Tag Archives: Christianity

Godliness

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1 Timothy 3:14-16

Who is the most godly person you know? What qualities do you see that point to godliness in him or her?

I think of one of the ladies in my Sunday School class. She’s a woman grounded in the truth of Scripture. She is a prayer warrior. She has a quiet strength. She is refined, self-controlled, compassionate, kind, joyful, humble, faithful, wise, and generous. She has a servant’s heart and doesn’t seek recognition for the things she does. She feeds the hurting and ill people in our family of faith, sends cards and flowers, makes telephone calls, stays connected with many who have moved away. And most of the time her deeds are known only between her and the one who receives the blessing from her. Check out Proverbs 31. You might see her there.

This dear lady looks very much like Christ in her. She’s probably not perfect, although I can’t see a whole lot of imperfection. Godliness is not perfection. At least not yet.

But if Christ is in us, His character ought to be recognizable in us, too. My friend is still growing, still learning, still pursuing God as she loves and serves Him. I think that’s what Paul is recommending for Timothy (and us) here in these verses.

Take a good look at Jesus, then strive to be like Him, press on toward that goal, it’s not you or I who live but Christ living in and through us. Let our conduct in our homes, in our churches, our neighborhoods be a result of deep-seated loyalty and devotion to our Lord.

I pray that you are the most godly person in someone’s life. If not today, then soon as you grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus, as you submit daily to Him, and allow His Spirit to bear fruit in your life.

He deserves that.

May you be blessed and a blessing today.

It’s Great To Be A Woman

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1 Timothy 3:1-7

When the Bible talks about how to be a good wife, it’s tempting to turn a deaf ear. I’ve never been a wife or mother, and at this stage of life I never will be. So, move on God. We’ve got nothing to talk about in this area.

Or do we? A good wife is a good woman, isn’t she? Shouldn’t how to be a good woman apply to me? OK, God. Point taken.

In chapter three of his first letter to Timothy, Paul talks about the qualities necessary for a pastor. But these qualities are just as important for godly men and women no matter our vocational calling. Things like:

blameless
temperate
sober-minded
hospitable
having good behavior
having a good reputation outside of church

As a Christ-follower those traits should be evident and maturing every day in me. But there are places in Scripture that speak specifically to women, and our role in God’s kingdom work. In addition to the characteristics listed above we are to add:

helper (Genesis 2:18)
submissive (Ephesians 5:22-24)
respectful (Ephesians 5:33)
love for family (Titus 2:4)
trustworthiness (Proverbs 31:11-12)
serving others, helping the afflicted, and devotion (1 Timothy 5:10)

Wow! Taking a look at a woman’s role in God’s kingdom work makes me realize we aren’t less than men in any way. If fact, women seem to be necessary for men, their anchor, their charging-station, the shelter and encouragement they need in order to serve God in obedience to Him.

Why do we think we have to compete? Why blur the lines when the lines were drawn by a loving God who doesn’t make mistakes.

What a privilege to be a women in God’s kingdom work. You don’t have to take on the work intended for men in order to feel special or useful. You have enough to do, important things to do in your role as a godly woman.

We are all equal in the sight of God. And we are all equally important to Him in our separate roles.

Am I saying women shouldn’t be behind the pulpit? I’m not. But God clearly is. I don’t believe God would “call” someone to a position that opposes His written Word.

“But I don’t like being in the back ground. I like to be out front, in control, lauded and applauded.” Then I’m thinking you might have a pride-problem.

Study for yourself the beautiful role God has designed for women. We’ve strayed. But I don’t think it’s too late to humble ourselves and pick up the banner He has laid out for us. Strong homes, strong men and fathers, strong churches depend on the strong women who are working diligently to be the women God intends them to be.

What a privilege! It’s great to be a woman in God’s kingdom work.

If Not You

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1 Timothy 1:3-11

Paul left Timothy in Ephesus and gave him the responsibility of guarding the truth against false doctrine and those who were teaching it. Makes me wonder who is guarding the truth today. Or are the things Paul warned Timothy about not applicable in 2025?

The thing is, I don’t think false doctrine is a result of evil men sitting around a table in a dark, smoke-filled room with Satan, coming up with strategies to derail the Gospel. I think it generally comes from good men wanting the Gospel to be inviting, fun, attractive, and accepted by all. What could be wrong in that, right?

I think these are probably praying men, but not listening men. They may tell God what they’re going to do for Him, without hearing what He wants from them. They use Scripture, but they don’t understand it.

The Church has used “church-speak” for so long the words have taken on false meaning without us realizing it.

“God is love,” has come to mean God accepts everyone.

“Don’t judge,” means what is right for me doesn’t have to be right for you.

“Enter his court with praise,” means worship ought to be fun, our demonstration equal to that of a football fan at the Super Bowl, an experience that leaves us with a euphoric, spiritual high.

Do you recognize the subtle falseness that renders such doctrine fruitless? How can we recognize the counterfeit? By studying the real thing. Our time in the Bible ought to exceed our time listening to sermons, reading commentaries and religious literature.

Bank tellers learn to recognize counterfeit bills, not by studying the counterfeit, but by studying the real thing so that they can recognize ANY deviation.

Do you want to guard the truth? Read your Bible. Read it again. Read it often. Memorize it. Think on it. Let it become so real to you that you can recognize ANY deviation.

Then what? Is it enough for you to know the truth? If we are to guard the truth we need to speak up. Question. Point out errors. Hold each other accountable for what we believe and say.

If not you – who?

Stay Out of the Fire

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James 1

I watched part of an interview with Erika Kirk this morning. She was asked if she wanted a public apology from Jimmy Kimmel for the lies he told about Charlie’s assassination. She said the show did reach out to her and asked how they could make it right. Her answer to them was, “This is not our issue.” She went on to say that forcing an apology didn’t interest her, that this issue isn’t between the two of them, but between Jimmy and God. She said she didn’t want or need an apology. Case closed.

What I got from what she said about that is that she refuses to enter into a battle with Kimmel over what he said. A public apology to make himself look human wasn’t on her agenda. Jimmy was not on her agenda. No hatred or anger on her part. Simply disinterest, and removing herself from a volatile situation.

Why can’t we all have that attitude when someone wrongs us? Why immediately jump into the ring, start swinging, and make it bigger than it ought to be?

“Well she disrespected me.” or “He started it…”

Just because someone started a fire, doesn’t mean you have to go stand in the flames.

James tells us, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger, for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.” (1:19b-29)

Is accomplishing God’s righteousness on your agenda? The old “what would Jesus do?” is a questions we might ask ourselves. When they lied about him he opened not his mouth. He picked his. battles. And so should we.

I hear God say today, accomplishing God’s righteousness ought to be our goal. I might get my feelings hurt today. You might have someone pull out in front of you in traffic. We might be lied about, gossiped about, judged unfairly. How do we accomplish God’s righteousness in those situations?

Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.

You don’t go and jump into the flames just because someone started a fire.

Living in Poverty

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Ruth 2:1-7

What does it say that Ruth was so willing to go to work upon arriving in Bethlehem? She was an undocumented immigrant, penniless, homeless except for any property still in Naomi’s family name. But it doesn’t seem like she waited to see if the neighbors would provide, or if there was government assistance. She knew that if she was going to eat, she would have to go to work.

We could make this about financial poverty, food stamps and free healthcare. But I think there might be a more important lesson here.

Too many Christians are living in systemic spiritual poverty. They are taught to pray like their parents prayed, “Bless me, God. Heal me. Provide for my needs, God,” and expect spiritual hand-outs. But are they willing to do the work?

Do they spend quality time in God’s Word? Do they pray for more than themselves? Do they give, go, grow, obey. Are they the hands and feet of Jesus? Do they surrender their wills and have the mind of Christ?

James tells us that we might have faith, but if we don’t do something about it, our faith is worthless. I think that’s what spiritual poverty looks like.

The thing about living in financial poverty is it can become the norm after a generation or two. It can become a mind-set and an expectation.

The same is true for spiritual poverty. I guess what I see here in the book of Ruth is, God has a better plan. It’s a plan to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (from Jeremiah 19:11)

Are you living in spiritual poverty? Do you feel God isn’t hearing your prayers, not meeting your needs? Then, like Ruth, get to work. The blessings are just around the corner.

