Author: Good Life Church

Scripture:

1 Tim. 1

3 I urged you … charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.

5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

Observation:

Paul is instructing Timothy not only to stay sound in his teaching, but to encourage others to stay sound, as well.
The unsound teaching will have the obvious effect of being wrong in doctrine, but it also has the not so obvious effect of being a huge distraction!
Using terms like “myths” and “endless” and “promoting speculation” sounds like Paul was predicting the internet!
There is no “stewardship of faith” when we involve ourselves with these things.

Application:

Paul gives us the solution to avoid this endless and fruitless distraction.
It is “our charge”.
I love this term. It’s a pursuit … an eager and dedicated pursuit.
There is no time for distractions!
We have been charged!
With what? … LOVE!
What could any of those other concerns have to do with love? Nothing!
This is how we can tell if we’re wandering down a distraction doctrine path:
Is it charged in love?
And, what’s more is, Paul helps us see what determines if love is the source of our action.
Are our actions issued from:
Pure heart?
Good conscience?
Sincere faith?

Am I acting from these three? Then I’m probably ok to take the next step of action.
Am I not acting from these three?
Then I’m probably wandering down a distracting path not sourced from love.

Prayer:

Thank you God again for your Word.
Help me remember and keep it.
Keep me from wandering down fruitless paths.
Show me who to love today.
In Jesus name,
Amen

 

Scripture:

“If then you have been raised with Christ…” Col 3:1a

Observation:

Powerful. Reflective. Full of implication to the Believer. Here is what I observe asking the guy in the mirror: Do I habitually ignore what follows?

Application:

Did you ever notice how many directive verbs Paul uses in his Letters? I think he uses a lot. I also think that I habitually run right over them, glossing over the directive to see descriptions or other words. Paul writes very well-I would say “cool.” I like reading Paul-relatively short, sweet, but also hard and blunt. His vocational training a long time ago was as a lawyer. There is an example to imitate in that Paul is blunt and gentle at the same time-but to be sure he isn’t wishy washy.

 I look at Colossians 3 and I see significant directives. In fact, if I restructured this chapter to an outline format I would certainly highlight and exhibit certain values by doing so. I have transferred to an electronic device for my Bible but past I would circle the action oriented directive verbs.

The whole of this chapter is predicated on the above statement: “If then you have been raised with Christ…” and then Paul follows with certain and specific conclusions: Seek the things that are above…; Set your minds…; Put to death therefore…; You must put them all away…; Put off the old self… (an ongoing work that looks assumed by Paul “if I have been raised with Christ”, I guess..); Put on the new self…; Put on then…; Let the peace of Christ rule in (my) heart…; Be thankful…; Let the Word of Christ dwell in (me) richly…And (finally) whatever I do…do everything in the Name…

 Verbs and verb derivatives; declarative and directional; implied or directly stated responsibility to attain or strive for-I have to pay attention.

I want to be a serious disciple. If this is my stated intention, then I must pay attention to what God is saying in His Word. One turn of phrase to look at and pay attention to are the “If/Then” statements: “If I am to do (something), then (this) is what follows…as active participation with the Holy Spirit in my Human Responsibility towards Sanctification—basically (without the flowery theological language) understand and acknowledge that I have to get to work. Outside works (Preach the Gospel, Feed the poor, Serve one another, Practice Hospitality) are easily recognized as obtainable works-I can easily “do” these things (in comparison). The harder “works” to engage in are certainly listed in Col 3—works that engage us to “put to death the old man” and “put on the new man.” While this happened (in a sense) at conversion (justification) the plain implication of the Scriptures is that this Work isn’t completed (sanctification-wise) and that I have to roll up my sleeves daily…

Prayer:

Lord God: I want to be a serious disciple. It is all I have ever wanted from the beginning. 45 years later this is still my stated desire, my longing cry. I have read Col 3 again and again over these years; I have put into place plans, actions, reflexes to engage. I have intently paid attention to some of these directives while in parallel with others. Am I despondent that I haven’t arrived? No, not at all, because I know that the journey, the process is inevitable as I daily mortify the old man. If I improve in my conduct and sanctification before You 1 degree at the end of my life I will know that You are pleased with my faithfulness. You, O Lord, are merciful and gracious towards me. I am and will always be grateful. AMEN.

Scripture:

Colossians 2:6-7 – And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

Observation:

Just like we become believers in Christ through faith by grace, we must continue to follow Jesus in the same manner. Paul tells the believers in Colosse, who are being disrupted by false teaching, to take root in Jesus and dig into him. We are to build our lives on Jesus as our foundation and when we do our faith grows strong and or lives are filled with thanks to God.

Application:

The very message Paul was giving to the Church at Colosse is so applicable for today. We are absolutely saved by the grace of God through faith in the redeeming work of Jesus on the cross, step 1. We must, I must continue to follow Jesus, daily steps. In other words, accepting Jesus and being saved is not a onetime get out of hell, get into heaven card. In order to follow Jesus, I must spend time with him in his word, in prayer, as the body serving others. As we walk with Jesus and have him as our rock, our faith will become rooted in the truth of his word. Then we can begin to approach things through the lens of the Gospel. Every day in my walk, I must remember and be thankful for the Gospel for not only saving me but allowing me to grow in Jesus.

Prayer:

Father,
Thank you for your grace in sending Jesus to the cross to pay for my sins so I can have a relationship with you. Let me have a desire to know you more, dig into you and grow my faith.

Scripture:

Colossians 1:13-14
“ He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

Observation:

In Colossians chapter 1 the author speaks to the identity of those who are Christ followers and gives God praise for the work of Jesus. Verse 13 speaks to the “transfer” that has occurred for those who are in Jesus. They have been moved from one kingdom into another. Their allegiance is no longer to the “domain of darkness” but instead, the work of Jesus has “transferred” them into the kingdom of God.

Application:

This chapter reminds me that my identity is rooted in Jesus. I still have my flesh that may desire the kingdom of darkness but my soul is redeemed, forgiven, and I belong to a better Kingdom. Today, I don’t want to live out of my old identity of bondage and darkness. I long to live in my true identity, within the Kingdom of God!

Prayer:

Thank You Jesus that you have transferred me into Your kingdom and that in you I am forgiven and redeemed! Help me today to walk in my true identity and glorify You, my King.

Scripture:

Philippians 3:13-14 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Observation:

We are called to remember the ultimate goal of a Christian and to live a life that is consistent with God’s calling. It does not matter where you have been. We cannot change that. We can only determine what direction we go starting now.

Application:

The decisions we make, make us. But bad decisions do not have to define us. Nor do past decisions have to influence what kind of decisions we make in the future. We can choose to make good decisions moving forward or bad decisions. It is up to us. Paul reminds us that we should be focused on what is ahead and not what has happened in the past.

Covey calls it the “end game”. With the end game in mind, the decisions we make today should move us toward the end game. Paul calls it the “upward call of God in Christ Jesus”. That is the goal. I am to keep my eyes on God and keep His goals in mind as I make my decisions. Yet, I often I take my eyes off the goal; off the prize. My focus is on the shiny object. Andy Stanley says it best when he said “Don’t trade what you want most for what you want in the moment.” I know what I want most but often get distracted and choose the path that distracts me from

What I want most is God’s will in my life. To do His work through me. I need to remember this. Keep making decisions with this prize and not letting the world’s distractions or living in the past keep me from obtaining all God has in store.

Prayer:

Thank you for being with me at all times. Thank you for providing your word and your son. Help me to understand your word and apply it to my life.

Scripture:

Philippians 4:2-3 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Observation:

A disagreement between two women in the church has gotten the attention of Paul. He encourages them to find unity. He also encourages the other church leaders to help them to find unity.

Application:

Unity is always being challenged. It isn’t natural for people to get along all the time. People get on each other’s nerves and have differing viewpoints, that at times, create disagreements that lead to issues and problems. A few things…

-Expect disagreements . They happen. It doesn’t mean that the sky is falling.
-Fight for unity not against each other. Value unity enough to have he hard conversations and do everything in my power and in prayer for unity to be modeled in my life.
-Remember that every believer has their name in the Book of Life. May our unity be driven by the fact we are in the same book in the end.

Prayer:

Unity is worth valuing and even fighting for. When disagreement arise, I will pray, plead and protect the church.

Scripture:

Phil 2

3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves

13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

14 Do all things without grumbling or questioning,

15 … in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.

20 I have no one like (Timothy) who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 

Observation:

Paul is writing to the church and encouraging them to be humble and to serve others by considering them “more significant” than themselves.

And this serving of others is to be done joyfully, not grumbling.

What’s more is, he acknowledges the people you will be serving are “twisted and crooked”.

The contrast in their lives, however, will allow them to shine like a light in darkness.

If this sounds like nearly impossible living, it’s because it is.

Even Paul, the greatest teacher and theologian and church planter, only had one person around him he can think of that lives like that… Timothy.

Application:

“Conceit” and “Grumbling” … Paul seems to have both ends of a life of serving others dealt with here.

