Consider the command given Timothy by Paul in 1 Timothy 1:18-20. Paul had nurtured Timothy for quite a time (cf. Acts 16), and now left him to care for the church at Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:3). Recalling Paul’s deep concern for all the churches (2 Corinthians 11:28), this was quite a compliment to the young (1 Timothy 4:12) servant. Paul still cares, and writes to encourage and teach Timothy. He wants Timothy to know how to teach others to behave themselves in the house of God (1 Timothy 3:15). The book begins with a charge: “…charge some that they teach no other doctrine…” (1:3). After a profitable digression, in which Paul reflects a bit on his tainted but forgiven past (1:12-17), he returns to the charge, with more explanation. Someone — whether an apostle or one on whom an apostle had bestowed the gift of prophecy (cf. 1 Corinthians 12-14; Acts 11:27-28) — uttered prophecies about Timothy and his fulfillment of this charge. The first-century charge has application to twenty-first century servants, although particular circumstances differ. For example, the charge (mandate, command) included waging a good warfare with faith and good conscience, living up to the expectations that had been prophesied about Timothy. The Christian life is a battle against the forces of evil using spiritual — not carnal — weapons (Ephesians 6:12; 2 Corinthians 10:4). More than once did Paul use the analogy of soldiering to describe the lifestyle of Christ’s enlisted (2 Timothy 2:3-4; Philippians 2:25; Philemon 1). …
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The Healing Power of the Big Picture
Joseph had been humbled by his brothers and exalted by God (Genesis 37-50). Jealousy had prompted murderous notions among his kin, but cooler heads succeeded in lowering their presumptuous sentence to slavery. When serving faithfully and thereby exalted to a chief position in his master’s house, Joseph was falsely accused and subsequently imprisoned. Serving well there, he rose to prominence even among the inmates. Upon interpreting dreams and patiently waiting, he was finally released from prison to become, of all things, second power in the land — under only the supervision of Pharaoh himself. Indeed, “whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper” (Genesis 39:23b NKJV). In full power of the food supply for Egypt and the surrounding world during the time of predicted famine, Joseph encounters those brothers who had started his outlandish journey into foreign lands and infamous circumstances. They came begging this Egyptian leader for food, but they did not yet know it was Joseph. He toyed with them a while, then could no longer contain his emotion. He “wept aloud,” and with poignant bluntness tempered by curious humility made himself known: “I am Joseph; does my father still live?” (Genesis 45:2-3). From this point, the brothers’ reaction was quite predictable, but one could argue Joseph’s was quite not. The brothers had already been hounded by their guilt (Genesis 42:21-22). Now, the one they sold and called murdered not only stood in their presence but also was in utter, life-and-death, control of their fate. It is no …
Responsible for Believing a Lie?
The Gibeonites lied and the Israelites got in trouble for it — at least that is how some skeptics would look at it. The Israelites were commissioned to do battle against all nations inhabiting the land that had long ago been promised to them. They were to destroy the people and not leave anyone alive (Deuteronomy 7:1-2). Joshua and his troops are doing a pretty good job of that, and so the people of Gibeon become afraid. Rather than mustering their forces to fight the nation powered by Almighty God, they aim to outwit them. And that they do. The Gibeonites approach the Israelites in torn clothing with ragged luggage. They lie, claiming they are not inhabitants, but travelers through the land of Canaan. “Well,” reasons Joshua and his men, “if they are not inhabitants, we don’t have to destroy them.” In an apparently compassionate decision, God’s Word is disobeyed. The Israelites make a covenant with the Gibeonites, promising not to kill them. When their true habitation is exposed, Joshua has egg on his face. The oath now prevents him from proceeding to destroy the people. This was the first let-down of God’s command, and it couldn’t be “made up.” Once one group of people was permitted to stay, the snowball effect of influence and ensuing idolatry would not be stopped in Israel (see the book of Judges). But why, one might justifiably ask, was Joshua held accountable for responding — again, apparently compassionately — to a boldfaced lie? The …
Why Would a Person Want to Repent?
What causes a person to want to repent? This is a good question for pondering in light of our responsibility to persuade men to turn to the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:11). Repenting is, indeed, turning, changing direction, doing an about face. It is spiritual in nature but necessarily effects our practical behavior. The drunk realizes his exclusion from the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21) and gives up his mind-numbing practice. The backbiter ceases to speak stabbing words and speaks what is good for edification. These are examples of repentance, but the question remains, what causes a person to want to change? Guilt. One phenomenon that separates man, made in God’s image, from beasts is that of conscience. Men and women feel remorse when they’ve done something they feel is wrong. True, the conscience needs trained for sensitivity and guidance by revelation, not just feelings. It is possible to be sincere about a belief, but still wrong (cf. Romans 10:1-3). However, conscience is implanted within man (cf. Romans 2:14-15) and he feels badly when his course is defined by objective wrongdoing. The guilt can be ignored, causing one’s conscience to become hardened (cf. 1 Timothy 4:2). Preferably, it can motivate one to repent. Then, he can seek the forgiveness of the Lord through obedience to his commands, and begin a new life of guilt-free service (Romans 6:3-6). In answering our question, “What causes a person to want to repent?” then, we are led to an ensuing question: “What causes one to realize …
Responsibilities
Paul tactfully but bluntly reminded the Ephesian Christians, of the life from which the grace of God rescued them: “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others” (Ephesians 2:1-3, NKJV). It is a situation with which all the saved can identify. There were certain characteristics of the former life that remain no more in the new life in Christ. We, at one time, lived only to fulfill our lustful pleasures. We were led by the spirit of disobedience rather than a spirit of submission. We, indeed, were led about by the course of the world, just like everybody else. It is that last servile characteristic that is so intriguing. To be “dead in sin” (v. 1) is, in many ways, synonymous with just following the crowd, going along with the way things are going. It’s been called “peer pressure” and it’s been repetitively preached on, especially to the young. But, adults equally suffer from its deceptive clenches. Once we are satisfied with accepting “the way things are going” we yield ourselves to just the slavish, thoughtless trance in which …
Christian Growth & Apostle Peter
The apostle Peter had humble beginnings as a follower of Christ. Introduced to the Lord by his brother (John 1:40-42), Peter embarked on a three year quest that would change his life, as well as impact the history of Christianity and the world. But it started from humble beginnings. Luke records his call to discipleship in the first eleven verses of Chapter Five. On Simon’s (Peter’s) fishing boat, Jesus instructed that the nets be cast for a catch. Peter’s skepticism was overcome by obedience. After a night of fish-less efforts, at the word of the Lord the nets were so full they were breaking. Peter realized the Lord’s power and admitted his rather humble position. “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” He then left everything and followed Jesus. Learning from the Master proved challenging for impetuous Peter. Eager to walk on water with the Lord, he soon had to learn a lesson in faith and complete dependence (Matthew 14:22-33). Even after confessing Jesus as the Son of God (Matthew 16:13-19), he had so much more to learn about Christ’s mission. He, in error, rebuked Jesus for his self-sacrificing prediction of death (Matthew 16:21-23). He wanted to equally honor Moses, Elijah and Christ (Matthew 17:1-13). He slept while Jesus prayed in agony (Matthew 26:36-46), then fought in a way Jesus did not intend to fight (John 18:10-11). Appropriately rebuked on all of these occasions, Peter learned that learning can be painful. Still, he boasted of his …