Lay up Treasures in Heaven; Leave some Behind

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
(Matthew 8:19-21)

Toward the end of Paul’s final letter, his second letter to Timothy, he spoke of knowing his end was near, and that he’d fought a good fight. Just a bit later in the letter, he says those in ministry with him are all gone, and he asks Timothy to come to him. I wondered if he were lonely, and needed companionship as he faced his final days on Earth. Yet he says to bring along Mark, as both Timothy and Mark would be useful to his ministry. Finally he gives greeting from others of the believers in Rome. He wasn’t lonely; he wanted to continue the work he’d been involved in, and only they could assist, as he was in prison. Paul wasn’t settling in on his past accomplishments, his crowns earned; Paul needed to continue the good fight to the very end.

Paul was storing up treasures in Heaven. He was also leaving something behind. Here’s the lyrics to a country song, Three Wooden Crosses, by Randy Travis, in which he sings, “it’s not what you take. . .It’s what you leave behind.”

A farmer and a teacher, a hooker and a preacher,
Ridin’ on a midnight bus bound for Mexico.
One’s headed for vacation, one for higher education,
An’ two of them were searchin’ for lost souls.
That driver never ever saw the stop sign.
An’ eighteen wheelers can’t stop on a dime.

There are three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway,
Why there’s not four of them, Heaven only knows.
I guess it’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you,
It’s what you leave behind you when you go.

That farmer left a harvest, a home and eighty acres,
The faith an’ love for growin’ things in his young son’s heart.
An’ that teacher left her wisdom in the minds of lots of children:
Did her best to give ’em all a better start.
An’ that preacher whispered: “Can’t you see the Promised Land?”
As he laid his blood-stained bible in that hooker’s hand.

There are three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway,
Why there’s not four of them, Heaven only knows.
I guess it’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you,
It’s what you leave behind you when you go.

That’s the story that our preacher told last Sunday.
As he held that blood-stained bible up,
For all of us to see.
He said: “Bless the farmer, and the teacher, an’ the preacher”
“Who gave this Bible to my mamma,
“Who read it to me.”

There are three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway,
Why there’s not four of them, now I guess we know.
It’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you,
It’s what you leave behind you when you go.

There are three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

A Little Dose of Prevention

“But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
(Matthew 17:21 MRC)

The expression is usually “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” but given current emphasis across Europe and America for flu shots, the word dose comes to mind. In Matthew’s Gospel we are told of disciples who didn’t have the dose of prevention and left Y’shuaJesus having to apply a pound of cure. Y’shua cured a man’s son. When the disciples asked Y’shua why they couldn’t cast out the demon, Y’shua explained that they didn’t have the faith to do so.

Matthew Henry, in his commentary, wrote: “If ye have ever so little of this faith in sincerity, if ye truly rely upon the powers committed to you, ye shall say to this mountain, Remove. This is a proverbial expression, denoting that which follows, and no more, Nothing shall be impossible to you. They had a full commission, among other things, to cast out devils without exception; but, this devil being more than ordinarily malicious and inveterate, they distrusted the power they had received, and so failed. To convince them of this, Christ shows them what they might have done. Note, An active faith can remove mountains, not of itself, but in the virtue of a divine power engaged by a divine promise, both which faith fastens upon.”

After explaining the disciples’ lack of faith, He goes on to say the “this kind [of demon] does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” The implication here is this: The disciples must couple a trust in the power they had received with previous prayer and fasting. The disciples not only didn’t have the faith necessary to cast out the demon, they weren’t prepared to do so either.

Point One. Preparation is required for our readiness. This preparation is required for more than the casting out of demons, as Peter wrote: “. . . sanctify Messiah as Lord in your hearts. Always be prepared to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give a word for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and fear for God.” (1 Peter 3:15 MRC) We are to be prepared to make a defense.

When I think of being prepared, I think of Stephen: “Then some from what is called the Freedmen’s Synagogue, composed of both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and disputed with Stephen.” (Acts 6:9 HCSB). Before Stephen died, he witnessed to those who stoned him. Stephen was prepared for any and all events.

Point Two. Prayer is a key component of preparation. Prayer is, in a general sense, the act of asking for a favor, and particularly with earnestness. In worship, prayer is a solemn address to G-d, consisting of adoration, or an expression of our sense of G-d’s glorious perfections, confession of our sins, supplication for mercy and forgiveness, intercession for blessings on others, and thanksgiving, or an expression of gratitude to God for his mercies and benefits.

But I like a more simple definition. It is being with G-d, through our acceptance of Messiah Y’shua, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It is being like Adam, and walking with G-d in the Garden.

Point Three. Fasting is another key component of preparation. How shall we fast? The Lord tells us through the prophet Isaiah: “Isn’t the fast I choose: To break the chains of wickedness, to untie the ropes of the yoke, to set the oppressed free, and to tear off every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your house, to clothe the naked when you see him, and to not ignore your own flesh and blood? Then your light will appear like the dawn, and your recovery will come quickly. Your righteousness will go before you, and the LORD’s glory will be your rear guard.” (Isaiah 58:6-8 HCSB)

Simply put, fasting is denying our fleshly nature, our self-centered approach to life, and obeying the Holy Spirit.
May the Lord enable us to meet the requirements of each day, having mercy upon us.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Ready or Not, Lord Y’shuaJesus will Return

“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:6-8.

Paul says he knows he’s about to die, and he’s ready for it. In another letter, Paul says he is torn between wanting to go and be with the Lord Y’shuaJesus, and stay here, on Earth, for the sake of those to whom he’s been called to minister. Now, though, Paul knows it is his time to go. He has fought a good fight, finished his assignment, kept the faith. He’s ready to receive a crown of righteousness. And so like Paul, he encourages us when he says: “Not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

There are two ways in which we can depart this world: the first is to die, as Paul is saying in this scripture. The other way is for the Lord to return to Earth—the Great Day of the Lord, as spoken of by Apostles, The Lord Y’shuaJesus Himself, and the Prophets. It seems to me that in this later way, the return of the Lord, we find easiest to long for His appearance. I’m reminded of a verse from a song that goes something like this: Everyone wants to go to Heaven. . . but nobody wants to go now. It seems pretty clear, though, that while we are meant to live a life on Earth for a certain time, we are to love the appearance of the Lord Y’shuaJesus, whether or not we go individually or as when all true-born believers are called to meet the Lord upon His return.

Regarding the Lord’s Return, Charles Spurgeon commented on 2 Peter 3:10-14, which begins, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.”

These passages convey that the predicted events are certain and that they may occur at any moment and are intended to evoke in the reader the ongoing expectation that the event is “about to happen” and thereby provide motivation for godly living (2Pe. 2Pe. 3:10-14):

The Impending Advent is the theme which pervades [the book of Revelation] from its commencement to its close. And just in proportion as he who is awake to the great truth of the Saviour’s speedy coming, and is engaged in waiting and preparing himself accordingly, is a better man, and in a safer condition, and really more happy, than the half-Christian and lukewarm;—in that same proportion is he who reads, hears, and keeps the words of this prophecy blessed beyond all other people.1
What a check, what an incentive, what a bridle, what a spur, such thoughts as these would be to us! Take this for the guide of your whole life. Act as if Jesus would come during the act in which you are engaged; and if you would not wish to be caught in that act by the Coming of the Lord, let it not be your act.—Charles Spurgeon, “Watching for Christ’s Coming” in Sermons on the Second Coming of Christ, 137-138.2

He says it well, doesn’t he.