Silence

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1&2 Samuel; 1&2 Kings; 1&2 Chronicles

Angie Smith (Seamless; Lifeway Publishers; 2018) points out that the books of Samuel and Kings are about the political history of Israel. Chronicles is about their religious journey during the same time period. (page 100) That said, I wonder why any preacher refuses to speak to current political issues when God Himself inspired twice as much attention on the political scene than He did the spiritual aspect.

I think we’ve become too comfortable with our heads in the sand. We convince ourselves that God will take care of the country. But if we can learn from Scripture that God uses us to take care of the country, we will speak up loud and strong.

God uses our voices to make His voice heard. God uses our hands and feet to stand up against evil. And, sadly, God uses our silence to mete out punishment we deserve.

German pastors were silent in the 1940’s.

Are we trying to fight this war against evil simply sitting in our pews with hands raised and eyes closed? We say God is on our side, when what we really mean is we expect God to fight while we sit back and cheer Him on. That’s a horrible battle plan.

Pastors, we sheep need you to protect us. We need to know the enemy. We need to be led in this battle. Name names. Bring the facts. Be political.

Jesus was. He railed against the religious political machine. But he also addressed the government. “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” (Mark 12:17)

I guess we can continue to stay silent. God’s given us that choice. But understand silence is not golden. It is never golden. It’s a tool of the enemy we willingly hand over to him. It’s easier that way.

And it will be our ruin. Just read the Bible and see for yourself.

Say Your Name

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Genesis 32

I love that, and am convicted by the fact that, before God would bless Jacob He made him say his name – DECEIVER. Jacob had lived his life as a deceiver. God wanted him to own up to it.

Sometimes I think we make it too easy for people we want to lead to the Lord, and perhaps we lead them into a false Christianity without meaning to. We tell them Jesus died to pay for our sins, that if we confess that we are sinners in need of the Savior, “He is faithful and just to forgive our sins…”

That’s all true. Hallelujah!

But is acknowledging our “sins” the same as owning up to them? We aren’t all adulterers, but some people are. We aren’t all liars, but some people do lie. We aren’t all thieves, but there are some who take things that don’t belong to them. We aren’t all narcissistic, but some people look at the world through a very self-centered lens.

If I simply have to ask God to forgive my sins, I don’t have to look inside my heart. I don’t have to confront the specific things I have done to anger and offend Him. I don’t have to look at the areas where I disobey and reject Him. It’s much easier to acknowledge that I, along with every other human being, have fallen short of God’s demands.

Which makes me recognize the fact that God didn’t ask Jacob to state his gender or his membership in the human race. He said: What is your name?

So what name is God asking you to declare? Cheat? Arrogant? Homosexual? Gossip? Angry? Unforgiving? Deceiver? You all know that list of names is long. You won’t identify as all of them. You will identify as some.

After Jacob identified himself as a deceiver, God changed his name to Israel, “You have struggled with God and with man and have prevailed.” (28b) He went from one who lied and cheated to get what he wanted, to someone who struggled between the evil within him and the God who wanted better for him – and Israel won! He later confessed that he was amazed that He had seen God face to face, and God spared him.

I challenge us all to take an honest inventory of our hearts’ condition. Hear God asking us to say our name so that He can change it into something God-honoring and beautiful.

Born in Sin

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Genesis 1-3

I have to confess that I have always had a bit of trouble understanding the whole “born in sin” thing. I wasn’t able to get past the fact that a newborn hasn’t had time to sin, yet is condemned because someone did sin thousands of years ago. I mean, I accepted that fact by faith. But I couldn’t understand it. (which is what faith is, right?)

I’ve started a new study recently, “Seamless,” by Angie Smith (Lifeway Press, 2018). She said something that turned on a lightbulb for me. She reminded me God created humans with a chance to obey Him, or not. They chose not. So Holy God had to separate Himself from disobedient them.

Since they could no longer live in fellowship with God, their children would be born out of fellowship with Him, they would be separated from Him because their parents were separated from God when they were born.

You can’t claim to be a natural born American if your parents were citizens of another country and you were born in that country.

“Born in sin” means to be born separated from God. Being separate from God is where sin is. Even a newborn’s heart is separated from God’s because Adam and Eve’s hearts were separated from God when they received the punishment for their sin in the Garden. No one, except Jesus, could ever be born in fellowship with God again.

