Not Like Everyone Else

Not Like Everyone Else

2 Timothy 3: ¹⁴ But as for you, continue in the truths that you were taught and firmly believe. You know who your teachers were, ¹⁵ and you remember that ever since you were a child, you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, ¹⁷ so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed.

 

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Hearing the lie said in the smooth delivery made me mad. I watched people fall for the lie and was amazed! I got up and told the truth and was met with criticism. “You are just jealous” is what someone, who was brave enough, said to me. “I wonder if I should start lying” was my thought.

 

• I was tired of bad people getting ahead.
• I was tired of being nice and finishing “last.”
• I was tired of being ignored because I was trying to be “good.”

 

Paul finishes his warning to Timothy regarding conduct. He had mentioned that there would be some people who would persecute, derive evil and be deceitful. “But as for you” he says to Timothy. He tells Timothy there is another path.

 

My Observations

• When other people are acting deceitful or imposing persecution or manipulative, GOD wants me to “continue in the truth.”
• When it seems like everyone else is going one way that does not include JESUS as GOD and LORD of all, HE wants me to stand firm in the scriptures that HE inspired.
• When I need to make a decision to be popular with a lie or be unpopular with the truth in scripture, GOD wants me to choose the unpopular route.

 

Believing in JESUS does not make people popular. In fact it seems quite the opposite. People run in the other direction at the mention of scripture or JESUS. BUT GOD wants everyone to understand HIS love and HE inspires many writers to speak about JESUS.

 

GOD’s revelation of HIS SON equips me for life’s traps and trials. When times were difficult, I can look back and see that HE was with me and that following the scriptures was all I had during times of deep trouble. I am so glad GOD has given us the scripture to help me live a life pleasing to HIM.

 

Challenge

• What truths is the writer talking about?
• Does “relative truth” scare you?
• Will you continue in the truth of JESUS, our LORD and Savior, by studying HIS word and gaining useful wisdom that leads you to salvation and becoming fully qualified and equipped today?

Known For

Known For

Colossians 1: ³ We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you. ⁴ For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all God's people.

 

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Being “skinny”, I was not popular like the jocks, so I used humor as my strength. When I went to college, I studied various ways to make people laugh. Some of the popular people on campus labeled me as the “class clown.” I was a sophomore. How did I make anyone’s list?

 

• I was embarrassed.
• I had a reputation that I did not anticipate.
• I worried about being taken seriously.

 

Hearing about the reputation of the Colossians, Paul wrote to them with thankfulness. This faithful group of people served JESUS with vim. Paul was so excited that he prayed for them with thanksgiving, knowing there were others who were excited about CHRIST.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to give my reputation to HIM.
• GOD wants me to be “known for “ speaking about HIS SON.
• GOD wants me to have faith in CHRIST and love for all HIS people.

 

Being “known for” something is a quest humans struggle with. I mean, famous people rob and steal to obtain and keep a reputation for something. Others train all their lives to set records or have their names on a best seller. BUT GOD simply wants HIS SON known.

 

HE knows our reputations are not good for no human seek HIS ways. JESUS is known for being sinless and for letting HIS creation murder HIM after being slandered. HE is also known for being raised from the dead and for forgiving us for our sins if we believe HE did all of this for us. I gladly give my life to HIM and I don’t mind being “known for” speaking about HIM even though I am flawed.

 

Challenge

• Can you feel tie excitement of the writer?
• What would you like to be known for?
• Will you seek being known for CHRIST so others may get to know HIM through your prayers, faithfulness and love for HIM today?

Internal Matters

Internal Matters

Galatians 6: ¹¹ See what big letters I make as I write to you now with my own hand! ¹² The people who are trying to force you to be circumcised are the ones who want to show off and boast about external matters. They do it, however, only so that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. ¹³ Even those who practice circumcision do not obey the Law; they want you to be circumcised so that they can boast that you submitted to this physical ceremony. ¹⁴ As for me, however, I will boast only about the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; for by means of his cross the world is dead to me, and I am dead to the world. ¹⁵ It does not matter at all whether or not one is circumcised; what does matter is being a new creature. ¹⁶ As for those who follow this rule in their lives, may peace and mercy be with them—with them and with all of God's people!

 

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Hoping that he or she would act a certain way was making me lose sleep. I took classes on “working with different people” in hopes to make him or her do what “I” wanted. When this did not work, I became frustrated and thought something was wrong with “them.”

 

• I was busy looking at others and lost sight of myself.
• I thought other people were the problem and I was the solution.
• I believed the world had solutions that GOD did not.

 

Paul spoke sharply against those who were trying to get people to follow religious rituals versus simply believing JESUS took care of the consequences of the Law. He pointed out their guilt of murdering JESUS so they could keep their power, forcing people to do what the world expected.

 

My Observations

• GOD sees my heart and knows it does not seek HIM.
• GOD chose me and when I believed in JESUS as my Savior, I was filled with HIS SPIRIT.
• GOD gave me the ability to examine myself, choose HIS way over mine and act like a new creature.

 

Worldly matters come and go. I mean, there will always be a problem that seems catastrophic. GOD sees how I respond to these matters and rewards me when I seek HIM for the solution. To the world, JESUS seems like a problem. BUT TO GOD JESUS is the only solution.

 

Becoming a new creature means I give myself to JESUS and follow HIM no matter the consequence of the world. When I live for HIM, HE gives me peace and mercy that I do not understand. I am thankful for HIS intervention in my life.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think the writer mentions how he wrote the letter?
• Can you feel the compassion and passion of the writer?
• If you are facing persecution over worldly matters, will you accept GOD’s gift of peace  and mercy today so you can sleep with a clean conscience?

Being With

Being With

John 17: ²⁴ “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. ²⁵ O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. ²⁶ And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

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Figuring out what was wrong with each person, I found out ways to avoid people. “That person was too mean” and “That person is too snobbish” I said about the “In crowd.” After my evaluation of many people I found myself alone. I mean, they weren’t friendly anyway.

• There were times when I chose not to join the crowd.
• There were times when I looked at the differences in other people as a problem.
• There were times when I separated myself because I could not find anything I had in common with the people around me.

JESUS continues HIS prayer for all who believe in HIM. HE asks the FATHER for HIS followers to be “with” HIM, to see HIM in HIS glory. But what does it mean to be “with” JESUS.

• GOD wants me to want HIM.
• GOD wants me to follow HIS ways, especially when it is difficult.
• GOD wants me to believe in HIM even when people around me do not.

Being “with” GOD means I stand for what HE stands for. HE sent HIS SON to save the world, yet the world turned their eyes away HIM. HE sees the disunity amongst humans and knows the hearts of mankind. HE draws those who truly believe in HIS SON so they can be “with” HIM in agreement. I am with GOD and I look forward to being “with” the SON in all HIS glory, someday.

• Do you agree with the way GOD handles things?
• Do you try make situations perfect so you can be with people?
• Will you allow GOD to change your heart so you can agree with how HE handles situations?
• Will you be “with” GOD today in faith instead of being against HIM with your own plans?