Lord continue to grant us the strength to fight the good fight here and now, while loving and longing for His appearance, while always knowing that one day we will feast with our Lord Y’shuaJesus. Let us gaze intently toward Heaven for the Lord’s Return.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Do the work of an evangelist

“. . .do the work of an evangelist. . .” 2 Timothy 4:5

As if preaching and teaching, rebuking and exhorting, aren’t enough, Paul tells Timothy to do the work of an evangelist. Paul has already explained why Timothy needs to be diligent in his duties toward the church. It is in the form of a conclusion to his charge to Timothy to preach and teach: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” v. 3,4. Paul wants to make sure Timothy understands that he needs to give sound words within the church now, for later. . .

Well, later there will be discord and division, and the Earthly church won’t resemble what it once was, during the time of the Apostles. Certainly, there were problems then, but Paul says they’ll get worse. And Timothy must be diligent in his profession of the faith, both within and without the church. For if there is a time when, within the church, people will close their ears to the truth, what will it be like outside the church.

Timothy is exhorted by Paul to evangelize now, while there is still time, while the truth may still be received. Paul writes: “But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” v. 5. Matthew Henry commented: “He must watch in all things. “Seek an opportunity of doing them a kindness; let no fair occasion slip through negligence. Watch against the temptations of satan, by which you may be diverted from it; watch over the souls of those who are committed to your charge.” He must count upon afflictions and endure them, make the best of them. “Be not discouraged by the difficulties you meet with, but bear them with an evenness of spirit.” It was a great trust that was reposed in him, and therefore he must answer it and perform all the parts of his office with diligence and care.”

The full ministry that Paul has called upon Timothy to proof, reminds me of the The Apostolic Church. It was founded in Pen-y-groes, Carmarthenshire, South Wales, during the Welsh revival at turn of the twentieth Century. It supports the Early Church governance of the ministries of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. I greatly respect this church, and have spent time with an evangelist in Sri Lanka’s first homegrown church, the Apostolic Church of Sri Lanka. This five-fold ministry is what Paul has told Timothy he needs to fulfill.

I have to wonder if Paul intended for Timothy to always work as all five parts of this ministry. Did Paul foresee a time when Timothy’s leadership role might require devotion to one aspect of this ministry to which he’d been charged? I don’t know. But in a small church, it certainly makes sense for the pastor to be all things to his congregation, not leaving out essential parts.

My thoughts on these functions are this: the Apostle reaches out as an overseer to several congregations, perhaps located in different communities; the Prophet is the rebuker that opens the eyes of the sinner; the Evangelist seeks to bring the Gospel to those outside the Church; the Pastor cares for the congregation, as a shepherd cares for a flock; the Teacher expounds upon the Word of G-d in Scriptures, helping the congregation understand the Way of the Gospel, the Way of the Cross. It was a lot for Timothy to do; it is a lot for pastors today to do. May G-d grant pastors abilities to fulfill their roles.

Lord continue to grant us the strength to fight the good fight, always knowing that one day we will feast with our Lord Y’shuaJesus. Let us gaze intently for the Lord to return.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine.

Charged to Preach, Teach, Rebuke, Exhort

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” 2 Timothy 3:5

In the previous chapter, Paul wrote (3:13,14,15) “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

Point One. Continue in what we have learned. Paul has made the point that we will suffer, will be persecuted. He is now encouraging us to stop thinking about new doctrines and interpretations of the Gospel. He is saying to us, like he’s said before, “fight the good fight!” We are to continue in the good that we have been, and have been doing.

Point Two. Remember from whom we learned. “Hey, you’ve learned it and known it . We won’t become deceived if we remember who we trusted when first we believed. We learned the scriptures and a way of life from someone, whether when as a child with our parents or as an adult from another to whom we found life. We knew it, so continue in it. We were assured of it once before, be assured of it now. We must not question ourselves and become lost.

Point Three. Remember that we’ve known the Word of G-d, which is able to make us wise. The Word of G-d is becoming alive within us, continue to allow Him to grow in us and make us wise in Him. We learned from the Scriptures that we are granted salvation by Y’shuaJesus’s death and resurrection, and we follow in faith. We shall not turn from that belief; we shall not turn from the truth of the Gospel.

Point Four. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” v.16. All Scripture. Not a small piece of it taken out of context. All Scripture. It is useable, profitable to us, for ministering within and without the church, to the saved and the unsaved. We are commanded to wash the feet of those with whom we share the communion of the Lord. This is washing of the dirt that comes from walking this imperfect world. We are not their saviour, but their helper in walking in the way of the cross. We also offer instruction to the unsave on righteousness. They may do occasional good things, but they lack true righteousness—they don’t know the Lord as their personal Saviour. We may offer instruction in righteousness that they might see themselves as lacking and turn to the Lord. We must always remember that one day All will kneel before the Lord and understand, and say, that Y’shuaJesus is Lord.

Point Five. “That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” v.17. As we continue in the way’s we’ve learned, walking with the Lord, we are being perfected. This perfection enables us to do more good works, to become more like Y’shuaJesus.

In view of all of these points, Paul now compels Timothy, and us—charges us—to Preach, Teach, Rebuke, Exhort. And we are to do it when we know we are “on duty” and when we think we are on holiday. The men and women of G-d are never truly on holiday; we are always on duty. We gaze longingly toward the skies watching and waiting for the Lord to return, all the while we are working.

Lord grant us the strength to fight the good fight, always knowing that one day we will feast with our Lord Y’shuaJesus.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine.

Live the Gospel

“But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions . ..”2 Timothy 3:10, 11

Yesterday I heard a young person say it is a shame about a particular politician that had been preaching in the political arena the fidelity in marriage, and lambasting others for their infidelity, especially that politicians rivals. All the while this politician, himself, was involved in an extramarital affair. We was not walking his talk.

Here in Paul’s letter to Timothy, we hear Paul say that he was indeed living the Gospel life. The example he set is in concert with his message. Matthew Henry comments:

The more fully we know the doctrine of Christ and the apostles, the more closely we shall cleave to it; the reason why many sit loose to it is because they do not fully know it. His manner of life was of a piece with his doctrine and did not contradict it He did not pull down by his living what he build up by his preaching. Timothy fully knew Paul’s good character, which he might gather from his doctrine, manner of life and purpose; for he gave proofs of his faith (that is, of his integrity and fidelity or his faith in Christ, his faith concerning another world by which Paul lived), his long-suffering toward the churches to which he reached and presided over, his charity towards all men, and his patience. These were the graces that Paul was eminent for, and Timothy knew it. He knew that he had suffered ill for doing well.

G-d’s grace is always sufficient. Paul hand many persecutions (Acts 13:49, 14:1-6, 19), but the Lord delivered him out of them all. . . He tells Timothy, “Let it be no surprise to you if suffer hard things, it is no more than I have endured before.”

Point One: “The more fully we know the doctrine of Christ and the apostles, the more closely we shall cleave to it.” There are actually churches today advocating the Buddhist and New Age practice of meditation. No, not meditating of the Word of G-d, but clearing our minds so that we can become enlightened. Nowhere does the Bible say that’s an approved method of prayer. In fact, there are many, myself included, that believe meditation is demonic, and brings demonic influences into the meditator’s life. So we are not going to go out into a field and absorb the good vibrations of nature, thus being transformed into a holy vessel. No! What we are going to do is to study the written Word of G-d often enough that it is infused into our being. It is through study of the Word that the Spirit will find easiest access to speak with us, and that the Lord will find to change us.

Point Two: Pauls manner of life were “ proofs of his faith.” We become more like Y’shua the more we spend time with Him. We spend time with Him in prayer, in study, in our fascination of Him—adoring Him. The proof of the faith we express, is the manner of our lives. It is the manner of our lives that bring us to. . .

Point Three: “Let it be no surprise to you if suffer hard things, it is no more than I have endured before.” Y’shuaJesus, our Lord, our Saviour, suffered during his Earthly tour of humanity. Paul suffered as he lived Gospel life. And so shall we suffer. Paul mentions it to Timothy that it come as no surprise. And it would already be know by Timothy anyway. So perhaps it is written to Timothy so that we shall hear this message, that suffering for living the Good Life come as no surprise, either.

