Hebrews 4:14-5:10

Hebrews 4:14-5:10
¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. ¹⁶ Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

The Jewish people had priests that would interceed for the people.  The high priest would once per year go into the holy of hollies and offer a sacrifice for the entire nation.  Jesus is that new high priest.  He was the once forever sacrifice for, not just the Jewish people, but the entire world.  Now he is interceding for us in heaven.

This new high priest is not just a stranger who does not understand us or our personal problems.  Jesus was tempted in every way we are and he did not sin.  As I meditate on this truth it should really impact my life.

We can pray with confidence because, Jesus our high priest is there.

5 Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. ² He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. ³ This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. ⁴ And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.

The high priest is not elected.  He is chosen by God.  Though the human priest may have been able to empathize, he still had to offer sacrifice for himself.  Jesus is better.

Our human pastors and teachers are men called of God.  They too are not sin less.  They are put here to help us, but they will make mistakes. Offer them the same grace and mercy we receive from God.

⁵ In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,

“You are my Son;
    today I have become your Father.”

⁶ And he says in another place,

“You are a priest forever,
    in the order of Melchizedek.”

⁷ During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. ⁸ Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered ⁹ and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him ¹⁰ and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Jesus was chosen by God to be the sacrifice for the world.   

Melchizedek was a priest AND  a king.  In those days your were one of the other, not both.  Jesus prayed that God would find another way to save the world, but God said "No. Trust me.".  Jesus obeyed and God made him high priest and King of kings.

I want to point out the God said "no" to his own son because he had a plan that was greater.  If this is true and I believe it, why do I get upset when things don't go my way?  Am I better than Jesus?  The entire point that Hebrews been making is that Jesus is better than the way things have been done.  Therefore my only conclusion is "no".  

I do not understand why things in my life are the way they are right now.  I do know that Jesus my high priest and King, sits in heaven at the right hand of God...a God who loves me and wants what is best for me.  I also have the Holy Spirit within me to guide me.  That is enough.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

Hebrews 4:1-13

Hebrews 4:1-13
Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. ² For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.

Does you faith cause you to obey?  Do you live at peace even when your life turns bad all around you?  I can write all the blogs I want and you can read them too, but if what we read does not cause a change in our faith and our behavior, we really need some self evaluation.

  ³ Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,

“So I declared on oath in my anger,
    ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”

And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world.  ⁴ For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.” ⁵ And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”

⁶ Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, ⁷ God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted:

“Today, if you hear his voice,
    do not harden your hearts.”

God has finished what he set out to do since the day of creation.  I can chose to join him or be against him.  God rested after his work and has offered that rest to those who believe.  Some have chosen and some will still chose not to believe and they will not enter.  If you hear God's voice in your heart, don't ignore it.  Chose to believe.  Chose to obey.

⁸ For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. ⁹ There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; ¹⁰ for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. ¹¹ Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

The people entered the promised land and conquered it with God's help under the leadership of Joshua.  They had peace, this was not a permanent peace and the rest was not complete.  The rest offered by God is superior.

¹² For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. ¹³ Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

I think back to my actions of the past 24 hours.  Nothing was hidden from God.  He even saw the motives behind every action.  Now I read God's word and I see things that need to change.  I hope you chose to change as well.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

Hebrews 3:7-19

Hebrews 3:7-19
⁷ So, as the Holy Spirit says:

“Today, if you hear his voice,
⁸     do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion,
    during the time of testing in the wilderness,
⁹ where your ancestors tested and tried me,
    though for forty years they saw what I did.
¹⁰ That is why I was angry with that generation;
    I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray,
    and they have not known my ways.’
¹¹ So I declared on oath in my anger,
    ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ”

The Israelites were stubborn and despite all they'd seen they never gave their all to the Lord.  Yet here I sit and I know all that I have seen and I too don't give my all to the Lord.  Far too often I choose sin over my walk with God.

