2 Timothy - 7.22.21
Scripture - What stood out?
2 Timothy 2: 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable,he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work
Observation - What does it say?
The apostle Paul in his second letter to Timothy continues to encourage and guide him in his discipleship of those around him. In this second chapter Paul reminds him that raising future teachers is a good thing. And that these teachers need to seek God’s approval, rightly dividing the truth, avoiding quarrels, foolish topics and ignorant controversies. He urges these teachers to set themselves apart as holy, making themselves ready to be used by God.
Understanding - What does it mean?
How can I be ready to be used by God? Clean myself from what is dishonorable to God.
Splinter cells fascinate me. As does anything espionage related. The dedication to a cause, the passion, the iron determination to accomplish their mission, and always being ready to be activated at a moment’s notice. It just seems and sounds too incredible to be true! (The splinter cell activations after 20-30 years hiding as a civilian are always the best!)
And yet in this second chapter of second Timothy, I find myself being reminded by God through these instructions to Timothy and his disciples - you are my splinter cell, get ready for you may be activated at a moment’s notice!
The apostle Paul tells us in verses 22 through part of 25:
22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord's servant[e] must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness...
Life Application - How can I apply this to my life today?
While my career as a spy is non-existent, my call to live as a servant of God is very real. Rightly divide God’s truth. Be set apart as Holy. Cleanse myself of dishonorable things. Be a vessel ready for use by my Master. Flee youthful passions. Seek righteousness, faith, love and peace. Find the pure of heart. Who needs espionage! Serving God is just as intense if not more! =) So today I will seek to cleanse myself from something dishonorable. Thank you for bringing to light an area of my life that can be cleaned up and re-dedicated to you. Forgive me for allowing laziness to creep into my tithing habits. Tithes that belong not to a church, but to Almighty God the creator, His Son my Lord and Savior, and to Holy Spirit. I repent and will change my ways for my desire is to draw closer to You. Thank you God, in the name of Jesus do I pray, amen.
-kenneth lee
Psalm 139-7.21.21
SCRIPTURE
Psalms 139:23-24
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”
OBSERVATION-What does it say?
In this psalm of David, he writes how God knows every detail of his life. God was there before he was born. God is there when he wakes. God is there while he sleeps. God will be there when he dies and goes to Heaven. God is with him every step of the way. For that, David loves God. He calls out to God in this psalm and asks God to search his heart, and remove anything in it that offends Him. David wants to be one with God and yearns to please Him in everything he does.
UNDERSTANDING-What does it mean?
Desire to live a life that is pleasing to God.
David is known for being the man after God’s own heart. He desired to live a life that pleased God. Now David was far from perfect. He did mess up quite a few times along the way. But the thing that separates David from most is the repentance in his heart. He knew and owned his mistakes. He turned away from them, learned from them, and grew from them. David knew all the great things that God had done for him in his life. And now, all David wants to do is to express that gratitude towards God by dedicating and living his life for Him. That is why David calls out to God in verses 23 & 24. He doesn’t want anything getting in the way of ruining that relationship he has with Him.
LIFE APPLICATION
What is holding me back of gaining a stronger relationship with God?
Take some time to pray today and ask God what things in your life are holding you back. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak and reveal to you what those things are. Repent against those things and draw closer to God. Abide in Him, and He will abide in you. See how blessed you will be because of it. 😊
“Remain in me, and I will remain in you.”
-John 15:4a
-Moses Gaddi
Psalm 138-7.20.21
Scripture
Psalms 138:7-8
“Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me. The Lord will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.”
Observation-What does it say?
This is another psalm of King David. A psalm where he gives thanks and praise to God for His goodness and faithfulness. No matter how dire David’s situation was, he chose to give thanks and praise to God. David knew all too well from experience of God’s faithfulness, so he chose to give God all his praise and glory through all the good times and even the troubling times in his life. At the end of the day, God is in control, and God is good!
Understanding-What does it mean?
Trust God no matter what!
David was considered to be a man after God’s own heart. He was a man of faith. His life showed it. From the faith he had when he was just a shepherd boy, to be able to defeat the MIGHTY Goliath! To his stressful times of being chased by Saul, hiding in caves, fearing for his life. Then even when David messed up in life and slept with a married woman Bathsheba, got her pregnant, plotted and killed her husband, tried to hide his sin, and then faced God’s punishment for it-(the child that Bathsheba had from David’s adultery died)...David trusted God and accepted whatever came his way. Even as King, David knew who was truly King. He knew without God, none of the things he had experienced in life would be possible. God was and will always be...in control.
Life Application
Seek God’s purpose through life’s struggles.
God did not remove all of David’s troubles in life even though David may have cried out for God to do so. We aren’t supposed to treat God like that genie in a lamp who grants all of our wishes. We have to understand that sometimes God will take us out of trouble, but more often than not, God will keep us in it, but He is always there with us, walking us through it. God’s main purpose for us isn’t our own personal comfort. God’s main purpose for us is for us to be more like Christ. So whatever situation we may be in, understand this, God is trying to grow you in your faith. He is molding you into the person He is calling you to be. It is part of our life’s process (sanctification) till Jesus calls us home. 😊
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”-Philippians 1:6
So whenever life’s troubles are weighing you down, look up! Seek God! Seek God’s purpose for you through it. And I’m confident, like David, that God too will give you the strength, boldness, and courage to face it all. And you will be all the better and stronger because of it! 👍🏽
-Moses Gaddi