Author: David Short

1 Timothy 1:5

Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,

Personal Challenge…

The law, the commandments of the old covenant as well as the commandments of Christ are all built around loving God and loving our neighbor. Paul informs me here in this letter to Timothy that I cannot love the way that God wants me to out of the compulsion of the the law for the it is superficial.. I must love from a pure heart, one that is filled by the Holy Spirit and continually being turned over to Him. I must love from a good conscience, one that is continually being cleansed by confession and repentance. I must love from a sincere faith, one that is actively pursuing the likeness of Christ.

Matthew 16:24-28

Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.

Personal Challenge…

Why is it that I continue to turn my back on what I know to be the truth and my responsibility as a follower of Christ? His expectation is really simple…deny myself, take up my cross, and follow Him. The difficulty comes up in the desires that are in my flesh for the things of this world. Is not the reason that we fast from the things of this world so that we can develop the capabilities to give up other things from the world. We do not fast out of legalistic obligation, but as a willing way to build up our spiritual muscles.

Luke 10:19-20

Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.

Encouraging Words…

Through Christ we are given such great power and authority over this temporal realm as well as in the spiritual realm. This, however, is not what we should cherish because that leads to pride, idolatry, and sin. We should cherish the work of Christ, what He has done for us, which leads to humility and righteousness.

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self- control. Against such there is no law.

Encouraging Words…

2 Thessalonians 3:3

But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.

Encouraging Words…

God is faithful. When I let that sink in it reminds me just how powerful this is. It is absolute, it is permanent, it is all-inclusive. God is faithful. He will never falter on me, He will never abandon me, He will always do what is best for me in my life…now and on into eternity.

Luke 18:15-17

Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to Him and said, Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.

Encouraging Words…

The commentary on this passage usually focuses on the way that we should be as we come to Christ…like children; believing, trusting, obedient. However, this passage also says a lot about how God receives us. I am a father, I have raised children. I am blessed that now I am a grandfather and get to participate in the raising of another generation. God receives us as our Heavenly Father; with open arms, with delight, with great joy and love. He wants no one or no thing to come between us and Him. His arms are wide open for me, His son, His child, and I am blessed to rest peacefully in them.

Isaiah 26:2-4

Open the gates; let the people enter who keep righteousness and guard the truth, and who lay hold of the truth and keep peace, because they hope forever in You, O Lord, the great and eternal God,

Encouraging Words…

What a wonderful progression we have here. It all starts with our great and eternal God. Jesus, God as man, came to live amongst His creation so that death coud be conquered and so that we would have someone to put our hope into. Through that hope in Christ and our desire to be like Him we can be peacemakers in the world around us. As we do this we can begin to lay hold of the truth that He reveals to us. As we guard this truth, assimilate it into our lives, we become more like Him in our righteousness and enter the gates that He has opened before us.

Luke 17, 20-21

Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, See here! or See there! For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.

Encouraging Words…

The notes in my Orthodox Study Bible say, ‘The “kingdom of God” is a spiritual reality present within the Christian believer and within the community of the Church. “Within you” can also be translated “among you” or “in your midst.” What a wonderful and refreshing view of eternity and our hope for heaven. The moment that we were baptized into Christ through the Holy Spirit we stepped into the reality and the presence of the kingdom of God. This is not something that we are waiting upon our physical death to be made present, but it is now. With that in my mind (and in my heart) I should be living my life as an eternal being in the kingdom of God, pursuing Him, striving to be like His Son…progressing on my journey of theosis. It is a mystery, but then again, He is God and I am not, who am I to question His ways.

2 Corinthians 8:9

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

Encouraging Words…

What a precious gift from God…to give up His Son so that I, a part of His creation, might be reunited to Him in eternity. What a wonderful sacrifice that Jesus was willing to make in order to heal the brokenness caused by sin. If only I can become more like Christ and give up of myself to those in my life…especially my wife, children, grandchildren, other family, and friends.

Psalm 91:1 (90:1 LXX)