Gospel

What to do with youthful passions contrary to God’s grace

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19But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” 20Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21Therefore, 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. 22So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.  2 Timothy 2:19-22

Knowing Jesus generates response and the desire to honour Him with our lives. But our passions may seem to get in the way of responding honourably to Jesus and the Gospel. We may be disappointed that passions, our desires, do not automatically align themselves with the purity of the Holy Spirit. This is where we must cooperate with the Holy Spirit for a lifetime.

We can lock onto God’s vision for our lives and return to Him over and over; set apart for Him; holy by His grace; useful to the Master of this house.

We can cleanse ourselves of what is dishonourable to Jesus through confession and deliberate gatekeeping. In His loving presence we learn to recognize our temptations drawing us away from the sincere satisfaction available in His grace and truth.

We can flee youthful passions, deciding not to feed and entertain them.

We can pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, redirecting the energy and youthfulness of our lives into participation in His work.

We can connect with the fellowship of Jesus’ followers who call on the Lord in the promise of a heart forgiven and cleansed by Jesus’ labour of love at the cross, for support and encouragement.

Rock Bottom Prayers

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17Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; 18 they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. 19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 20He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. 21 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! 22And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!    Psalm 107:17-22

Psalm 107 describes what its like to be intercepted by the grace of God when we come to end of ourselves and finally cry out to Him. I love this description: “he sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.”

Some wandered in desert wastes, looking for a city…
Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death… prisoners…
Some were fools through their sinful ways…
Some went down to sea in ships doing business on the great waters…

When we quit mistaking our deepest desires for God as some kind of drive to be fulfilled by our own achievements, collections, or meditations, God is ready for our call. When we are at the end of ourselves, God is available. When we attain our dreams and discover a prevailing emptiness, God is listening.

He rescues. His word heals. His love lasts. When the world offers no reason for celebration, God provides hope and help. Jesus presented Himself to those who had come to end of themselves… and would admit it. To some Matthew’s party was full of losers. But not to Jesus! He said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”  (Luke 5:31)
Rock-bottom prayers may not sound pretty, but they are the sound of grace.

Young and Strong, Part 2

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11Command and teach these things. 12Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.  1 Timothy 4:11-16

Sometimes we treat “youth” as an excuse for excess and for sin. So you are young and strong!? These are the days in which your process of digging a deep foundation for your life in the Gospel will open the way for you to lead and serve others. “Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.”

Paul wants Timothy to continue in his pastoral assignment in Ephesus without succumbing to a “I’m young” or “You are so young” point of view. Leadership under the grace of God is possible even as a young person. So Paul commends Timothy to keep a high view of himself because of the Gospel. Not just a high view of self-respect and self-leadership but also a large view of the character Jesus will reveal through his speech, conduct, love, faith and purity.

Timothy’s authority for leadership would not be his just because he had been given a position. The authority for the Gospel ministry came from the Scripture, so Paul tells him to “devote himself to the public reading of Scripture.” The power of the ministry wasn’t just his own power; it came from the gift of the Holy Spirit recognized and called out in the leadership of the Church. But, it is Timothy’s character being built by Christ that will  ultimately yield the lasting fruit. So, Paul tells this young and strong leader: watch your life and doctrine, for by so doing you save both yourself and your hearers.”

Keep a close watch on your life.  Keep a close watch on the content of your teaching.

Young and Strong, Part 1

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7Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
1 Timothy 4:7-10

So you’re young and strong. What to do with your time and strength? Just hit the gym and the books? No. Paul encourages Timothy not to miss the opportunity his youth provides to train himself for godliness.

Godliness is strength of character. Its becoming like God as revealed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Character has been described as hardened habits. Habits are formed by repeated little decisions.

Godliness is the capacity to speak the language of truth and grace. Godliness is the capacity to be who God intends you to be with Him and in community. Godliness has its wisdom. Godliness lasts. It has value for today and for the future. Godliness forms because of our hope for life and reality is set on the living God. Jesus the King positions our hope so that Life and how we live today as His Church really does matter… forever.

How to training yourself for godliness?

On your own:
Stick close to Jesus. Access His grace over and over through repentance and belief. Make decisions in response to Him and His Gospel. Bear up under the struggle and temptations heightened through your adjustments to obey Him trusting that He is still shaping you. Dive deep into the Gospel immersing yourself into the communion of God-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Together with the church:
Celebrate God-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Exercise your gifts. Develop responsive intentionality as a disciple-maker. Serve sacrificially. Live the “one-anothers.” Bear up under the struggle to keep maturing in Christ emotionally, mentally, and socially without losing hope. To lose this hope in Christ, who shows us the mystery of godliness, is to lose our way; its to slide into the ditches of legalism or license. So, become fluent in the Gospel of God’s grace. Love.

Meekness: Counter-Intuitive

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3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;

dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness…

7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;

fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,

over the man who carries out evil devices!

8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!

Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.

9 For the evildoers shall be cut off,

but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

10In just a little while, the wicked will be no more;

though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.

11But the meek shall inherit the land

and delight themselves in abundant peace.

Psalm 37: 3, 7-11

On a morning in which the free press of France has been violently attacked it may seem strange to write of meekness. However, the truth is, any morning in this world will serve up a number of wicked and violent reasons not to value meekness.

In Psalm 37 David contrasts the lives of the meek and the lives of violent. The motions of true faith in God generate meekness. Meekness is a typically non-valued quality observed in humility and gentleness. It is controlled strength, like that of a mighty horse able to respond to the slightest directive.

Meekness is counter-intuitive. Occupying the land seems to belong only to the strong and mighty. They take it. However, the inheritance of the earth belongs to those who have been gracefully brought into the rule of Christ the King. The prophetic vision of the fruits of meekness “they shall inherit the land” are only met in the Messiah. Jesus announces the reality of His Kingship and His people when he says, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”  (Matthew 5:6)

David encourages his people to choose meekness in respect to God and to His promises. Throughout Psalm 37 he contrasts the lives of the meek. We must be aware of how meekness will be tested in respect to

Emotion. vs. 8
Speech. vs. 12
Consideration of the weak. vs. 14
Fulfilling your commitments. vs. 21
Doing good and being generous. vs. 26

Meekness is future-present lifestyle. It is the only commended point at which we might say Jesus is our example. The Gospel-shaped life is not looking for an example of righteousness that can be copied. Rather the Gospel shaped life is formed through the transformative power of a Saviour who gives us the grace to enter into meekness with Him. He says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV)