by David Brenneman
In 1 Timothy 6 20-21 NASB, Paul tells not just Timothy, but all of us, to be on our guard. To protect what we have been given.
Reading in Timothy as well as Jeremiah is an interesting thing this year. Here, we see of the instruction of Paul towards his son in the faith. In Jeremiah we read of the pleas of the Lord towards Judah and Israel to come back to what they hadn't guarded. What they hadn't protected. What they let slip away.
Let faith arise is from a song we've sung in worship at Church. I woke up several times last night and that part of the song kept running through my mind.
"Be still, there is a Healer
His love is deeper than the sea
His mercy, it is unfailing
His arms, a fortress for the weak
Let faith arise
Let faith arise
I lift my hands to believe again
You are my refuge, You are my strength As I pour out my heart,
these things I remember
You are faithful, God, forever
Be still, there is a river
That flows from Calvary's tree
A fountain for the thirsty
Your grace that washes over me
Let faith arise
Let faith arise" - Chris Tomlin "Let Faith Arise"
These things that I remember.
After the exile, when people were indeed brought back to Jerusalem, the temple was rebuilt. Many of the older people wept bitterly because they remembered the Temple of God that King Solomon had built at King David's instruction.
We began with it in the Garden of Eden.
We read of the history of continuing to do so throughout the lives of those in the Bible.
We are quick to run from the instruction of the Lord.
We are quick with the excuses of why we do what we do and why we don't do what we don't do.
Adam and Eve began sin's stranglehold with excuses.
We're born in sin. We needed the perfect sacrifice of Jesus to save us. We're in need, daily, to be in God's Word, with our minds set on Jesus, on His work. We need to guard what's been entrusted to us. It's more important than possessions or anything of this world.
I have seen people on a whim, have done it myself, toss aside their testimony in Christ because of a blown call in a football game.
I don't worship that! You might be saying.
Go back to Jeremiah. Read, in the details and depth, that the Lord Jesus spoke of concerning how, why, where, and when Judah and Israel drifted away from God.
I know the excuses because I have used them myself.
We hide behind excuses when the truth is too uncomfortable. We excuse our behavior because of this or that. We will even give up our calling in Christ Jesus because of excuses. We will hide behind feelings as to why we don't obey God's words. Fear of being hurt again. Fear of what might be asked of us by the Spirit of God. Fear of letting go of this "kingdom" we have built. Fear of how we will look in front of others.
We also use justification in our excuses.
We say it's our job, we have to be this way. God says He is the God of your workplace too. Honor Him there too.
We say we're off the clock and deserve this or that. We deserve to die in our sins. Jesus said to take up our own cross and follow Him. Paul tells Timothy to guard what he has been taught. To teach others to do the same.
There's a great many things that I will never do in this life. It's not for a lack of desire. It's because those things have nothing to do with my life in Christ Jesus.
They won't benefit my growth in Christ.
They won't cause others to see Jesus in me.
They won't do anything but take my guard down.
May sound depressing but remember this passage: "but just as it is written:
“Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the human heart, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”" 1 Corinthians 2:9 NASB
Or "Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB
We cannot know what fantastic things that lay in store for those who leave the choice to Him.
By faith fantastic things were accomplished by many in the Bible. Read Hebrews 11. The chapter that summarizes the list of people who did what by faith.
By faith I stepped out a year ago to begin a new life in a new to me city. I made it clear to Jesus that I wanted to be doing what He wanted of me in this new city. We literally do feel like we were in the wilderness for me, 20 plus years, my Wife, a few dozen more. Obeying after being brought here is certainly at the top of our list of priorities.
Some steps on guarding...be in the Word.
Be in honest, open, prayer with Jesus.
Be involved with a Bible preaching, Bible believing Church that believes in the whole Bible and not just the parts they agree with.
Be ready to serve.
Be the light of Jesus in your world.
Be ready for the world to not like it. In John 1 it says that the darkness doesn't like the light of Jesus.
Once someone becomes a soldier they always will be. Retirement for a soldier is in occupation only. In real life they are a creature of habit to their training. Ready to serve again if the moment arises. Will react to situations using what they have been taught. I have met Veterans who were in their 80's who weren't joking when they said they were ready to do it again.
We are soldiers of the Cross of Christ. We are on duty at all times. We have an unrevocable calling in Christ Jesus as said in Romans.
We are on God's timetable. His Word will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. We are in the time of the End. We will quite possibly be seeing Jesus returning in our lifetime.
Will He return and find you not doing what the Bible says we ought to be doing?
Be on guard. Be in the faith, living out your faith.
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