2 Timothy 2:8
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God...
I don't do suffering very well. I do easy...naturally. About 4 months ago my wife and I decided to join a new exercise craze...P90X. It is supposed to change your body, and your life. How great is that? Unfortunately, the transformation doesn't take place immediately upon purchase of the product. You actually have to do the exercise which, in and of itself wouldn't be bad if the exercise didn't mean you had to suffer. And you do have to suffer. I did the "ab ripper x" the other night. Tony says it is the "x in P90X", which means it is hard, and it hurts. Over the last 4 months, my body hasn't changed much, mainly because I haven't been doing the exercises much. I don't do suffering well.
The main point of 2 Timothy is Paul helping Timothy to courageously suffer for the sake of the Gospel. This is obviously hard, or Paul wouldn't be writing Timothy to encourage him. In verses 3-7, Paul speaks of the reality of Timothy's past and present, he doesn't have a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self control. Now Paul tells him to live that reality out. He tells him not to be ashamed, but to share in the suffering for the gospel, suffering seen in Paul and in Christ.
I understand this reality. I struggle with suffering for the gospel. How many times have I chosen not to communicate clearly with friends for fear of rejection? How many times have I chosen to soften the clear teaching of scripture, for fear of offending? How many times have I chosen not to reach out and sacrificially meet the needs of the neighbors around me because I really like the comfort of my couch and TV? (my wife's life convicts me on this one all the time). I don't do suffering well...but I want to change. How...of course Paul has an answer, "by the power of God". This is great news. I've looked inside myself, I've tried to "pull myself up". I don't have what it takes, but God does. I love what Christ says in Mark 10:45, "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve..." I need Christ to serve me, to enable me to suffer well...we all do, and He does.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Courageously, passionately using God given gifts.
1 Timothy
Paul, a an apostle of Christ Jesus b by the will of God according to c the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,
Paul, a an apostle of Christ Jesus b by the will of God according to c the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,
2 To Timothy, d my beloved child:
e Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Guard the Deposit Entrusted to You
3 f I thank God g whom I serve, as did my ancestors, h with a clear conscience, as I remember you i constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 j As I remember your tears, k I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of l your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and m your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you n to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us o a spirit not of fear but p of power and love and self-control.
As I think back over my fairly short life (though I am getting older!), I remember some very distinct moments when older, godly people spoke directly into my life about what they saw in terms of gifts and ministry potential. As I reflect on those moments, I realize now how they were moments of grace...rich grace, as God used those people to providentially direct my journey.
I suppose it is no surprise, that in a letter where an older, godly person is speaking into the life of a younger minister about issues of gifts and ministry potential, that it would begin with an acknowledgment of grace (and end with the same...check 2 Tim 4: 22). This is Paul, being a conduit of God's grace, through the spoken word of encouragement and exhortation for Timothy...and for me...and for you.
I love how Paul opens up with the significance of what is at stake...the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus. Can you imagine how different we would treat our days if we were reminded that "the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus" is at the heart of what we are doing? This is not small.
I love Paul's reflection on the history and foundation of Timothy's faith and calling, that it is rooted, that it has stood the test of time through generations, that it has been affirmed by significant godly people (Paul in particular). Timothy's call and faith is more than just a "camp experience". It is more than just a "walk to the front". It is deep, it has been tested, it has not faded. Because of this richness, this certainty, Paul calls Timothy not to quit, but to BURN! This is not time for sitting back, this is not time for fear, this is not time for indifference...it is time to BURN!
Notice what Paul says...Timothy is to "fan into flame the gift of God which is in you".
A few things...
- we must engage the journey towards passion. It does not just happen. What that journey looks like, we will hit next time, but we must engage the journey.
- when the passion is gone, Christ and His gift is not. While Paul says that he must fan into flame the gift, he also acknowledges that the gift has not left. It is there. God has given it. We have a purpose, we have been equipped, that does not change based on our emotional position.
- Finally, that gift, at least in part, is activated through courage. This assumes the journey will not be easy. This is actually the foundation of the whole book...courageously, passionately using our God given gifts in the face of much suffering.