Lord, enable us in this knowing of Your Gospel that we might “cleave to it.” Grant us grace in our living and in our suffering. Be glorified in our lives. Amen.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine.

From some turn away

“. . .from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:5

As we’ve seen, sins must be purged that we may become gold and silver vessels for use by the Master. Here in the third chapter of 2 Timothy, Paul tells Timothy about some very unsavory people. He lists them as “lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.

These now are things other that sin that affect our lives. And now we hear Paul tells Timothy, and us, to turn away.

Previously, Paul had written about people within the church that, through teaching with patience and instruction with meekness, “might recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” 2 Timothy (2:24-26) I believe the people of chapter three that Paul wrote about, the people from whom we are to turn away, are not people within our Lord’s Church. They may enter a congregation, a church, but their names are not written in the Book of Life; they are not true-born believers in Messiah, Lord, Y’shuaJesus. They are of reprobate mind. They will not receive teaching or instruction in the Truth. Their future is only doom and gloom. We are to turn from them; for their aim, whether or not they intend it to be so, is to bring us closer to doom and gloom ourselves, should it be possible.

So isn’t turning from people because we think they are doing wrong things unkind of us? Isn’t it unloving? Aren’t we guilty of that which we accuse others, of self-love, perhaps, for wanting to not be around them because we are too good, too holy? Have you ever been told that something you do isn’t what the Bible teaches? And told by someone who hasn’t read, let alone accepted, the Bible and its Author. The perilous times aren’t perilous for those committing acts of evil, but for us, the People of G-d. We will be accused. We will be the ones doing wrong. And Paul tells this to Timothy. He tells this to us, also.

Lord help us know Yours. Help us know for whom we are to instruct and pray, and from whom we are to turn away. Give us the strength so to do. Amen.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Purge from these

“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:21)

Paul wrote these words while a prisoner in Rome, to Timothy. He seems to say that there are in the church vessels of gold and silver, as well as vessels wood and of earth. Vessels of gold and silver. The good guys and gals. The true-born believers. The honourable vessels. Then there are the vessels of wood and earth. Worldly men and women within the church. Dishonourable vessels or people. So what is Paul saying here? Is he telling Timothy to purge dishonourable men and women from the church?

There are many occasions when I’m concerned about how easily the Word of G-d might be misunderstood, even misused, by others. Mostly, though, I’m very concerned how I may misunderstand and misuse a particular passage. It goes back to “rightly dividing the Word of Truth.” It’s not just about immediate context and initial readings; it’s about stepping away for the passage to view the the entire chapter and perhaps even a view of the entire book (or letter). Consideration must be made even to the entire breadth of G-d’s Word. Because G-d doesn’t contradict Himself, He provides guidance and support for each individual passage in other places. Make sense?

Okay. Back to purging. I quoted one scripture. I began to write about this scripture. If you were not prayed up and fasted up, not discerning, couldn’t I perhaps have led you to believe Paul was telling Timothy to purge people that aren’t rigtheous, like us, from among the true people of G-d? May G-d forbid me to do such a thing. May G-d give you the discernment that keeps you following in the footsteps of Messiah, even if it means to Golgotha, to the hill, to the cross.

So look here. Early in the chapter, in verse 19, Paul states: “Let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from iniquity.” And in verse 16, “But shun profane and vain babblings. . .” And back in the beginning of the Chapter, Paul wrote: “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

So now, from what or from whom are we purging ourselves? What are “these” of verse 21? Are they not the things that entangle, vain discourse anb babblings, iniquity? I’m pretty sure that’s what “these” are.

And if we purge ourselves of entanglements, vain babblings, iniquity, we shall be vessels of gold and silver, of honour.*

Lord, grant us Your peace, and enable us to be unstained by this world in which we live, for we are of You. Amen.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

* I like the English spelling of Saviour, too. It contains “our” not “or.” The Lord Y’shuaJesus is our Saviour.