¹² See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. ¹³ But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. ¹⁴ We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. ¹⁵ As has just been said:

“Today, if you hear his voice,
    do not harden your hearts
    as you did in the rebellion.”

Verse 13 reminds me of a comment from Pastor Mark Driscoll.  "Your still breathing.  There is still hope.".  We have today.  Yesterday is gone and tomorrow is not promised, but if we are alive, we have a choice.  Today I wanted to harden my heart, skip the blog and go right Netflix.  I made the choice not to harden my heart.  I made the right choice and it was proven so by the text provided by our omniscient God.

¹⁶ Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? ¹⁷ And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness? ¹⁸ And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? ¹⁹ So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.

Sometimes I look at the way I act and measure it against what I believe.  Then I wonder if I really believe what I claim to believe.  I have seen God do incredible things in my life.  I know he has forgiven me.  I know sin is an abomination to God.  Yet there are days when I chose it over God.

Thank you God for sending Jesus to pay the penalty for my sin.  Thank you for grace so that I can be forgiven.  I desire to enter your rest Lord.  I can only do so through belief.  God the story in Mark 9 where man brought his son to Jesus to have the unclean spirit removed. Jesus said, “Everything is possible for one who believes.”.  And the father's responce is the same as mine today God.  “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

Hebrews 3:1-6

Hebrews 3:1-6
Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.  ² He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house.

I so needed this today.  Once again my land lady is saying one thing, I make plans, and then she changes her mind.  The battle for being grateful for vs being bitter has battled since last night.  I'm taking my thoughts off my situation and fixing them on Jesus.  He is faithful.  He is not going to change his mind.

³ Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. ⁴ For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.  ⁵ “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,” bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. ⁶ But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house.

Jesus' honor is greater than that of Moses. Jesus position is higher than Moses. As God's Son, he is the head of God's house and Moses was a servant.  Once again we see that Jesus is greater than Moses.  This book of Hebrews is written to Jews.  The author (believed to be Paul) is showing the Jesus is superior in every way.

And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.

 We are God's house or his building project.  What a privileged position we hold to be worked on by God himself.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

Hebrews 2:5-18

Hebrews 2:5-18
⁵ It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. ⁶ But there is a place where someone has testified:

“What is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    a son of man that you care for him?
⁷ You made them a little lower than the angels;
    you crowned them with glory and honor
⁸     and put everything under their feet.”

I believe this is a reference to Genesis 1:28, where God told Adam and Eve to rule over all creation.

In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them.

We have not finished that task.  There are still places on this earth we have not subdued and there are things we have not conquered yet...disease for example. 

⁹ But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

Jesus was made low for us.  He suffered death for us.  Now he is crowned with glory. 

¹⁰ In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.

 Everything exists for God.  As a man who struggles with pride I sometimes struggle with that.  But this whole chapter is speaking of Jesus.  He pioneered my salvation...OUR salvation.  It was he who brought us to glory through his suffering.

¹¹ Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. ¹² He says,

“I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;
    in the assembly I will sing your praises.”

¹³ And again,

“I will put my trust in him.”

And again he says,

“Here am I, and the children God has given me.”

 We who are in Christ are part of his family and he calls us brothers and sisters.  It is Jesus who declared God to us.  Jesus put his trust in the Father when he obeyed him and came to earth for our salvation.  We have been given to Jesus by God and he speaks of it in the assembly.  I am imagining this being a heavenly court.

¹⁴ Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— ¹⁵ and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. ¹⁶ For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. ¹⁷ For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

In order to help us Jesus became just like us.  He has "been there" and "done that" yet he did it without sin.  When tempted we can turn to him because he knows what we are going through. 

