S
- 1 Timothy 3:16, 4:15-16 (NIV): "Beyond all question, the mystery of
godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was
seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory. … Be diligent in
these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your
progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if
you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers."
O
- These words of chapter three are the Christmas Canticle … the singing of
heaven and nature, the advent of Jesus who is God. The words of chapter four help frame our
response to the Person who is Christmas … to his advent then, today and that
day which is sure to come. The Lord calls
us all to:
1. personal
diligence: this is not only to the activities of “ministry” but to the person
and mystery of Jesus.
2. complete
surrender: a whole-hearted and unreserved response day by day.
3. self-assessment:
all application of truth begins with self not with another - the Lord's intent
will be lost without ongoing 2X4ology (the log out of my own eye).
4. steady
perseverance: turning in not out, coming near and staying, giving our best even
when it’s pathetic, fierce personal loyalty, blameless not flawless.
A
- The New Living Translation renders 1 Timothy 4:15-16: "Give your
complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that
everyone will see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on your
teaching. Stay true to what is right, and God will save you and those who hear
you." Such a response to the
mystery, coming and teaching of Jesus will not only be "good to me"
but to "those who hear" me as well.
I want to be someone others not only hear (i.e. they're aware of the
sound) but listen to. I want to be a reason others believe in the truly
believable and only hope for our world.
I want to live out this relational and ongoing interface with him who is
life and to make him glad and to bring him glory. He is still looking to come into our world
person by person … even so come, Lord Jesus!
P
- Greatest Mystery, Greatest King, Only Hope for us and our world,
Please
come (again and again … unto dwelling) into the dark stable of my life and our
world and bring the radiant and irrepressible life and hope which are you.
Lord, I know that you've come to me … and to our world and I want to live out the response which never
interferes with the true light which is already shining and the life which is
really life. I am asking this in the
context of admitting my ongoing and desperate need of YOU … my life and our
world need you all the time not just in rare or challenging times, not just in
reflective and quiet times. Lord, O
Lord, in me and through me please increase the mystery and the message of your
person, love, power and open-hearted response to the whole world. Lord, let your unavoidably transforming
spirit touch, shape, change, grow and enable my little life to become all it
cannot be without you and all you intend for it to be because of you. Let heaven and nature sing in and through me.
Gloria
in excelsis Deo,
Steve
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