The Lord Knows His Own

“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2Timothy 2:19

The Lord knows His own. Like the true Shepherd that He is, He knows each one of us, and we have a seal. Yet do we know one another? How can be be sure the person to whom we speak is a true-born believer in the Lord Y’shuaJesus?

It’s a valid question, especially today with deception seeming lurking at our own house. A few years ago I spent the weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada. I’d hauled a load of heavy equipment into the city, unloading on Friday, but had to wait until Monday to get another load going out. So on Sunday I went to a small, non-denominational church that was a short walk from the truck stop. It seemed nice inside, though it was what we call a store-front church, located in a shopping center. The service began with praise songs intended to lead toward worship. Before worship approached, the pastor began his talk. And toward the end of the sermon, I realized that there was something missing. Not once in the praise songs was the Name of Jesus spoken. Not once during the sermon was the Name of Jesus spoken. I think Y’shuaJesus had been left out of this church.

On the other hand, I’ve met people that seemed to radiate a Spiritual warmth. Their eyes light up, and they easily speak of The Lord. Occasionally I hear people say, “Have a blessed day.” I think it’s code for G-d Bless you. [which increasingly is becoming a sort of taboo in these United States of America. While we say we have freedom of speech, hard won and maintained for two hundred years, over the last few years political correctness has taken a heavy toll on our liberties.] Once, many years ago, I met a pastor I just knew was a great general in the Lord’s Army. There was something about him. Perhaps it was the way the Lord had sealed him that it just exuded The Spirit.

If you watch a sporting event, there is an announcer that gives the names of the players. There are often programs with players’ names and numbers listed. But we, as Christians, don’t have a program to look at in which the names of The Sealed of G-d are listed. As I pondered this all earlier today, I recalled a song from my days with Calvary Chapel in Susanville, California. One line of the song is, “They will know we are Christians by our love.”

There must, therefore, be a unique form of love expressed only by those who are true-born believers, sealed by The Lord Y’shuaJesus. Let us apprehend this love. Let us express this love. Let us be known as disciples of the One Lord, Savior, Y’shuaJesus, by this love.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Show Yourself Approved

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2Timothy 2:15

Show yourself approved. We show ourselves this in our work. We study that we might rightly divide the word of truth, that our work is appropriate, correct. Approved unto G-d. Workmen that are unskillful or unfaithful or lazy have need to be ashamed. An what is their work? To divide the word of truth. Not to invent a new gospel, but rightly to divide the gospel that is committed to their trust. The author of it is the G-d of truth. It requires great wisdom, study, and care to divide this work of truth rightly. Timothy must study in order to do this well.
–Matthew Henry

This is how we show ourselves approved or acceptable in our work of rightly dividing the word. This study doesn’t make us saints; it doesn’t provide salvation. Y’shuaJesus died on the cross that we may have life, abundant life, and eternal life with G-d. And while we wait for Y’shuaJesus to bring us to Him, or to return to Earth, our work is our study of the truth. We show ourselves approved by doing this work right.

Once, long ago, three men sat on a train bound for Darjeeling. One, a pastor, began to explain some things to a German fellow named Jurgen. He went on an on and on. The third man, an American pastor, teacher, part-time evangelist, sat quietly trying not to get involved, not wanting to be rude. After all, it isn’t nice to contradict a pastor in public. Finally, something that the pastor that was speaking said struck this American. “No,” he cried out. And then he spoke the truth to these men.

We study the work and in becomes part of us. When the time comes, the word comes out through our words, our actions, who we are. The Spirit at work within us, transforming us into the saints that we became when we placed our faith in Y’shuaJesus, when we turned from our former lives to the truth.

Now let us be clear. We are being transformed. We have not yet arrived. One day we will. What a glorious day that will be. For on that day we will see Y’shuaJesus face to face. This is our hope. This is what gives our lives meaning. Come, Lord, Come! Maranatha! Praise the Name of the Lord.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .