in heaven.  Grace.

My prayer today is:
Lord, speak your word through me as I deal with the emotional and spiritual needs of those around me.  Help me to see your Glory being made manifest in these your children and the working of You through my frail hands.  Lord that you would be king of my life and help me to share that necessity with those around me through your Word.  That your instruction would not just stop with my head and lips but would permeate my heart and being so that I can be used, giving God all the glory.  Amen.

1 Corinthians 2:2-6
For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration  of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away.

I love that little phrase “that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men” to often we look at witnessing and ministering the Gospel as something that we need to do to convince people of the Gospel.  In reality we are told NOT to do this.  Still today in a discussion on “God” and “Religion” with some new friends it is hard t o resist what I clearly see as logic and the necessity of the Gospel in our lives.   These verses SHOULD plant enough motivation to witness since it doesn’t depend on us other than responding in the Spirit and spreading the good news of Jesus Christ.  But my knees still knock and I find according to this passage I am in good company

The second thought of that phrase is “that your faith might rest in the power of God.” This is when God works through us it is our hands/feet/tongue etc but HIS power!  What an awesome release of responsibility on the Christian’s life!  That all we have to do is follow God no matter in fear or boldness (God used both) and display the Gospel and God will work the power   But still even greater still that God would use me in my weakness, my tongue in its depth of sin to speak the words of HIS Truth and HIS power.

1 Corinthians 1:27-29
But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

In verse 29 it says “so that no human being might boast in the presence of God”  This is the great equalizer for us. It doesn’t matter if we are rich or poor, or noble or lesser birth, or learned or ignorant, or weak or strong, or despised or revered… GOD works, and His Holy Spirit in us, so that He may be glorified.  We,  therefore, can not take security in our own sanctification but we can only rest our security and hope in Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:31)

Nothing except Jesus Christ and him crucified -- Photo Credit http://www.photos8.com

Complacency:
self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies

Yeah I know it is a negative definition but it is something that I am more aware of.   I don’t like to “shoot from the hip” but I can do it and it is a value when dealing with people struggling with their own faith, however finding ourselves relying on this method is a sign of complacency.   We are to be ready to answer for our faith but we do not “arrive” in our study to the point where we can say we have learned all there is to know. Not on earth anyhow!

1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
Emphasis mine

Also I find that when we are NOT thirsty for the WORD of God is a sign of complacency.  I love to read and constantly am fighting to find more time to study (and cutting into my other ways of relaxing aka Video Games) Between work, sermon prep, family time, counseling, volunteering and the other areas of ministry I find a need for more and more careful study.

Ineffective:
not effective;  not producing results;

 Another danger is becoming ineffective in our ministry of the Gospel.  Even as a pastor Timothy was warned to be sure that he was effective in the ministry and that included reading scripture and continuing in the apostle’s doctrine.  It also included encourage to action and teaching other’s around them.

1 Timothy 4:13-16
Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Another definition that I read for ineffective, was not just “not producing results” but “producing the wrong  results.”  The danger we face when we rely on ourselves or other’s interpretation is that we can produce the wrong results.  The reason training and education are so important is not just for us to make sure of our salvation but for other’s around us to see the true Gospel.

Closely tied to this is the next concern that I have in becoming unfruitful.

Unfruitful:
Not producing good or helpful results; unproductive.

When we become complacent and ineffective in our Christian walk it shows itself further by the stopping of our production of fruit.  If we are constant in season and out of season (2 Timothy 4:2) then we are fruitful..  Not a hard concept to grasp, however we often get ourselves so far out of whack that we don’t see this in our own lives.  One pastor this week (I forget who) asked on his blog “How would your church look if everyone in it led others’ to salvation like you?  If they encouraged others like you, if they spoke out like you did if the Gospel was presented like you did it…  How would your church look?”

Conclusion ::

As we read other’s we must constantly evaluate and study the many different facets of the authors and the theology they offer.

2 Peter 1:10
Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

It is NOT just the PASTOR’s responsibility to be educated in the Gospel.  We all must be able to answer for our faith.

I said all that to actually say this:

Our life and theology are never perfect, no theologian’s ever are.  From this we must rely on scripture for insight and strength of our theology and the evaluation of the theology of others.  This will ensure that we leave a Godly heritage for the generations that follow.