Can you imagine if followers of Christ around our country would courageously, passionately use their God given gifts in the face of much suffering...what a difference that would make? Maybe like Paul, we are being called to be leaders who speak this reality to our students...maybe part of our lesson is to be like Paul...not just like Timothy.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Who We Are...Who We Are To Be
Colossians 3:15-1715Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
I remember when I first started playing baseball with the Manitoba Provincial Baseball Team, one of the things I realized is that I represented our province (this was part of my identity as a baseball player) and as a representative, there was certain ways we were expected to conduct ourselves, for the sake of the province, the team, and for our own good. We would be defined as a team that hussled, that was respectful, that worked hard. We were individuals and we were not to be robots, but there was a code of conduct. It seems to me that this is sort of what Paul is speaking about here. In the beginning of Chapter 3, he speaks to us of who we are...people who are being renewed in knowledege in the image of our Creator. Than he drops the THEREFORE...in light of this reality, how should we act. It begins in verse 12 and carries on through 15-17, where we are today.
Observations
Paul gives 4 commands1. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts...(seems to me he is talking about peace in relationships with others)2. Be thankful3. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly4. Do everything in the name of the Lord
I get the first two, live at peace with others comes out of verses 12-14. I get the second, although this is seriously hard at times. I want to camp on the last two quickly...
I don't think there are many things that define us more clearly than letting the Word of Christ dwell in us richly and making sure that all we do is for Christ. Here are the questions...how do we let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly? My thoughts are first we need to be reading it...it wouldn't hurt to think on it some, and perhaps memorization would go a long way. I know, these "methods" seem outdated, and certainly there is more to it than this, but it is a start...at least for me. I need to pick it up. And by the way, doing everything in the name of the Lord, while impossible apart from God's grace, is the only way we can be faithful to the other commands, especially the ones that demand we treat others with respect. The only way I get my focus off myself, the only way I forgive, the only way I bear with people who seriously rub me the wrong way, is if I have a greater purpose, Christ. By the way, the best way to see Christ is His Word...funny how it goes hand in hand. This is who we are and who we are to be...
I remember when I first started playing baseball with the Manitoba Provincial Baseball Team, one of the things I realized is that I represented our province (this was part of my identity as a baseball player) and as a representative, there was certain ways we were expected to conduct ourselves, for the sake of the province, the team, and for our own good. We would be defined as a team that hussled, that was respectful, that worked hard. We were individuals and we were not to be robots, but there was a code of conduct. It seems to me that this is sort of what Paul is speaking about here. In the beginning of Chapter 3, he speaks to us of who we are...people who are being renewed in knowledege in the image of our Creator. Than he drops the THEREFORE...in light of this reality, how should we act. It begins in verse 12 and carries on through 15-17, where we are today.
Observations
Paul gives 4 commands1. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts...(seems to me he is talking about peace in relationships with others)2. Be thankful3. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly4. Do everything in the name of the Lord
I get the first two, live at peace with others comes out of verses 12-14. I get the second, although this is seriously hard at times. I want to camp on the last two quickly...
I don't think there are many things that define us more clearly than letting the Word of Christ dwell in us richly and making sure that all we do is for Christ. Here are the questions...how do we let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly? My thoughts are first we need to be reading it...it wouldn't hurt to think on it some, and perhaps memorization would go a long way. I know, these "methods" seem outdated, and certainly there is more to it than this, but it is a start...at least for me. I need to pick it up. And by the way, doing everything in the name of the Lord, while impossible apart from God's grace, is the only way we can be faithful to the other commands, especially the ones that demand we treat others with respect. The only way I get my focus off myself, the only way I forgive, the only way I bear with people who seriously rub me the wrong way, is if I have a greater purpose, Christ. By the way, the best way to see Christ is His Word...funny how it goes hand in hand. This is who we are and who we are to be...
Friday, June 1, 2007
See Christ, Be Christ...Col 3:5-11
Colossians 3:5-115-8And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That's a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God. It's because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger. It wasn't long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better. But you know better now, so make sure it's all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk.
9-11Don't lie to one another. You're done with that old life. It's like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you've stripped off and put in the fire. Now you're dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.
