Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 5

Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek. v8-10

Jesus was given a responsibility by God the Father and although the responsibility was an enormous one, one that all of us can never truly appreciate, Jesus willingly accepted His responsibility and obeyed.  He could have prevented His death on the cross but He did not.  Robert Lewis from Men's Fraternity teaches us that men (as opposed to women) have distinct responsibilities per scripture and from God - this site posts a good summary.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God full of love, gentleness, compassion, patience, mercy, etc....for me specifically.  I desperately need You Jesus.  I am full of anger and rage!  Please forgive me Jesus!  Thank You for the many, many blessings You provide and for Your love and patience with me - I need it and then some!  Please forgive me for me anger and rage and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me be obedient and accept responsibility for the roles You put me in.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength, comfort and freedom from pain.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

Hebrews 4

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. v15

We all need someone who can understand and empathize with us and our experiences...good and bad.  This is a core basis of any relationship.  This is one of the aspects of Jesus Christ that makes it so easy to be in relationship with Him...He relates to all of our experiences and we can tell Him everything.  He knows everything about us anyway...sin and all.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome and incredible God...I know You know everything about me, including my sin...and You came to die for me anyway!  How awesome and gracious are You.  You are full of gentleness, patience, compassion, mercy, etc.  I am so deeply grateful for all that You are and all that You have done and continue to do for me.  I am blessed well beyond what I deserve.  I am quick to anger, and slow to listen, selfish, etc.  Yet You love me....thank You Jesus!  Please forgive me for such sin and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me overcome such sin.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me come to You daily and deepen my relationship with You.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength, comfort and freedom from pain.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.

Hebrews 4

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. v12-13

The Bible is more than a book - it is God and God is the Bible.  The Bible is all powerful - it can penetrate more than my mind - it can transform my heart and life.  It also reveals to me my sin and my need for Jesus Christ.   I must also understand that God knows all - specifically my sin - He knew everything about my sin even before I was born.  This last point is made in several other places in the Bible:

Psalm 19
Daniel 2
Matthew 10
Luke 8, 12

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God and Your Word is Great - I know that You are the Word and the Word is You.  I am blessed to have Your Word so that I can come to You and read and reflect on Your message for me - I desperately need You in my life because I am sinful and broken.  I am quick to anger and slow to listen.  I am harsh with my thoughts and words.  I often do not work as if I am working for You.  I gossip.  Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome and turn from such sin.  Help me love You with all of my heart soul mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do. Help me grow in my faith. Help me stay near to You and Your Word.  Help me not only read and know the Word but help me DO the Word - do what it says.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength, comfort and freedom from pain.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

Hebrews 4

Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience. v11

God wants us to focus on His greatness, His holiness, on how special he is.  The Sabbath exists for this purpose (and other purposes).  We are to worship Him and focus on His greatness, etc.  

My Prayer: Lord, You are great and Your works are great.  You are deserving of rest and created the Sabbath for this purpose.  You also gave us the Sabbath so that we can rest and so that we can glorify You - because You are worthy of our worship.  We need to worship You because of who You are for us.  You died on the cross for us...for me specifically.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such an act.  I am still very much quick to anger and slow to listen.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me keep the Sabbath holy.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength, comfort, and freedom from pain.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

Hebrews 3

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. v12-13

Encouragement of one another is key to warding off sin and unbelief.  Encouragement that God is real, that He is great, that He loves you, and that you can trust and belief in Christ as your Lord and Savior. Our encouragement should be daily and the implication is that we are to seek encouragement from God daily, not just from one another.  See also Proverbs 8.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God full of love, compassion, gentleness, mercy, etc. for me...this is amazing because You know everything about me, including my sin and brokenness. Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I am lazy and selfish.  Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength. Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Please help me seek You out daily and encourage others in my life.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength, comfort and freedom from pain and discomfort.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

Hebrews 2

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. v14-15

God came for us...for me specifically, because we are slaves to our sin and slaves to our death without Him.  We need cleansing.  So we need Him...desperately.  So "God sent His one and only son".

