Resource Manager Posted November 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 26 November 2012 Esther 1Amos 62 Timothy 3; 4 “BUT UNDERSTAND THIS” “But understand this,” that is how today’s reading of 2 Timothy 3 starts. It is familiar as a chapter often used talks about “last days” events. The chapter brings out two particular points. First, the first verse says that there will be times of special stress, when life is perilous and this happens “in the last days”. The second significant point it makes is that “all scripture is “breathed out (inspired) by God” and is therefore “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” [2 Timothy 3:17] making us “wise for salvation” and that Timothy has had the benefit of being acquainted with them from childhood.[2 Timothy 3:15] This spells out the primary reason why we should read the Bible every day. The Bible reading system is invaluable for it is not wise to only read the parts we find attractive and interesting to us. We need a balanced meal and the commitment of regular spiritual meal times. Looking back again at the first verse, we see it is a flow on of thought from 2 Timothy 2 (men have put the chapter breaks into unfortunate places at times). In 2 Timothy 2 Paul is writing about bad influences on the attitude among believers – and 2 Timothy 3 says they will get worse in the last days! Attitudes in the world at large, will affect believers who will be “lovers of self … lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power” [2 Timothy 3:2,5] While we can point to evidence of this among the main churches and the bad press they receive all too often, such as the R.C. Priests. It is vital we realize Paul is primarily addressing those who are trying to serve Christ! The warning “the time is coming” is again put very frankly in 2 Timothy 4, a time when “people will not endure sound teaching … and turn away from listening to the truth …” [2 Timothy 4:3-4] How clear it is that that happened – as an unbiased study of the history of Christianity reveals. Finally, Paul is aware he is about to die, but how wonderfully he spells out his conviction of his future life in 2 Timothy 4:7-8, a reward he will be given “on that day” [2 Timothy 4:8]. Can we have the same hope “laid up” for us as for Paul? We must not let these perilous times destroy us. -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted November 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 27 November 2012 Esther 2Amos 7Titus 1; 2; 3 "NOTHING IS PURE" We do not know as much about Titus as we do about Timothy, but Paul left him in Crete to help the many converts there. Paul writes to him, “to Titus, my true child … in the common faith” [Titus 1:4] Of course the faith was only “common” in the sense that it was becoming common to believe the message. But that brings its own problems, as some want to join a common enterprise for less than good reasons and real conviction. Titus had been left in Crete [Titus 1:5] “so that you might put what remained into order and appoint elders in every town” and these elders must be “above reproach” and have “one wife … and his children are believers” [Titus 1:6]. Those he appoints should be “hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. (they) must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that (they) may be able to give instruction on sound doctrine and also rebuke those who contradict it.” [Titus 1:8-9] Then, as now, true believers shine as lights in a dark world. We recall what Paul wrote to those in Corinth, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” [2 Corinthians 4:6] But do our hearts react to this light in the right way? Sadly not, we need to be constantly aware of the true nature and wonder of that divine light. At Crete some were not, Paul was aware some were “upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.” [Titus 1:11] Paul makes the point, “to the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works.” [Titus 1:15-16] Our actions must match the things we profess. We show to God by how we live, by what we do with our time, also by what we read and watch, whether what we profess is really genuine. God sees all! (Remember Balaam’s admission when forced to acknowledge the true God! – read Numbers 24:2,4) We are not expected to be perfect, but we are in training for perfection! In this training period we are covered by the wonder of His grace. Notice how Paul expresses this. “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives …” [Titus 2:11-12] Our Lord is the ultimate example, he “gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous …” [Titus 2:14] Do you feel in your heart that you are in the process of becoming pure?-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted November 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 28 November 2012 Esther 3; 4Amos 8Philemon 1 "WHO SING IDLE SONGS" Do you sing songs? What kind of songs? When? Our world is full of songs, especially one’s you listen to; this generation can walk around with leads plugged into their ears; we hear that a few have died, or at least been badly injured for life, because they have tried to cross roads and been oblivious of the traffic! Our reading in Amos prompted these thoughts. Amos 6 starts, “Woe to those who are at ease … those who feel secure …” It is these “who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp” [Amos 6:5]. God gives Amos a message about how he sees the situation – and the future that is coming – the parallels with today are obvious. “Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches … who drink bowls of wine …” [Amos 6:4,6] Like today, they set out to enjoy life, ignoring God and living only for the present. Yesterday in Amos 5 we read of God’s reaction, “Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen” [Amos 5:23] In contrast the next verse sets out God’s desire, “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an overflowing stream.” We know that it will need the return of our Lord Jesus for that to happen in our world: but, in those days, the people of Israel had no inclination to think about the future and God through Amos told them, “O you who put far away the day of disaster …” [Amos 6:3] But the day of disaster came! And it will also come to this world. God through Amos said, “For I know how many are your transgressions and how great are your sins ..” [Amos 5:12] That is true for us also, but we have the Lord Jesus and the wonder of his grace – and he challenges us to work on purifying ourselves – remember yesterday’s thoughts? Tomorrow we start reading Hebrews, glancing ahead to Hebrews 4 our concluding thoughts are – “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword … discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart …” [Hebrews 4:12] What do we read? How do we read? What kind of songs do we listen to and sing? God knows! What kind of person are we becoming – or have become! If the answer is not good, there is still time to fill our lamps with oil and stop walking in darkness.-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted November 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2012 29 November 2012 Esther 5; 6Amos 9Hebrews 1; 2 "IF WE NEGLECT" Today we began reading the letter the Hebrews. Many of its verses are full of meaning! It is important to grasp the flow of reasoning – and not to take one phrase or sentence out of its context. The writer was most probably Paul; but since it is written primarily for the Jews – and he had fallen out of favour with many of them because he worked among the Gentiles and was converting so many, but had not (as they thought he should) taught them to keep the Jewish laws and practices, Paul was unpopular. This may explain why this epistle (more suitable to call it a book) was circulated without the author being named. He starts by telling them “God spoke to the fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things” [Hebrews 1:2] and “after making purification for sins (i.e. dying for our sins) he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs” [Hebrews 1:3-4] It was Centuries later that theologians in the by then ‘Roman’ church came up with the concept referred to as ‘the mystery of the Trinity’ – and the man-made creeds which then resulted confuse human understanding. The creeds seem to have influenced translators a little in their rendering of Greek prepositions, en, dia, etc, But read the total context and we will grasp the obvious flow of Paul’s reasoning. Hebrews 1:8 is interesting, it is the only verse in the Bible in which Jesus is called ‘God.’ (apart from when the astonished and doubting Thomas said, “My Lord and My God”) Hebrews 1:8-9 quote Psalm 45:6-7 which prophesy about Jesus that “Your throne O God is forever and ever … you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God. has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” Jesus represented God, he said, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” [John 14:9], but he wasn’t the Father. In the same way in Old Testament times angels represented God on special occasions. Do true believers represent Christ? Well Jesus told Paul on the road to Damascus, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” [Acts 9:4]. Jesus has “ransomed people for God … and you have made them a kingdom … and they shall reign on earth.” [Revelation 5:9-10] and will surely represent Christ in a special way at that time. Hebrews 2 presents us with a heart-searching challenge and question, “… we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it … how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?” [Hebrews 2:1,3] -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted November 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2012 30 November 2012 Esther 7; 8Obadiah 1Hebrews 3; 4; 5 "YOU HAVE BECOME DULL OF HEARING" In our readings in Hebrews Paul is telling his fellow Jews about Jesus, that he is their one and only high priest. Priests had held important posts, playing a significant role in the life of Israel and had done so since the time of Moses, even when they were in captivity. All this was to be destroyed for their nation and its temple were about to cease. Paul’s message was, “since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses …” [Hebrews 4:14-15] He understands and sympathizes because “in the days of his flesh … he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him …” [Hebrews 5:7-9] Jesus set the example for us, he knew what it was like to be human. But at the same time as being human his mind was ‘alive’ to what God had caused to be written, he saw the real meaning of the God-inspired words of the prophets. This perception is behind Paul’s lament that his fellow Jews “have become dull of hearing” [Hebrews 5:11] – and today the same thing has happened to all nations despite the fact that God’s word is available in all language: but the final ingathering [Matthew 13:30] is taking place – and we sense it is nearly complete.. There is a near total failure today to appreciate how “the word of God is living and active …” [Hebrews 4:12] and provides “solid food … for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” [Hebrews 5:14] – nearly everyone, then and now had become “dull of hearing.” Paul also complains they are “unskilled in the word of righteousness.” [Hebrews 5:13] Let neither of these things be said of those who read and reflect on God’s word every day. -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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