So did Paul take a look into the future and see the North American Culture of 2007...or is there nothing new under the sun? He absolutely defines us when He speaks of the things we need to ditch if we are going to live out the reality we have engaged in Jesus Christ. Is there anything that defines our culture more than sexual promiscuity?? I mean, check the news lines, check the stats. I know that teen pregnancies are down, but not oral sex. I know we have more sex education, and it seems like younger people engaging it all the time. It was an extreme case, but check the news about the grade 5 students who engaged in sexual activity in a Middle School Classroom in Louisianna in front of their classmates while the teachers were out of the room. This concerns me, because in a culture where students at younger and younger ages are being targeted sexually by the media, and parents seem to be more and more disengaged, this is the logical outcome. Put that together with a culture that screams we should do whatever feels good, and North America is a modern day Colosse. Paul is speaking to us...he is speaking to me. This is not small issues, this is eternally significant, while God is loving, He is also just and this ticks Him off...it should do the same to us, not in a "fundamentalist blow culture up sort of way", but rather in a loving engaging deeply concerned for all invovled sort of way. We need to take this seriously, for ourselves and others. The reality is this, we need to live like the people God has made us to be. If you are Christ follower, if I am a Christ follower, I need to start following Christ. By the way, I love how Paul ends this section...A Christ follower is defined by being a Christ follower, not by race, background, position, sex, it's about Christ man. This is not an upper middle class white north american male religion. This is about Jesus Christ...and by the way, he wasn't American. We need to get serious about getting to know Him...how good would that be.
9-11Don't lie to one another. You're done with that old life. It's like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you've stripped off and put in the fire. Now you're dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.
So did Paul take a look into the future and see the North American Culture of 2007...or is there nothing new under the sun? He absolutely defines us when He speaks of the things we need to ditch if we are going to live out the reality we have engaged in Jesus Christ. Is there anything that defines our culture more than sexual promiscuity?? I mean, check the news lines, check the stats. I know that teen pregnancies are down, but not oral sex. I know we have more sex education, and it seems like younger people engaging it all the time. It was an extreme case, but check the news about the grade 5 students who engaged in sexual activity in a Middle School Classroom in Louisianna in front of their classmates while the teachers were out of the room. This concerns me, because in a culture where students at younger and younger ages are being targeted sexually by the media, and parents seem to be more and more disengaged, this is the logical outcome. Put that together with a culture that screams we should do whatever feels good, and North America is a modern day Colosse. Paul is speaking to us...he is speaking to me. This is not small issues, this is eternally significant, while God is loving, He is also just and this ticks Him off...it should do the same to us, not in a "fundamentalist blow culture up sort of way", but rather in a loving engaging deeply concerned for all invovled sort of way. We need to take this seriously, for ourselves and others. The reality is this, we need to live like the people God has made us to be. If you are Christ follower, if I am a Christ follower, I need to start following Christ. By the way, I love how Paul ends this section...A Christ follower is defined by being a Christ follower, not by race, background, position, sex, it's about Christ man. This is not an upper middle class white north american male religion. This is about Jesus Christ...and by the way, he wasn't American. We need to get serious about getting to know Him...how good would that be.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Heart and Mind Col 3:1-4
Colossians 3:1-4
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
It is interesting that at the end of Chapter 2, Paul tells the people at Colosse what they should not do in light of the fact that they have died with Christ. Now he tells them what they should do in light of the fact that they have been raised with Christ. There are two things that we are to do, set our hearts and our minds on the things above. Our affections and our thoughts. How do we shift our affections onto Christ? Maybe the order of heart and mind gives us a hint. Perhaps we shift our affections by shifting our thoughts. I wonder if the reason I don’t value Christ enough is because I don’t spend enough time thinking about how valuable He is?? When He is speaking about setting our hearts and minds on things above, He is talking about Christ. This is where we are to focus (thank-you Paul for reminding us of this truth yet one more time!!!). I wonder if He knew how easy it was for us to be distracted??? Why should we do this??? Because we died to ourselves, and now we are with Christ, and we will be with Him. He is our reality. He is our everything. This is it. We are Christs, we are not this world’s. Lord, I pray that I would actualize what is true, that I am yours, that my life is not about this world, but
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
It is interesting that at the end of Chapter 2, Paul tells the people at Colosse what they should not do in light of the fact that they have died with Christ. Now he tells them what they should do in light of the fact that they have been raised with Christ. There are two things that we are to do, set our hearts and our minds on the things above. Our affections and our thoughts. How do we shift our affections onto Christ? Maybe the order of heart and mind gives us a hint. Perhaps we shift our affections by shifting our thoughts. I wonder if the reason I don’t value Christ enough is because I don’t spend enough time thinking about how valuable He is?? When He is speaking about setting our hearts and minds on things above, He is talking about Christ. This is where we are to focus (thank-you Paul for reminding us of this truth yet one more time!!!). I wonder if He knew how easy it was for us to be distracted??? Why should we do this??? Because we died to ourselves, and now we are with Christ, and we will be with Him. He is our reality. He is our everything. This is it. We are Christs, we are not this world’s. Lord, I pray that I would actualize what is true, that I am yours, that my life is not about this world, but
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Religion...it's easy...Col 2:20-23
Colossians 2:20-23
“Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? these are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.”
You know, we say we hate religion, that Christianity is about relationship not religion. But I’m not so sure we really hate it all the time. I’m not so sure I hate it all the time. Religion is easy, relationship is hard. Religion is concrete, relationship is sometimes ambiguous. Religion in the end is about me…in so many ways, relationship, at least in terms of being a Christ follower, is about Him. Truth be told, I think that there is huge temptation, like the church in Colosse, to move from relationship to religion. We create lists of do’s and don’ts out of the Bible (before I get to pious, I should probably speak about myself). I tend to create a list of do’s and don’ts out of His Word as opposed to allowing it to draw me to Christ, to see Christ, to treasure Christ. I, at times have enjoyed the perception that people may think of me as being extra holy or godly because of the things I will or will not do. At the foundation of religion is the greatest sin of all, pride. And as Paul says, it does nothing to deal with sin…in this case specifically sexual sin. Maybe this is why so few of our “purity plans” really work. They are based more on religion than on Christ. The truth is, we need Christ. Like the church in Colosse, we need to value Christ. We need to see the beauty of Christ. We need to love Christ. Lord, open my eyes to see Your Son.
“Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? these are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.”
You know, we say we hate religion, that Christianity is about relationship not religion. But I’m not so sure we really hate it all the time. I’m not so sure I hate it all the time. Religion is easy, relationship is hard. Religion is concrete, relationship is sometimes ambiguous. Religion in the end is about me…in so many ways, relationship, at least in terms of being a Christ follower, is about Him. Truth be told, I think that there is huge temptation, like the church in Colosse, to move from relationship to religion. We create lists of do’s and don’ts out of the Bible (before I get to pious, I should probably speak about myself). I tend to create a list of do’s and don’ts out of His Word as opposed to allowing it to draw me to Christ, to see Christ, to treasure Christ. I, at times have enjoyed the perception that people may think of me as being extra holy or godly because of the things I will or will not do. At the foundation of religion is the greatest sin of all, pride. And as Paul says, it does nothing to deal with sin…in this case specifically sexual sin. Maybe this is why so few of our “purity plans” really work. They are based more on religion than on Christ. The truth is, we need Christ. Like the church in Colosse, we need to value Christ. We need to see the beauty of Christ. We need to love Christ. Lord, open my eyes to see Your Son.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Don't Judge...but call the shot! Col 2:16-19
Col 2:16-19
16Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. 19He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.
Again man, I am caught by the force of Paul's focus on Christ. Here is the deal...if anyone focuses on things that are not Christ (by the way, it looks like Paul hits two extremes...the legalist and the hyper spiritualist, which by the way both result in pride) we don't need to sweat them. We also need to be careful to not get "caught up" with them. I think that at times there is huge pressure to be caught up in false guilt. I find that even with myself when I preach, I need to be very careful what "hobby horse" I ride or I can be guilting people over stuff they don't need to sweat either. Again, we need to see Christ, we need to pursue Christ, we need to preach Christ, we need to model Christ. By the way, this does not mean that we are to be "red letter Christians". Christ is seen in the Epistles as much as the Gospels...this is an epistle we are going through isn't it? The worst thing that can happen to us is that we might lose connection with the Head (check Col 1:18). Lord, keep us connected with the head.
16Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. 19He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.
Again man, I am caught by the force of Paul's focus on Christ. Here is the deal...if anyone focuses on things that are not Christ (by the way, it looks like Paul hits two extremes...the legalist and the hyper spiritualist, which by the way both result in pride) we don't need to sweat them. We also need to be careful to not get "caught up" with them. I think that at times there is huge pressure to be caught up in false guilt. I find that even with myself when I preach, I need to be very careful what "hobby horse" I ride or I can be guilting people over stuff they don't need to sweat either. Again, we need to see Christ, we need to pursue Christ, we need to preach Christ, we need to model Christ. By the way, this does not mean that we are to be "red letter Christians". Christ is seen in the Epistles as much as the Gospels...this is an epistle we are going through isn't it? The worst thing that can happen to us is that we might lose connection with the Head (check Col 1:18). Lord, keep us connected with the head.
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