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. John 3:16-18

My Prayer: Lord Jesus...I need You and I need nothing else...You are my savior and without You, I have nothing.  I am so desperately in love with You...that You would do all that You have done and continue to do for me.  I am so deeply thankful precisely because I am not deserving of Your love.  I am broken...but I have been whole by You.  Please forgive me Jesus for my anger, rage, lust, etc.  Help me overcome and turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me truly understand who You are and what You have done for me.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa comfort, strength and freedom from pain.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.

Philemon 1

So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. v17

Paul requests that Onesimus be set free as a slave of Philemon (reference here) but Paul puts Philemon in the driver's seat and and he trusts Philemon's judgement.  This is similar about God in that He commands us to follow Him but we have free will.  God wants us to truly love Him and for this to occur we must be willing partners in this relationship.


Also, today's reading gives me new insight into parenting - while we may issue commands to our children, our children have free will and a healthy relationship with our children must be based on love.  As Zach turns 13 years old this September, I am increasingly allowing him to exercise his own judgement on many matters as it is important for him to become more independent and practice making decisions himself (including suffering the consequences of such decisions).

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God full of love, compassion, patience, gentleness, etc. for me...even though I am not deserving.  You also give me free will which shows that You do trust in me and that You desire for me to follow You - willingly.  There are consequences for not following You and I know that You are just.  I am not deserving of such a God as I am disobedient and selfish.  For example, I have lust in my heart and this is sinful.  Please forgive me!  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Thank You for Your love and mercy as I desperately need it!  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me willingly follow You.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength, comfort, and freedom from pain.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.     

But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.

Titus 3

But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. v9

Although Paul's intent here was to write about the self-righteous Jewish leaders who would argue and focus on the law for the sake of being right.  However, I think this verse can be equally applied towards anyone who focuses their energies on being right and arguing with others to pump themselves up.  I am sometimes guilty of such a sin.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You are so full of grace and mercy even though I am not deserving.  Thank You Jesus!  Please forgive me for my self-righteousness.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength. Give Lisa strength, comfort and freedom from pain.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.

Titus 3

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone. v1-2

Being gentle requires me to be pure (not harsh) of heart and in actions.  I must have patience, compassion, etc. and also to be quick to listen and slow to anger.  I often struggle with these things.  I often struggle with rulers and authorities in my life - work as an example.  I need help in all of these areas.

See also James 1, 1 Timothy 2, Romans 13, Hebrews 13, 1 Timothy 6.

My Prayer: Lord You are an awesome God full of patience and gentleness for me, even though many times I am not worth such patience or gentleness. You pour out Your mercy on me even though I am not deserving - thank You Jesus.  I need You desperately in my life as I am broken and sinful.  Very often I am not gentle nor patient.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me invite more of You into my heart and all areas of my life.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength, comfort, and freedom from pain.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him.

Titus 1

They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. v16

James also speaks of the danger of hypocrisy:

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.  James 1:22-25

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God full of love and compassion. You know that I often do not do what the Word says, yet You forgive me when I request it and You love me no less than the day I was born.  You are a truly a great God full of love and compassion for me even though I am not deserving.  Thank You Jesus!  Please forgive me for my hypocrisy, for my lust, my selfishness, etc.  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me do what the Word says.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength, comfort and freedom from pain.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness—in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie,

Titus 1

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— in the hope of eternal life,which God, who does not lie...v1-2

In his greeting to Titus, Paul refers to God and writes that God does not lie...in contrast to every human being who has lied at one point or another in their life.  I am reminded of one of my favorite verses:

For no word from God will ever fail. Luke 1:37

My Prayer: Lord what an awesome God You are...You make promises that You always keep and I can always count on what You say to be Truth...the only Truth that exists under the heavens and the earth.  I am thankful for You and Your Word.  You provide this to me - Thank You Jesus!  I am not worthy of such a gift!  I am selfish and I have harsh thoughts in my head.  Please forgive me!  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me rely soley on You.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength, comfort and freedom from pain.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.

2 Timothy 4

The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. v18

There is indeed a battle for my soul, fought by God and the forces of evil.  This battle is being waged not only for my soul, but also for the souls of those in my care - in my household - Lisa, Zach and Dustin.

We have been told many times by Paul, James, and others that we will face trials, suffering, persecution, evil...so we must be prepared.

See Ephesians 6, Deuteronomy 20:3-4

Lord Jesus, Give me strength to fight and win this battle - leaning on you.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You ARE incredible in all that You are and all that You do.  You bless me beyond what I deserve - You are gentle, compassionate, patient, etc....for me.  I am not worth such love and care.  I continue to think harsh thoughts and sometimes act on these harsh thoughts.  Thank You that You are so gentle, compassionate, patient, etc. with me but please forgive me!  Help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Protect me from evil. Give Lisa strength, comfort, and freedom from pain.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. v16-17

Paul is saying that Scripture is God and by implication from God.  Paul also writes that the Bible is from God here.  The author of Hebrews also says that the Word of God is alive and active.  And the Word of God is prepared for us so that we be equipped to glorify Him because that is why we exist.

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God and You exist and are alive as You have before time began and You will after time is over.  You created all things and You are in all things.  You control everything and You are gentle, compassionate, caring, patient, etc.  Thank You for such love and blessing but I am not worth such love and blessing.  I am selfish, in my thoughts but also in my actions.  Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome such sin and help me turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa comfort, strength, and freedom from pain.  Praise that she is home and feeling better.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer. Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Praise that You were able to bring Will and Eunice here safely and praise for our church family, friends and neighbors.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents,ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

2 Timothy 3

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents,ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. v1-5

We must live with fear and love of the Lord because He is all powerful, all knowing, and He IS coming back.  We must be ready.

See Matthew 25 here.  We must live with the end in mind seeking heavenly treasures...not earthly ones.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God full of love and compassion for me...yet You are knowing everything about me, including my brokenness and sin.  I neglect You yet You still love me.  Thank You Jesus but please forgive me for my neglect of You Jesus.  Help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me live with the end in mind.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength, comfort, and freedom from pain.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Heal her today and bring her home to her house.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

2 Timothy 2

Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. v23-26

What comes out of our mouth is a sign of what is in our heart so if we are quarreling, we have a heart issue.  Additionally, quarreling is not Godly per Paul in his words to Timothy.  

See also

• Ephesians 4 
• James 3 

My Prayer: Lord what an awesome God You are that You created language that we can communicate in sophisticated ways - writing, songs, movies, speaking, etc.  How awesome are You that provide all of this and You do it for Your glory!  You have gifted me with words - sometimes I use it for Your glory but sometimes I don't but instead am harsh with my words.  Thank You for blessing me with such gifts, but please forgive me if I fail to use them for Your glory!  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me glorify You by using words to encourage and bring others to You.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength, comfort, and freedom from pain.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner.

2 Timothy 1

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. v6-8

God gifts us all spiritual gifts - see also 1 Corinthians 12.  God calls us to use these gifts to the best of our ability for His glory.  In Timothy's case, his gift is teaching and proclaiming the gospel.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I know You have given me the gift of teaching and it something that blesses me...yet I sometimes get lazy about using this and other gifts.  Forgive me Jesus!  I am not worth the blessings You provide - I am broken and sinful.  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Thank You for Your grace and compassion and mercy.  I am constant need of such things and You provide - Thank You Jesus!  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me fan into flame those gifts You have entrusted with me.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa comfort, strength, and freedom from pain.  Please heal and cure Lisa of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

1 Timothy 6

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. v10

Paul is warning Timothy against false teachers and those who use the name God for financial gain.  Of course this is sinful!  Additionally, Paul also warns us to not root our contentment in money:

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. v17-90

Contentment, peace, and security come from God alone - help me be a good steward of money and not hold on to it tightly.

My Prayer: God You are an awesome God full of love, compassion, understanding, mercy - all of the fruits of the Spirit...for me!  You also protect and You heal and for these things I am grateful Jesus!  However, I need You most desperately to forgive me of my sins...my lust, my anger, my worry, my impatience, etc.  Help me turn from sins and towards You Jesus.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me be a good steward of the money You have entrusted with me.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa comfort, strength, and freedom from pain.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing.

1 Timothy 6

If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. v3-4

All understanding - wisdom, knowledge, etc - comes from Jesus Christ.  We cannot claim to have wisdom and knowledge without also claiming that it comes from God alone - otherwise we are incorrectly attributing such understanding to Christ. The second part of these verses is also important...if we make false claims we are not only conceited but foolish!  We must attribute our understanding to Christ!

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

My Prayer: Lord You are an awesome God and the source of all things.  You have given people understanding, knowledge, wisdom, etc. and these have been great blessings to me and others who are able to use such gifts for Your glory - hopefully.  Thank You Jesus.  Yet I know I sometimes use such understanding for my own glory or I lean too heavily or entirely on my own understanding - and this is sinful.  Please forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me lean ONLY on You and Your word.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength, comfort, and freedom from pain.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered.

1 Timothy 6

All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. v1

Paul has stated similar commands in Ephesians 6.  It is also written about in Psalm 51, and 1 Peter 2.  This squares of course with Jesus' commandment that we are to love others as Jesus loves us...this those in positions of authority over us.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are...You have blessed me abundantly...just as You promised!  I am not worth such abundance.  I am selfish, among my many sins!  Thank You that I am not slave to my sins but that You offer me forgiveness and a way out of my sin.  Please do forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me respect those in authority over me.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa comfort, strength and freedom from pain.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.

1 Timothy 5

The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.  v24-25

Paul encourages Timothy to remain pure and the words above talk to how Timothy should be mindful of humility...that no sin and no good deed goes unnoticed by God and that we cannot escape judgement.  The implied message is also one of humility...that our focus should not be on pleasing others but God...too often we chase earthly approval vs pleasing God.  

Related passages:
Luke 8:17
1 Corinthians 4:5
Daniel 2:21-22
Colossians 3:12
Philippians 2:3-4
Luke 18:14
Acts 20:24 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, creator of all things, above all things, before all time and after all time.  There is no God like You.  You are the one true God.  You know everything about me, and You chose me even before I was born, knowing everything about my sin and brokenness.  You have a plan for me and I know it is great.  Yet I too often lack trust and I worry in my heart, etc.  Thank You for dealing with me gently, with patience and compassion.  I am not worth Your love and blessing Jesus!  Please forgive me for my worry.  Help me overcome my sin and turn towards You instead.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer!  Praise God for how You have worked to reduce the tumor Jesus.  You are a great God - thank You!  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

1 Timothy 5

The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. v17

I have previously posted about church leadership here.  It is sinful to grumble and complain about anything and Paul admonishes us here with the implication that is it even worse to grumble and complain about church leadership.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You have led Lisa and myself to great churches where I have grown tremendously in You and You in me...places where we have developed powerful relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ...those who have supported us, loved us and encouraged us greatly.  What a blessing.  I am not worth such love and blessing Jesus.  Yet You not only blessed me in the past You continue to be an active loving God blessing me now.  Thank You Jesus.  Yet I continue to grumble and complain.  Please forgive Jesus and help me overcome my sin and turn towards You Jesus.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me avoid grumbling and complaining about anything, particularly church leadership.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa comfort, strength, and freedom from pain.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

1 Timothy 5

Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. v8

Paul wants us to care for others, in particular widows and elders.  In this verse he is talking specifically for relatives who are older - my mother in my case and Lisa in the case of Zach.  

This is one of the ten commandments:

Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. Exodus 20:12

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, full of love, compassion, gentleness - ALL of the fruits of the Spirit.  You are patient with me and You honor me I know.  Yet I am weak and disobedient and I have not always honored my own mom or dad or other family members.  Thank You Jesus for Your gentleness in dealing with me but please forgive me!  Help me overcome my sin and turn towards You instead.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith. Help me honor my family by serving them.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.