But we don’t have to live out of fellowship! Our beautiful Savior gave His life so the gap can be bridged, the separation obliterated. Through Jesus’ work on the cross, and because of God’s love, mercy, and grace, we can have God Himself living within us!

But that fellowship doesn’t come with being born. It comes with being born again. We are “born in sin” but we don’t have to live there.

Martyred

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2 Corinthians 10

We wrestle not with flesh and blood, but against the powers of evil. Paul tells us the weapons God gives us are powerful for the demolition of strongholds. “We demolish arguments…” (vs 4b)

No one used those weapons better than Charlie Kirk. He wielded the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God, wearing the belt of truth as he talked to millions of young people on college campuses. He understood the fight wasn’t physical. He didn’t call for violence against people who disagreed. But he demolished his share of strongholds. He demolished arguments with simple, yet powerful truth.

What we learned this week is that the weapons of God don’t stop bullets. This young man was assassinated – yes, it’s assumed for his political views. But let’s not forget his political views were grounded on the truth of God’s Word. Charlie wasn’t afraid to make that abundantly clear.

Satan didn’t care if Charlie was a Republican. Satan cared that Charlie was a vocal Christian fighting, and winning, the war between truth and lies.

We Christians mourn the man, the father and husband, the Christian, the warrior. It’s hard to fathom that God allowed Charlie’s life on earth to end when we see so much more he could have done. But we aren’t God.

Charlie will be remembered as a martyr. A martyr is, according to the American Heritage Dictionary, “one who chooses to suffer death rather than renounce religious principles; one who makes great sacrifices or suffers much in order to further a belief, cause, or principle.” The truth is, Charlie knew the risks. He went willingly to Utah to further his belief, cause, and principles.

And, according to the Scriptures, Charlie has heard those precious words: “Well done, Charlie. Enter your reward.” Charlie’s life has just begun.

So the question is, how far am I willing to go to further my beliefs, cause, and principals? I believe Jesus is the only way to the Father. I believe without God’s saving grace on a repentant sinner, the end is an eternity separate from God with more pain than I or anyone can imagine. I believe the Bible is true from Genesis to Revelation, and apart from Scripture there is no truth.

Now what?

I’ve got some soul-searching to do. I thank God for the life and example of Charlie Kirk. I’ve followed his ministry for several years and as someone who is decades older than those Charlie ministered to, he has influenced my own way of thinking about certain things. But is a change in the way I think enough?

I pray that I, that we as fellow believers in Jesus, will carry on the fight with the same fervor and commitment to God as Charlie had. Satan took out one man. Let’s return fire with all of us wielding the weapons of God to carry on the fight against evil. Are you willing? Am I? The war isn’t over.

What’s It Worth?

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2 Corinthians 8

Paul is talking about supporting ministry with our finances, and out of grateful hearts. But were the Corinthians giving out of grateful hearts, or begrudgingly out of duty?

He uses Jesus as an example. But I think Paul’s words are too often misinterpreted. He tells us Jesus was rich but became poor so that we might become rich. Friend, Paul is not saying Jesus left gold streets, jewels, and mansions worth a lot of money to be a poor carpenter so we can have nice houses and fat bank accounts.

We have to ask ourselves what were the riches Jesus left? Perfection. No sin. No tears. The Presence of God, and the worship of angels. He left all of that so we can gain perfection, sinlessness, no tears, the never-ending Presence of God and the privilege of worshiping with the angels.. Once we understand that, can we ever give back too much?

Paul is talking about supporting ministry with our finances. But in using Jesus’ example he is telling us to go about that with the same attitude Jesus had when He gave to us. Don’t hold back.

What is our hearts’ attitude when we write that check? “If the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable…” (vs 9) It’s not the dollar amount. It’s the “why” we give.

If you say that since the dollar amount doesn’t matter so I’ll throw a few bucks in the plate and feel good about myself – you don’t get it.

If you sit and calculate your 10% to the penny and write your check thinking that’s all that’s required – you don’t get it, either.

What is the grace of God worth? Can you put a dollar amount on your salvation? If you think you can – you don’t get it.

Maybe you’ve never received it.