Category: Good Life Journal

Scripture:

1 Timothy 4:12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

Observation:

Paul challenges Timothy to live an exemplary life, even though his youth might be despised by others. Paul teaches that maturity and leadership do not require grey hairs but rather exemplary conduct.

Application:

People don’t expect much from young people. Honestly, young leaders are usually assumed to be hot-headed, over-privileged and under qualified people. For the most part, that is right. Therefore, knowing this, Paul calls Timothy to change the negative stigma of young leaders in the church culture. How? By preaching against it? No. By scolding those who do it? No. By boycotting the older and judgmental generation? No. Instead Paul says, prove them wrong by living an exemplary life in all areas. The best way to break the stigma is to live a life that proves the stigma wrong.

A few things…

-As I age as a leader, I’m not the youngest in the room anymore. I must not assume that those younger than me are more immature or less serious about the mission. I must allow a culture in which young leaders can grow and take the reigns in areas of ministry that require it.

-I must not assume that my age or experience equals maturity. It is easy to get lazy and trust in my experience instead of the power of the Holy Spirit. I must stay humble as I lead.

-My speech, conduct, love, faith and purity are precious. I must not be careless and allow these areas to slip. I am called to lead people to obey Christ in each of these areas. My leadership will be limited to my level of obedience in these areas.

Prayer:

Father I am grateful you gave me the chance to lead at a young age. Thank you for men who believed in me and invested in me when others blew me off. May I lead well and allow younger leaders to rise up and lead in the church for your glory. May I never be insecure of younger leaders but instead know when to pass the torch as Paul did.

Scripture:

1 Timothy 3:7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

Observation:

Paul gives Timothy a humbling list of qualifications for the office of elder. The final thing he says is that those who are outside of the family of God must think highly of him.

Application:

To serve as an elder in the local church is a humbling office. Paul calls it a noble task. It is not for the faint of heart, the weak, or the immature. It matters how an elder lives both in the public eye and in private. It also matters how an elder relates to believers and non-believers. His reputation and character is to be above reproach even to those who wouldn’t hold him to this standards.

A few things…

-Who I am alone or in a crowd should be the same.

-Who I am at church or in the world should be the same.

-What others think of me, furthermore, what others think I am capable of matters.

Prayer:

Today I make a recommitment to a life of integrity, even in the most private affairs of my life. I trust the forgiveness and grace of Jesus in the areas that don’t match. I ask for the power of the Holy Spirit to make me into the image of Christ in all aspects of my life.

 

Scripture:

1 Timothy 4:10
10 For 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.

Observation:

Paul is making it clear and setting forth the expectation that not all will last. This faith and pursuit of Christ and obedience to him is not easy. So many teachings and temptation will be before us to lead us from obedience. It’s work, and it’s hard at that. Encouragement and much more is needed.

Application:

Toil and strive stuck out to me in verse 10. These are two words that when I think about following Jesus I want to block out. If I’m honest I want to see my relationship with God as something That I want to work out and grow in, but not TOIL…..that sounds painful. Earlier it speaks of training. The training of the body is valuable but training in Godliness is of lasting value. Training takes dedication, toil, striving, pursuit, discipline, sweat, pain, at times tears. This should and must be true of my pursuit of Jesus. It’s not and that is my realization to repent.
-Every morning I wake, pray the Lord would put the Gospel before my heart and mind.
-Set disciplines in my life to train in Godliness
-Get an accountability partner that is SERIOUS about training and growing in Godliness.

Prayer:

Father, I pray that you would forgive me for not training and growing. Forgive me for not toiling and striving To be more like you. I need your help and I can’t do this on my own. Take me to your Word daily and let it be the light to the path you lead me. Give me faith rather than certainty.

Scripture:

1 Tim 2:4-5 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus

Observation:

There is one God. God desires all people to be saved. There is only one way to be saved and that is through Jesus Christ. To be saved a person needs to know the truth.

Application:

I recently traveled to Seattle. Seattle has a large homeless population. Seattle provides benefits to homeless people to the point that other cities now provide transportation to the homeless to send them to Seattle. There were a large number of people living on the streets and in tents on the sides of the roads. Some begged but most didn’t. They just sat on the sidewalk or in groups.

Sometimes they are dirty. Unbathed. Unshaven. Sometimes they have a dog and I asked myself “How can they afford to feed a dog?” I often found myself trying to avoid them as I walked down the sidewalks, looking past them as I walked by or walking on the other side of the street if I saw someone asking for money. One person I was with even said “Don’t give them money. It will just go to beer or drugs”.

God loves each person just as much as he loves you and me. God desires all and not just some. He didn’t say he only desires the rich or people that have jobs or live in homes. He desires all.

Does my reaction and my attitude toward these individuals match Jesus’ love for them? Does my attitude reflect a Christian attitude? I can’t give enough money to make them rich. What do they need the most? Money, love or the truth? How can I show my love for a group of people that most try to walk away from, shy away from, ignore or avoid?

I know I can’t reach everyone on a 5 day business trip. But sometimes God exposes us to things to help us see new perspectives, different areas of need. There are needs everywhere. We don’t have to travel to find people who are hurting. They may be in need of money, housing or just have things that need to get done that they can’t physically do. But the biggest need is knowing the truth.

Prayer:

Help me to identify opportunities in my life and in the people I meet to help spread your truth. Open my eyes to the people in my life that need you the most yet know you the least.

 

 

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!