Let No One Disregard You

These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
Tit 2:15

As I read this verse, I thought about how we're taught to be tactful, humble and not offend people when we speak. Yet, this verse seems to fly in the face of that teaching. It tells us to speak with authority, and let no one disregard us. I believe the difference is this: when we are speaking from our own hearts, thoughts and opinions, we should be reserved and not over-confident. Yet, when we are speaking from God, there is no need to apologize. When Jesus spoke, people were amazed at the authority with which he spoke. When God has given us words to speak, we too can and must speak with boldness and authority.

Lord, help me to be sensitive to You speaking in my life. Help me to be bold to speak what You have given me. Help me not to be dogmatic when expressing my own opinions, and help me to know the difference.

Urge the Young Men

Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.
Tit 2:6-8

In these verses, Paul gives us a snapshot of what the lives of young men should look like:

• Sensible: reasonable, balanced, wise
• An example of good deeds: a life that inspires others to kindness, self-sacrifice and discipline
• Purity in doctrine: only getting our doctrines and beliefs from the Bible, not being swayed by every wind of doctrine
• Dignified: acting and living respectably and in a way that honors God
• Sound speech which is beyond reproach: truthful, upright, full of integrity, speech that honors God and respects our fellow men

Lord, help me to have this kind of life. Help me to be an example of someone who fears You. I want my life to point people to You.

Professing to Know God

They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him,
Tit 1:16

Is this a picture of me? I profess to know God. I claim to live for Him. Yet, if people could only see what I do and not hear what I say, what would they think? Is my life as good as my words? Or, are some of the things I do self-serving instead of God-serving. The talk is easy to get right, but the walk tells what we're really made of.

Lord, help me to serve You in my wards and actions. Help me not to be a hypocrite. I want to be genuine all the way through. I don't want to have anything that I need to hide. I don't want to have to put on words or actions when I'm in public. You can see me all the time, and You are the One I want to please. So, please help me to speak for You and live for You continually.

Safely to His Heavenly Kingdom

I was rescued out of the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen
2Ti 4:17-18

In previous verses, Paul was telling Timothy about his arrival in Rome, when no one would stand with him for fear of persecution. Yet, through it all, God delivered Paul from Satan, that roaring lion. Paul had complete trust that whether he lived or whether he died, God would keep him safely and bring him to heaven. Paul was completely content with life or death if it brought glory to God.

Is my life that surrendered to God? Do I completely trust God's direction in my life even when it means hardship?

Lord, I thank You that I can trust You completely. I know You have a plan for my life. I choose to give You the reins of my life. I am willing to follow You through hard times and easy. I ask You for the grace to face whatever lies ahead. I want my life to be dedicated to Your glory.

Lord, Pour Me Out

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering
2Ti 4:6

Paul had submitted his life to God. He allowed God complete control. God could pour Paul out in any way He desired. Am I that submitted to God and His plan for my life?

I want to be like water in a glass: completely without resistance to wherever God pours me out. Water has no control over where it's poured out, how it's used or where it runs. I want to give God that kind of complete control over my life.

Lord, I submit my life to You. Help my lack of submission. I want You to control every detail of my life. I want Holy Spirit to fill me so completely that my first impulse in every situation is to follow Your direction. Please help me to see the areas in my life that are not surrendered and give me the strength to surrender them to You. Amen.

A Synopsis of the Book of John

http://shalombiblefellowship.org/messages/?download&file_name=2013-08-04%20A%20Synopsis%20of%20the%20Book%20of%20John.mp3

Difficult Times Will Come

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self- control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.
2Ti 3:1-5

This seems like a description of today. This long list of bad character traits is a laundry list of what we see around us. Paul tells us to avoid these kind of people. We become like the people we are around. So, we need to be careful when choosing our associates. As we choose friends that have good character traits, we will improve our characters. With God's help and the influence of good friends, these difficult times will be less difficult.