Conceit- “Of course I’m serving others. I’m a better person than they are!”

Grumbling- “Why should I bother with this serving? I have may own problems to deal with!”

He also provides the solution to both these problems.

How can I be conceited when it is God who does the work in me?

And how can I grumble when it’s not even for myself or others that I serve, but it is “for His good pleasure”?

Even with a solution provided, is  this easy? Absolutely not!

And the difficulty of living a life like this is not a function of “today’s world” or “this generation”.

It has always been this way.

The “good ol’ days” are seen through a filter of sorted memories.

The fact is every generation is “twisted”, even the first generation after Jesus was on earth.

This lifestyle is humbling.

It is hard.

Paul, himself, only had one person who would be “genuinely concerned” for others welfare.

But it’s worth it!

To shine like a light … for His good pleasure.

Prayer:

Thank you again God for your Word.

Help me actually love it out.

You give me your will, now give me your work.

Help me see your joy and keep me from grumbling or conceit.

Help me see you in other.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Scripture:

Philippians 1:19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance,

Observation:

Paul addresses the church Philippi and makes a clear statement about how God’s will unfolds. God’s will unfolds by the prayers of His people and Spirit of Jesus.

Application:

There are usually two sides of the will of God debate. One is that God is gonna do what God is gonna do. I appreciate that viewpoint. God is God and he is on the throne. However, many in this camp don’t value or understand the responsibility we have to pray for God to move and how our prayers are Part of the process. In the other camp, God’s will becomes what our will is, if we pray enough. I appreciate the desire to move the heart of God, however, it assumes God doesn’t already have a plan and somehow needs our prayers to figure out his next step.

What we see in this passage is God’s will unfolds as we pray. He doesn’t require our prayers but chooses to include us. He invites us to join with him and to unite our hearts with His as He reigns over the Kingdom. What an honor it is to pray and see Him move. He wants to hear our prayers. Our prayers don’t change his character, they join His heart. A few things.

-Pray like it matters, because it does.
-Recognize that He has a will and seek it with your prayers, thoughts, words and actions.
-Pray for others, not just us. (Context)

Prayer:

My prayers matter. You use them. You don’t need them, but you ask me to pray and choose to allow them to be part of the unfolding of your will. I pray today for strength and deliverance for the saints across the world who are persecuted. I pray for unity in our divided nation. I pray for love to reign and for politics, policy and agendas to be revealed for what they are. I pray for my lost friends, family and neighbors. I pray for their salvation and for new life to be found in you. I pray for wisdom to lead well. I pray for a yearning for your word and for pure fellowship with your Holy Spirit. I pray for my day today as I invest in potential planters. May I lead and model is grace and truth. I pray for our Good Life Family and leadership. For a desire to grow and an effectiveness in mission. I pray for my family, for resolution to conflict, love to reign and joy to mark our day.

 

Scripture: (multiple references) “…but my heart stands in awe of your words. I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.” (v 161b-162) “Let my cry come before you, O Lord.” (v 169a) “…for I have chosen your precepts. I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight.” (v173b-174)

 

Observation:

Generally speaking Psalms gives us an example of how our minds, hearts and actions are to be oriented. This section of Ps 119 is no different-it focuses on embracing God’s Word as well as identifying our shortfalls and what should be our longings…

 

Application:

Hear my testimony, O God! That would have fit just find in this section. I read and I see that there are parallel cries going on: Hear me!! Save me!! I love your word!! I love your salvation!! And more—it is like a dart board: I can put a subject in each section and all of them are equal combining to make a whole.

 

What do I mean? In the few references above (and many more in the text) I think I see the writer in both “Faith” and what looks like “not-Faith”: He writes like one who is over and above totally sure what God is doing and has done. In the very next breath it is as if he is teetering on despair.

 

It is akin to what Jason preached this past Sunday: We see right now only in Faith. To be sure there are strong and substantial promises from our Merciful and Faithful God. But, to be completely candid, I don’t always live on the mountain top, there are frequent visits into the valley. The valley is where my faith battles, the mountain top is where I recharge. Valley trips are not failures, nor indicative of faithlessness. They are the testing of my heart’s treasure. While there is a chance that the Psalmist is declaring with exuberance “My heart stands in awe of your words, O God” I think there is as equal a chance that he is exhorting his heart to get back in line. In Ps 42 the Psalmist says to his soul “Why are you cast down O my soul? Hope again in God…”

 

There are moments where we all battle the dark; the Psalmist was no different. In fact I am of the conviction that God put the Psalms in place so I can have a real example of how to deal with life, thoughts, temptations, and emotions. This is where the saying “preach the Gospel to yourself” has meaning. It isn’t just to ramp up “feeling good”-it is to remember God and His Goodness towards me.

 

Prayer:

What do I treasure, O God? Are there things that I treasure more than You? Things that I put my affections upon in a greater way than I am towards You? How can I be evermore growing in my affections towards You? How can I treasure You more? Please support my heart when I am battling in the trenches of daily life. Please help me to cultivate Your Whisper in the midst of all the shouting-I want to hear You clearly. When I am in the valley, help me to remember You are not far and bring to my attention Your Word. You are my God! AMEN.

Scripture:

Psalm 119: 97

97 Oh how I love your law!
It is my meditation all the day.

Observation:

As the middle of this Psalm we see David valuing what in his time drew him close
To God, revealed his nature of sin, gave him wisdom in the world, and gave his access to the Father. His heart is revealed in verse 97.

Application:

Oh man I wish this verse were my words. As I read the rest of the verses there we so many words of Hope and adoration to God because of his law and the protection that God gives to his children whom obey. But I couldn’t get past this first verse as this isn’t true of me. Unfortunately, I sometimes view Gods commands as hindering. Though I know this isn’t true, I can live my life seeing what I can or cannot do and because of my sin nature feel like I’m missing out. This is such a lie of the enemy but still very real personally. I don’t meditate on the law and Word of God Day and night. I have to many other things I distract and consume myself with. This is sinful and wicked at its core. David was a man who got what it meant to be desperate and only desiring God, that is why his reliance was only on the God and his Word. I must be diligent to get in the Word not as a check it off task, but a task to meet with the Father.

Prayer:

Father help me pursue you. Lead me away from the things that pull me away from you and guide me to your presence. Forgive me father for choosing other things rather than time with you. I’m a sinner in need of your grace, please extend it.

Scripture:

Psalm 119:83 For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, yet I have not forgotten your statutes.

Observation:

In the times of pressure, when the heat is on, the psalmist continues to remember and obey God.

Application:

Following and obeying God is difficult enough in the good times. However, during the times of struggle, the dry times, following God can seem impossible. All believers go through dry times. It’s a combination of the outer environment and the inner man. Sometimes dry times are shaped by a lulling to sleep of the spiritual man, or a difficult and painful situation that drives a “wedge” between us and God. However, we can trust God in the dry times.

A few things…

-Dry times come. Anticipate it. Don’t be caught off guard when following and focusing on Jesus becomes harder.
-I can not control the outside influence, but I can control my disciplines. I am to blame if my disciplines slip. I must not blame everything and everyone else when I get dry. I am responsible to keep going to the well and to trust His Spirit to flood me everyday through the Word and my time in prayer and worship.
-Remembering is essential. When the pressures of the world crowd in, remember Him. For the psalmist, it is the law. For me, it is the gospel. No matter what I face, Jesus rose from the dead, and He is still alive today!

Prayer:

Father, thank you for being my drink in the desert. Thank you for sustaining me in the dry times. Thank you for the gospel!

 

Scripture:

Psalm 119:71 It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.

Observation:

Sometimes it takes suffering to realize we are dependent upon God. It is often only at our lowest when we finally look up. When we are high we often think we are the reason we got to this position. We rely on our self and not God for his wisdom.

Application:

I must trust God in all situations. Everything is His making. He knows best. It is His timing. It is for His purposes. I may not understand or ever even know His purpose. I am to call on Him in good times and bad. Remember that life is peaks and valleys. God is with us through all of the times. I must be thankful at all times. Reliant on Him at all times.

I must “turn to learn”. I must turn to God and study His statues. In school we study to learn. I must study God’s word to learn it. I must read, think on it, understand it and then apply His word.

Lastly, I should be thankful for the low times because it makes us focus on Him.

Prayer:

Thank you for being with me at all times. Thank you for providing your word and your son. Help me to understand your word and apply it to my life.

 

Scripture:

Psalm 119:25-40

25 … GIVE ME LIFE according to your word!
26 … your statutes!
27 … your precepts,
28 … your word!
29 … your law!
30 … your rules
32 … your commandments
33 … your statutes
34 … your law
35 … your commandments
37 … your ways.
39 … your rules are good.
40 I long for your precepts;
in your righteousness GIVE ME LIFE!

Observation:

The psalmist is obsessed about the Word of God.
He can not get enough of it.
Statutes, precepts, commands, laws, whatever God has to say, he wants to hear it all!
He craves it.
He yearns for it. All of it.
Why? It gives life!

Application:

Do I want life? Seems rhetorical, of course.
But really, am I really living if I’m disconnected from The Word?
Jesus says He is The Word.
And seeing this psalm this way, it makes sense when Jesus says He is also The Vine.
Apart from Him there is no life.
Apart from The Word I am not really living, I am dying.
And in my communication with God, what do I crave more?
For Him to hear my words?
Or for me to hear His words?
It is His word that gives life!
What’s more is, do I merely “read” His Word?
Or do I “long” for His Word?
It is His Word that gives life!

Prayer:

Father, give me life according to Your Word!
Help me keep it in my heart.
Help me long for it always.
Help me know your Word when I hear it or read it.
Help me share your Word when you give me the opportunity.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Scripture:

(multiple references) “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” (Heb 13:7) “Obey your leaders and submit to them for they are keeping watch over your souls as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning-for that would be of no advantage to you.” (Heb 13:17)

Observation:

Seems to me a pretty large part of the Letter to the Hebrews has to do with being responsible, recognizing responsibilities, and acting upon them-knowing that the ultimate responsibility for walking worthy of the Gospel is the face looking back in the mirror.

Application:

Never did much care for these two scripture references. God puts a lot of responsibility on the “leaders” and the guys like me, the “followers.”

Applying these principles in my life takes a lot of faith: I need to be perceptive and discerning; I need to hear what is being said by these folks (and hear what is NOT being said as well). I need to learn-not just from these kind of folks but from other sources as well so that I can train my senses to discern good from evil, wise from unwise, scriptural truth and facts from “good ideas” and foggy enthusiasms.

There is a problem with my reluctance to think this through: I am a leader. I am a leader of my household, of my wife, of my children. I am an example at work, at the local church, in my small group. I cannot escape it: I have responsibility-the kind of responsibility described in Hebrews 13 and elsewhere in the Bible. I may not be a pastor, a professional clergyman, but I have imputed responsibility on me by God-such responsibility that I need to pay attention to and embrace.

Do I have the attitude “don’t look at me, look at Jesus?” and try to avoid “walking the walk?” Doesn’t the scripture references above put a stopper on that attitude? Leaders are supposed to be looked at, evaluated (consider the outcome of their life…) and imitated if they are worthy of imitation. I love that: “worthy of imitation.” Doesn’t that make your teeth grind?

Facts are this aspect of the Gospel doesn’t get talked about much. It should though-if I am serious about following Jesus then I am (or should be) just as serious to be a serious disciple-and a serious model to imitate.

 Scripture describes Jesus as “setting His face like flint” as He approached Jerusalem and the Cross. What a picture for me to imitate!! I will set my face like flint as I embrace the Word of God and become an example of continuous improvement in walking worthy of the Gospel.

 Prayer:

Lord my God: Being a leader isn’t all it is cracked up to be at times. As a leader I am not always right; I am not always perfect; I fail many times and in many ways. Saying “I too, have feet of clay…” isn’t thorough enough; it seems shallow. I am aware of my shortcomings and my deficient ways before You. But-there is joy when one of those You gave me responsibility for shines like the noon sun! When I see and hear them not only say the Word of God but also see their conduct in the light of the Word of God. What joy!! What astronomical happiness! Is that how You feel? AMEN.

 

 Scripture:

Hebrews 12:2 – 3 – We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross disregarding the shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people, then you won’t become weary and give up.

Observation:

This part of the Hebrews is being written to encourage 1^st century Christians who are struggling to endure persecution. Focus on Jesus and what he did for us so we can have a new relationship with God. Christ was beaten, mocked, crucified and took on the sin of the whole world as the ultimate/perfect expression of faith to save us. Jesus endured it all and was resurrected to be at the right hand of the Father in heaven.

Application:

Too many times, I focus on the situation I have before me and not completely on Jesus. No matter what we are doing or trying to accomplish, we will grow weary and our efforts can stray if Jesus does not remain front and center. We must think of the great eternal joy awaiting us by being obedient to Jesus while here on earth temporarily. We can draw courage/strength in knowing that whatever trial is in front of us, Jesus followed God and paid full cost with his life for ours. Many believers in different parts of the world face persecution daily where life expectancy after baptism into the Christian faith is very short.        

Prayer:

Father,

Thank you for sending Jesus to endure the cross to pay full price for my sin. Help me to remain focused on Jesus and may your Spirit give me strength to persevere and not grow faint during times of trouble. Let me follow you no matter the cost.