Monthly Archives: October 2020

The Third Chapter – Hebrews

Posted on October 28, 2020 | Leave a comment

Hebrews 3:12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. 15 As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.a” [NIV]

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“That day, next day, one day and someday” is a tongue-in-cheek description I recently read to describe the confusion of keeping track of time and days when the routines of life are altered during long-lasting life circumstances like this pandemic.  I’ve experienced that confusion about time and days myself.  It’s a real thing that caused me read this Scripture as if it was speaking about the confusion of time and days, then, as a danger in the spiritual life of believers in Jesus Christ now…and the much needed protection offered for “today.”

We have been so blessed for so long as a nation, as a democracy and as individuals that we’ve become confused about how real, and subtle, the danger of a “sinful, unbelieving heart” is.  “Today” is the one word in this Scripture that made me realize “that day, next day, one day and someday” is really about missing the warning and protection available “now.”  “Now” is our God-given opportunity to to “share in Christ” and “encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of [us] may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness…Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts…a”

a Psalm 95

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The Third Chapter – Titus

Posted on October 25, 2020 | Leave a comment

Titus 3:1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. [ESV]

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3:4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. [ESV]

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Posted in New Testament, Stand Alone Scripture, Sunday, Titus

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The Third Chapter – 2 Timothy

Posted on October 21, 2020 | Leave a comment

2 Timothy 3:1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. [ESV]

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Oh Lord, save us from ourselves and heal us!  We have met the enemy…and he is us!a  The changes of culture have affected, and sometimes infected, our minds. The infection is so subtle we no longer are able to recognize unacceptable behavior is actually sin.

  • “Lovers of self” cover their selfishness behind a guise of self esteem.
  • “Lovers of money” are no longer greedy. They’re considered to be economically savvy if they find ways to scheme for “more.”
  • “Proud, arrogant, abusive or disobedient” are no longer unacceptable and unhealthy behaviors. They’ve become an acceptable form of personal expression.  
  • “Ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit” are excused as the byproduct of bad life circumstances rather than the loss of personal integrity.

These bullet points are shocking symptoms in these “times of difficulty.” We’re in a pandemic of immorality and the infection is getting worse. Our minds have been infected but we’re still not sure we’re sick. We are not immune. Even believers can become “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.” We have met the enemy…and he is us!a Oh Lord, save us from ourselves and heal us!

aCartoonist Walt Kelly’s 20th century parody for his character Pogo of an 1812 naval commander’s quote

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Posted in 2 Timothy, New Testament, Uncategorized, Wednesday

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The Third Chapter – 1 Timothy

Posted on October 18, 2020 | Leave a comment

I Timothy 3:14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. 16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He[God] was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. [ESV]

1 Timothy 3:14 I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon, 15 so that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth. 16 Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith:  Christ was revealed in a human body and vindicated by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and announced to the nations.  He was believed in throughout the world and taken to heaven in glory. [NLT]

1 Timothy 3:14 I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon, 15 so that if I don’t come for a while, you will know what kind of men you should choose as officers for the church of the living God, which contains and holds high the truth of God.  16 It is quite true that the way to live a godly life is not an easy matter.  But the answer lies in Christ, who came to earth as a man, was proved spotless and pure in his Spirit, was served by angels, was preached among the nations, was accepted by men everywhere, and was received up again to his glory in heaven. [TLB]

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I am writing these things so you will know how people ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.  Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness and faith.  The way to live a godly life is not an easy matter, but the answer lies in Christ.a

a The “read and ponder” method of personal study: read multiple versions of Scripture, highlight words and phrases from each, look up definitions of words as needed, ponder which mean the most to you and let the Word combined strengthen itself to become your personal truth.

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The Third Chapter – 2 Thessalonians

Posted on October 14, 2020 | Leave a comment

TLB 3:1 Finally, dear brothers, as I come to the end of this letter, I ask you to pray for us. Pray first that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and triumph wherever it goes, winning converts everywhere as it did when it came to you. 2 Pray, too, that we will be saved out of the clutches of evil men, for not everyone loves the Lord. 3 But the Lord is faithful; he will make you strong and guard you from satanic attacks of every kind. 4 And we trust the Lord that you are putting into practice the things we taught you, and that you always will. 5 May the Lord bring you into an ever deeper understanding of the love of God and of the patience that comes from Christ.

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Believers are the focus group of Pauls appeal for prayer. “Pray for us. Pray first that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and triumph wherever it goes, winning converts everywhere as it did when it came to you. Pray, too, that we will be saved out of the clutches of evil men, for not everyone loves the Lord.”  

We have become a society of people who have made productivity a “little g” god.  A good portion of what follows Paul’s appeal for those prayers is his admonition to people of faith not to live in laziness, loafing, refusing to work and wasting time.  That seems like an odd combination for us to find an application for life today.  

