Titus 1:13
13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, NKJV
- Rebuke or correction are to bring healing, restoration, and change. They are not for releasing your anger and frustration. They are to be an act of love. Therefore, remember that when you are angry it is not the time to discipline. When you don’t feel like disciplining, but you see a need to, you are responsible to help them. When you are corrected, remember they are helping you whether it feels like it or not. Prov 22:6
2 Tim 4:3
3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, ESV
- Are you looking for God’s truth or for an excuse to continue your behavior? Some times we only want to listen to the sermon or the verse if it says what we want it to. Are you looking to do what ever God says or have someone tell you what you want to hear? This verse speaks of people who don’t listen to people who will speak the truth and tell them they are wrong. They just look for people that will tell them what they want. I have seen a lot of people do that. Not just with sermons, but also with advice. They decide what they want to do and keep asking people for advice until they find someone who will agree with them. Are you looking for God’s wisdom and direction or for justification for what you want to do.
- God help me to always seek and preach your truth the way it is even, when it is hard to hear.
1 Thess 1:9
9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, ESV
- Ps 103:12; Prov 28:13; 1 Cor 6:11; 2 Cor 5:17; 1 John 1:9; The church is the forgiving community of forgiven sinners. As we read through the Word you see that the key people are forgiven sinners. Paul used to persecute the church. He writes in 1 Cor 6:11 of awful things, ending the list with the phrase, “such WERE some of you”, and here indicates that they TURNED. The power of God’s forgiveness is outstanding. He truly does make us a new creation (2 Cor 5:17). God promises his forgiveness to those who ask (1 John 1:9). Let us ask and receive. God forgives and wants to use us as demonstrated in his word, but we need to let him. In Phil 3:13 Paul says, “this one thing I do forgetting those things that are behind and reaching forward”. God, help me to receive your forgiveness and let go of my past, and live a life that you can use.
Ps 17:15
15 As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness. NKJV
- He will be satisfied at the point when he reflects God’s likeness, which implies that he won’t be satisfied until that point. That is the thing that he longs for, and until then, he won’t be satisfied. What are you living for? What will satisfy you?
- 2 Cor 3:18; 2 Cor 5:20
- How will he know when he awakes in his likeness? How does he know what he is to reflect. He must first fix his eyes on the model before he can become like it. Heb 12:2; James 1:23 Like the man who hears the word and does not change is one who sees the mirror but walks away forgetting what he saw– not changing. It is in his word that we see the image of God, which we are made to reflect.
Col 3:1-2
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ESV
- Where is your mind set? First, we have control on where are mind is set. Where you set your mind determines what you live for.
- 2 Cor 10:5 (take thoughts captive); Rom 12:2; (renew your mind) we are to prepare are minds 1 Peter 1:13. (Meditation Phil 4:8)
Col 2:7
7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. ESV
- We have to be rooted. So many people are just placed; they are just sitting in the church with out their own faith. They may be sitting on the church or on a leader, but if that one thing falls or they get cut off from it, they die (at least their Christianity does). In John 15:5 Jesus tells us that he is the vine and we are the branches. If we are to have a life, we must stay connected and rooted to him, not a leader or church. The Israelites tried that. Ex 20:19 they asked Moses to talk to God on their behalf. When Moses left the camp they soon forgot the Lord. I don’t want my faith in God to be based on a person or a congregation of believers. I want a deep relationship with the Lord God almighty that can not be shaken.
- Thankfulness PS 100:4
Col 1:12
12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. ESV
- My sufficiency is not my own. I am qualified by the father, not of my own strength or accomplishments but through his. Wow, that is a hard thought to wrap your mind around.
Col 1:9-12
For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. NKJV
- 1 Thess 5:17; Great bible prayers Phil 1:9-11; Eph 1:16-19; Eph 3:16-19
- I just noticed something. In all of these prayers there is something in common. Paul always prays that they would know, or increase in Knowledge or understanding. His prayer isn’t that they would have but that they would know. I believe there is more available to us than we know, and if we don’t know we don’t act, and we won’t use what we have. We need to be asking God to show us what he has done, and what he has given us. Eph 1:3 says that he has already given us every spiritual blessing. Lord help me to know who I am in you, and help me to walk in all that you have purchased for me.
Phil 1:6
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. ESV
- As I sat reading today I was amazed at the things Paul wrote and the way he wrote them. While praying that God would give me a love for his people like that and that he would use me, God began to show me things– Things I am not ready for– things that made me feel in adequate for what God has called me to. I didn’t question God out loud, but in my head the questions were there. As soon as I did Phil 1:6 seemed to stand out of the page. Along with two words from Phil 1:27 .
- I am not ready for all God has for me yet, but he was showing me he isn’t finished with me yet. He will finish what he started. Two words that had been highlighted from a previous reading (vs 27) were standing out, telling me to STAND FAST. It brought up Eph 6:13-14 in my head, which tells us to take up the whole armor of God so we can stand, and then, when we have done all, to stand. Stand therefore. It just seems to give no room for quitting. Though things might not seem like all they are meant to be, God isn’t finished with me yet. If I keep standing, God will keep working in me, making me more and more like him. Will you keep standing? God has a plan for you. He is faithful to complete in you the work that he started. What ever dream God has given you, don’t let it go. Keep standing. Keep seeking God and watching him do a work in your life as he continues to make you more and more like Him.
Prov 14:17
* 17 Those who are short-tempered do foolish things, and schemers are hated.
NLT
- * It appears that being short tempered has some of the same affects as being drunk. It causes someone to do dumb things they would never do if they were thinking clearly.
- This verse does go on though. There are those who blow up and are out of control after an offense. But this verse also mentions those that hold back their anger, but don’t let it go–those who start scheming on how they can take there revenge. Don’t be short tempered or a schemer. Forgive like God forgave you. Ps 103:12, Love like you are loved. Prov 10:12; Matt 28:22-35
- Eph 4:26; vs 29