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

Hebrews 2:1-4

Hebrews 2:1-4
We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

I think about the things that I know about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and what my responsibilities are as a Christian.  By keeping them in the forefront of my mind, the world and my fleshly desires fade.  This verse has also proven true when I allow the world to creep in and I stop paying attention to what I know to be true.  The jokes I tolerate become worse and worse.  My temper comes back and other habits that the Holy Spirit has given victory to come back.  Slowly at first, but before long I am starting all over with things I'd had complete victory in.

 ² For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, ³ how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?

I know what I have done wrong.  There would be no escape for me without the grace, mercy and forgiveness of God through Jesus Christ. Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.

I am reminded of the faithful who believed and told the next generation.  I would not be a Christian to day without the faithful passing of the gospel.  May we continue to be faithful in passing it to the next generation.


⁴ God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

As a Christian I have given serious thought to the gospel and without God's testimony to my heart through the Holy Spirit, it would be foolishness to me.

Thank you God for calling me...for choosing to reveal yourself to me.  Thank you for forgiving me and saving me.

My the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

Hebrews 1

Hebrews is another weighty book that I used to read thinking it's beyond my understanding and only preachers can interpret it.  I have out grown the view as I've matured in Christ, yet there was enough residual anxiety from my past that I almost skipped it.  So...he we go.

Hebrews 1
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ² but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.

This reminds me of how the book of John begins.  "In the beginning was the word".  Jesus is the word.

³ The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.

Jesus is everything God is.  Jesus is sustaining EVERYTHING.  Without him, nothing can exist.

 After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 

He provided for our purification and sat down.  The work was done.

⁴ So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
⁵ For to which of the angels did God ever say,

“You are my Son;
    today I have become your Father”?

Or again,

“I will be his Father,
    and he will be my Son”?

⁶ And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,

“Let all God’s angels worship him.”

⁷ In speaking of the angels he says,

“He makes his angels spirits,
    and his servants flames of fire.”

Jesus is superior to the angels.

⁸ But about the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;
    a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
⁹ You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
    therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
    by anointing you with the oil of joy.”

He is King for ever.

¹⁰ He also says,

“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,
    and the heavens are the work of your hands.
¹¹ They will perish, but you remain;
    they will all wear out like a garment.
¹² You will roll them up like a robe;
    like a garment they will be changed.
But you remain the same,
    and your years will never end.”

¹³ To which of the angels did God ever say,

“Sit at my right hand
    until I make your enemies
    a footstool for your feet”?

Everything created will pass away but Jesus will remain unchanged.

¹⁴ Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

Angels are not beautify women nor are they cherubs shooting heart shaped arrows into people to make them fall in love.  They are ministers from God sent to serve us who are saved.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters.  Amen.

Philemon 1

Philemon 1
¹ Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker— ² also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home:

³ Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We know our writer is Paul and who Philemon is.  Once again we read of Paul's desire for them to have God's grace and peace.  I could use some of God's peace right now.  Lot's of things going on in my head right now.  Dear God I ask you for the grace to get through the next few days.  I ask of your peace as I make decisions the will change how and where I live.  Give me your wisdom.

⁴ I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, ⁵ because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. ⁶ I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. ⁷ Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.

Some of you readers have expressed thanks for this study.  Well, I thank God for you and I pray that as we study God's word together you too will have a deeper understanding of every good thing.

⁸ Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, ⁹ yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— ¹⁰ that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. ¹¹ Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

This is servant leadership.  When one has the authority to demand, yet they appeal to the heart of the one to whom they speak. 

¹² I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. ¹³ I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. ¹⁴ But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. ¹⁵ Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— ¹⁶ no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.

Paul did not abuse his position and take what he wanted.  However he is informing Philemon that his slave had become a brother in Christ.

¹⁷ So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. ¹⁸ If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. ¹⁹ I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. ²⁰ I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. ²¹ Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

Paul does for Onesimus what Jesus Christ did for us.  He assume all of his debt owed to Philemon. Not sure what debt Onesimus had.  Not sure if Paul had the financial means to cover it.  This is not so much a bluff as it is Paul's confidence in Philemon's willingness to do the right thing.  Paul wanted Philemon to see the truth the in Christ we are all the same. Galatians 3:28

²² And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.

Paul was still going to visit his friend.  He was not going to allow the issue with Onesimus to interfere with their friendship.  This is very important to me right now as I have a relationship that is changing.  My landlords no longer wish for me to live here.  They want their house back.  I don't blame them.  So I will do all in my power to keep our relationship separate from the move.

²³ Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. ²⁴ And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.

  
No commentary but since the last verse of this chapter is so close to my usual I shall allow it to be the close for today.

²⁵ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

A personal lesson.

Instead of moving on to Philemon today I wish to share a revelation I had last night.  Not something new, but the Holy Spirit brought to mind some realities I already know, but he made them practical to my situation.  Click on the links to see the scripture.

On Sunday my friend Mike prayed for me.  1. I am in school and I am having a real hard time staying focused.  2. I need to find a new place to live as wonderful folks who have let me live here have had enough.  3. I still do not have a job. 

Mike has lived through all three of the above situations.  It took him years to work through it.  Mike's prayer was impassioned, his voice cracked and when I told him later he made me cry, he admitted he was too.  I was thinking, this is what scripture means when it says "carry each other’s burdens". 

Monday night while was remembering this moment, the Holy Spirit brought to mind his groaning on my behalf.  I was also reminded that Jesus went through it all here on earth as well.  He, like my friend Mike, empathizes with my situation.  Any he prays for me.

What an awesome God we serve.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

Titus 3

Titus 3
Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, ² to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.

As this political season comes to a close on Tuesday all the slander that has gone back and forth between the candidates of all the races will come to a close...till the next election.  But this order is to Christians. We are told to be subject to these people.  What do we say about the guy we don't want to win?  Are we peaceable and considerate?  Gentle?

 
³ At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. ⁴ But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.

Do we live differently from before we were saved?  When we read this list, is it our past or our present?  There may be one or two things we may be struggling with still.  Pray on those this morning and ask the Spirit to convict you of thing that still need to go.

He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. ⁸ This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

Every wish for a do over?  God generously poured out his spirit through Jesus so that we could have that do over.  Sure the things we have done still happened but there is no long any eternal punishment for our sin.  We are now part of God' family with all rights and privileges associated with it.

⁹ But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. ¹⁰ Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. ¹¹ You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.

Lineage was very important to the Jews as they wanted to know which tribe they belonged to for status.  Others would argue about the OT law.  There was no need for any of it because they were now under grace through Jesus Christ and we are all the same in Christ.  Also Christ fulfilled the law so there was no point in arguing over it anymore.  Do you know someone who is not happy unless they are stirring the pot?  Warn them once and then again, then just walk away.

¹² As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there. ¹³ Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need. ¹⁴ Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.
¹⁵ Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith.
Grace be with you all.

Paul was prepping for winter and telling Titus to ensure the needs of others are met.  We should be preparing and meeting others needs as well.  We should be doing what is good.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

Titus 2

Titus 2

You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine.

We live in a society the does and says what it wants.  No foundation.  No structure.  No truth.  We teach from the word of God that never changes.

  ² Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

Temperate means self restrained or moderate.  This is sometimes linked with alcohol.  Respect is something we earn by the lifestyle we live.  Self control is not giving in to your passions be it food, sex, greed or anything that takes control of you.  Sound in faith means you know what you believe and what you believe is in line with scripture.  Sound in love is to love as God loves.  Sound endurance is to keep going even when life gets hard.  As a man in my 40's, do I live this life?
 
³ Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. ⁴ Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

I get nervous when scripture speaks to women, but Titus was a man and he was ordered by Paul to teach this and Paul was ordered by God to teach it.  Therefore, if you don't like what it says you are rejecting God, not me.  However I shall not make commentary on these verses.