What if our laziness, loafing, refusing to work and wasting time is really all about our choice to overlook prayer in favor of productivity?  Prayer is the quiet part of faith, often without recordable results. It’s also meant to be protection that keeps “us out of the clutches of evil men.”  We can clock our time in devotional study…√.  We can clock our time of service in the Lord’s name…√. We can clock our time of church participation…√.  Only the Lord can honestly clock the time we spend in prayer, “but the Lord is faithful.”

Maybe that is why Paul has chosen to remind me “not to live in laziness, loafing, refusing to work and wasting time” and make sure prayer IS consciously a bigger and better part of my productivity.  Mea Culpa! 

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The Third Chapter – 1 Thessalonians

Posted on October 12, 2020 | Leave a comment

1 Thessalonians 3:11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, 12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.[ESV]

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An unusual connection has been made between this Scripture and daily life because of Covid-19.  We’ve come to understand the risk that our faith can “be moved by these afflictions. [v3]”  We’ve all been encouraged to make purposeful contact with neighbors, friends and family to bless and comfort them so their faith might be a source of strength and blessing for them.  The surprise involved is that purpose has turned out to be a personal blessing as well.  I learned about the Greek word “allalon“ watching online church yesterdaya.  Allalon is the Greek word translated as “one another” in verse 12.  I also learned what a “mnemonic” is. A mnemonic is something in verbal form used to help remember something else.  If you look at “allalon” phonetically you might see “all alone” and therein lies the lesson

That one unfamiliar word has become the tool to remind me in an unusual way at just the right time of a truth I might have missed. It can’t be dismissed as coincidence. Isolation makes it seem we’re all alone but “allalon” confirms God has used that word intentionally to remind us of something completely opposite – “one another” – even in the midst of affliction. We are not “all alone.” Simply saying “I need to know you’re OK” is the reminder we give each other that faith is stronger than affliction.  The truth of “allelon” is the Lord’s assurance that affliction can move us to”increase and abound in love for one another”

a courtesy of Pastor Greg Long, Gracepoint Church, Sturgis, MI

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The Third Chapter – Colossians

Posted on October 7, 2020 | Leave a comment

Colossians 3:1 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. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your[our] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory…16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

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Here’s a timely grammar lesson for 2020 courtesy of the Apostle Paul written during the first generation after Jesus, sometime in the 50s, while Paul was in prison.  His If/Then sentences present conditions/situations [the Ifs] and the resulting/expected outcomes [the Thens] that even the passage of time can’t diminish.

If – “you have been raised with Christ”
Then – “seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right 
hand of God”
If – “you set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God”
Then – “when Christ who is your[our] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory”

⭐️∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞⭐️

If – this Word from the Apostle has found it’s life in you today
Then – “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
❤️

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The Third Chapter – Philippians

Posted on October 4, 2020 | Leave a comment

Philippians 3:1 ESV Finally, my brothers,[or brothers and sisters] rejoice in the Lord.  3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—…9…found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—…12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

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These are my highlights of words and phrases that caught my attention from the first 12 verses of Philippians 3 in the English Standard Version. Then, over multiple days I decided to take devotional reading a step further and highlight those same words or phrases in a couple other Bible versions that interested me. The object was to finally compare those highlighted phrases from each version side by side and see how they might enhance my response to what I’d read.  This is a long post but I wanted you to be able to see the process in its entirety.  It’s one “devoted” way the Word finds its “life” within you.

KJV 3:1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord…3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh…9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith…12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

NIV 3:1 Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord!…3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—…9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith…Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 

* Rejoice in the Lord [x2], rejoice in the Lord!
[note the emphasis of the “!”]
* We who are the circumcision [x2], we are the circumcision
[note the inclusive “we”]
* Worship by the Spirit of God, worship God in the spirit, serve God by his Spirit. [note the impact of “by/in” on “worship/serve“]
* Glory in Christ Jesus, rejoice in Christ Jesus, boast in Christ Jesus
[note how “in Christ” impacts response: “glory, rejoice and boast“]
* Put no confidence in the flesh [x2], have no confidence in the flesh
[note consider the difference between “put/have“]
* not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law [x2], not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law
[note consider difference between “from/of” law on righteousness]
* through faith in Christ [x2], through the faith of Christ
[note the impact “of Christ” and “in Christ” on our faith]
* righteousness from God that depends on faith, righteousness which is of God by faith, righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith
[note “righteousness” “depends on/is of/comes from” God]
* I press on [x2], I follow after
[note the need to “press on” to order to submit and “follow after“]
* because Christ Jesus has made me his own, I am apprehended of
Christ Jesus, Christ Jesus took hold of me
[note who Christ Jesus has made his own/apprehended/took hold of]
ME!

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Posted in New Testament, Philippians, Sunday

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