Mission Faithwalk

                 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth . (II Timothy 2:15) This verse is daunting. Present myself as one approved? Approved ? The rest doesn’t get any better. I mean, the whole point in Genesis is that man tried to earn approval on his own merits. We tried to be “like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4) But then Jesus came, died, and rose again so we could live by faith. Paul taught that we were to live by faith. But in today’s passage, he seems to have gone back to the old ways, in which we had to struggle to live according to the impossible standard. One of the rules for correctly handling the word of truth is to keep the idea in context. This letter was written to Pastor Timothy. His job was teaching others. If you’re a carpenter, your job involves correctly handling wood. You have to know how to mani...

            Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.  (II Timothy 2:14) But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, (I Peter 3:15) He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. (II Peter 3:15) This is amusing, because Peter was known for foot-in-mouth disease and for his emotional outbursts, and Paul, while capable of emotional outbursts, was known for his high-brow argumentation. Yet in today’s verse, Paul warned Timothy not to quarrel about words (which might be s...

                 Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. (II Timothy 2:3-7) It doesn’t matter what you are, there will be inconveniences for the good of that thing that will get in the way of life. Soldiers, athletes, and farmers are great examples, but if you’re a student, an employee, a member of something, a dog owner, or a parent, you know the same sense of demands that require focus and self-denial. Connection with anyone or anything has strings attached, and we would be wise to consi...

                 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. (II Timothy 2:1-2)              If you read Scripture, you’ll notice a theme of education and discipline. It’s a pattern for the development of individuals, communities, and nations. It’s a theme some of us would prefer to ignore for one reason or another.  One reason is our history. We haven’t fared well with community. We assume it’s our fault, and it might be. But we have learned that we “run with scissors and don’t play well with others.” Sometimes, it’s that we’re doers. It’s easier to step in and just do it rather than teach someone else. It might be more convenient. Others may not step forward when they should and take the responsibility that i...

                 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:9-10)   “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’   But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. (Matthew 5:21-22) When Paul discussed love in 1 Corinthians 13, he listed many words that described what love does or doesn’t do. When he discussed love in Romans 13 (memory a...

                 Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished . (Proverbs 17:5) Mock: tease or laugh at in a scornful or contemptuous manner Mockery runs rampant in our society. Some would justify themselves with the notion that they don’t mock the poor . They mock stupid people who think to highly of themselves. They mock the “Kool-Aid” drinkers, the sheeple, the evil and idle rich…you know, Those folks. The ones who deserve to be mocked, shamed, ridiculed, isolated, relieved of their children, sterilized, forced to do what’s “right,” and perhaps locked away. Those aren’t the poor. Aren’t they? Are they not, in the eyes of their mockers, lacking the essential currency that would make them acceptable? If they are not the equals or the betters of those who mock them, are they not poorer, no matter what category of poverty the mockers might want to establish? And...