⁶ Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. ⁷ In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness ⁸ and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

Lead by example. How to be a man is more caught than taught.

⁹ Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, ¹⁰ and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.

Obey your boss.  Put in an honest days work.  This will make you a more effective witness for God.

¹¹ For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. ¹² It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, ¹³ while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

We can say no.  Sometimes it is hard, but through the power of Christ we can.  He gave himself for us to redeem us.  We should be eager to do what is right out of appreciation for what he has done.

¹⁵ These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.

We have God's authority to teach what is right.  

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters.  Amen. 

Titus 1

Apologies to those that read my blog regularly.  I've had a couple late mornings and then never took the time later in the day to get back to my Bible study and blog.  And I will confess that my walk with the Lord has suffered as a result of the lack of communication on my part.

So today we enter Titus.  Though I am sure I have read Titus, I really have no clue of what to expect in this book.  Please join me as we explore God's word together.

Titus 1

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness—

We know this was written by Paul.  We know that this book is to further our faith.  If you have accepted Christ's payment for you sin, you are one of the elect.  If you have not and you are reading this, God in his mercy and grace has chosen to reveal himself you to through his word here.  Pay attention.

 ² in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,

The word hope here is not as we would use it in English.  For example "I hope I get a pony on my birthday."  This use is one of trusting in something that is sure.

 ³ and which now at his appointed season he has brought to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior,⁴ To Titus, my true son in our common faith:

Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

There are no coincidences.  There is no chance.  God is omniscient.  You are hear reading this by divine appointment.  I study Titus today be divine appointment.  This is God time.

⁵ The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. ⁶ An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. ⁷ Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. ⁸ Rather, he must be hospitable,one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. ⁹ He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

One thing I appreciate about my church is the elders and leaders in charge.  Every one of them fills these qualifications.  To those of us who are not officially recognized leaders in our churches, these qualifications are good for us to strive for in our daily lives.  All of us are a leader or mentor to someone.

¹⁰ For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group. ¹¹ They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain. ¹² One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” ¹³ This saying is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith ¹⁴ and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the merely human commands of those who reject the truth.

Don't be this person.  Don't cause problems by stirring up trouble.  The people of Crete had such a bad rep that to this day the term "Cretan" is an insult.  We as Christians should have a reputation of love. John 13:34-35 

 ¹⁵ To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. ¹⁶ They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.

Do my actions invalidate my claim to faith?  How about yours?

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters.  Amen.

2 Timothy 4

2 Timothy 4

4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: ² Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

Am I prepared?  Do I know my scripture enough to be ready no matter the day, time or season?  People all around me, every day are in need.  I need to be ready.

³ For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. ⁴ They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. ⁵ But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

This time is here.  It is now.  We have TV and radio with 100's of stations.  If you don't like it, find another station.  In politics people vote for the one that says what they want to hear, not what they need to hear.  Don't like what the preacher says, find another church.

⁶ For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Paul was sure he was about to be martyred.  He was ready.  More importantly, he knew he had accomplished the task the God had set before him.  I've had some rough spots here in the middle of my race.  I have a choice, I can quit or I can finish well.

⁹ Do your best to come to me quickly, ¹⁰ for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. ¹¹ Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. ¹² I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. ¹³ When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.

When you commit to helping a person or to a ministry.  Finish it.  Abandoning the work causes hardship for your brothers and sisters.  Yes God can call others and the work He want done will be completed, but you will miss out the blessings and lessons God has for you.

¹⁴ Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. ¹⁵ You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.

We will face opposition.  God will repay those that hurt us. 

¹⁶ At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. ¹⁷ But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. ¹⁸ The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

We may be called upon to defend our belief.  We may even have to do it alone.  But we are never alone.  God will strengthen us and give us the words.  Use these times as an opportunity to share the gospel.

¹⁹ Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. ²⁰ Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. ²¹ Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers and sisters.

Personal greeting.  No commentary required.

Instead of my usual sign off from Gal 6:18, I shall allow Paul's final words from this chapter, be the final words of this blog.

²² The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.

2 Timothy 3:10-17

2 Timothy 3:10-17
¹⁰ You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, ¹¹ persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. ¹² In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, ¹³ while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

I will be persecuted if I live a Godly life. Am I ready?

¹⁴ But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, ¹⁵ and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

My parents were far from perfect, but they were Godly people who brought me to church under the instruction of Godly leaders.  I grew up in the Christian life.  Recently I spoke with some guys from TEEN CHALLENGE about the things God saved me from instead of out of .  

Only the Holy Scriptures can make me wise.

  ¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

God wrote the Bible through men.  It's not worldly wisdom.  If you or I reject any part we are rejecting God, not man.  Only through His word can we be equipped to accomplish the task he has for us.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

2 Timothy 3:1-9

2 Timothy 3:1-9
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

Sounds a lot like today.  Verse 5 has been used greatly by the Holy Spirit in my life these past few weeks.  Often temptation will come and just before I "give in" this verse comes to mind.  As those who have accepted Christ, we have a choice.  We've been set free and we do not have to sin.

6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9 But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.

There comes a time in your walk when you need to start applying and living what you have learned.  Grow up and be a man or woman of God instead of just continuing to gather knowledge.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters.  Amen.

2 Timothy 2:14-26

2 Timothy 2:14-26
¹⁴ Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.

The first thought that entered my mind was Christian arguing about the use of words in the Bible.  Let's be realistic.  Every Bible owned today is a copy.  Most are copies of a translation.  The next thing that comes to mind is the churches that argue about which translation is correct.  This is not what we were called to do and it only tears down the church.

¹⁵ Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

This is my goal.  I am not ashamed and I handle God's word with care.

¹⁶ Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. ¹⁷ Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, ¹⁸ who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. 

I think of how horrible it would be if my conversation was to cause someone to fall away from the faith.

¹⁹ Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”

I am so glad that the Lord knows I belong to him.  There have been times that I've doubted, but all I need to do is look back and see how God has brought me through so much and just never let me go.
 
²⁰ In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. ²¹ Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

I'd rather be the soup bowl at the masters table than the chamber pot. You?

²² Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

The evil desires of youth are not always just sexual.  It is anything that sets oneself above the authority of God.  Notice also it does not say stand up and fight, but FLEE.  And since life can't have a vacuum we are to fill the void with righteousness, faith, love and peace.

²³ Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.

Very similar to the admonition about words.  Don't get sucked into arguments.

²⁴ And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. ²⁵ Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, ²⁶ and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

Are you able to stay calm in the face of a hostile opponent?  Our goal is not to win an argument, but to win another to Christ.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

2 Timothy 2:1-13

2 Timothy 2:1-13
You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ² And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.

Be strong in what I told you.  Teach it to reliable men who will teach others.  2000 years later you and I are reading these words.  Timothy did as instructed.  Will I?  Will you?

³ Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴ No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. ⁵ Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. ⁶ The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. ⁷ Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

The soldier, and the athlete work hard toward a goal and keep their eyes fixed on it.  The farmer works hard and should receive his share.  We as Christians need to stay focused on our calling and there will be a harvest.
 
⁸ Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, ⁹ for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal.

Jesus Christ.  All God, yet all man too.

 But God’s word is not chained. ¹⁰ Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

Paul willingly suffered for you and for me.  We read these letters because of his faithfulness to his calling and Timothy's faithfulness to his calling and the faithful men who followed them.  We need to be faithful to our calling for the generations that follow us.

¹¹ Here is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with him,
    we will also live with him;
¹² if we endure,
    we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
    he will also disown us;
¹³ if we are faithless,
    he remains faithful,
    for he cannot disown himself.

Our actions will effect our relationship with God.  However, God cannot change who he is.  His character will never change.  His attributes are forever.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.