It’s Time for You To Act Fast!

And others save with fear…
—Jude 1:23

Have you ever known fellow believers who got caught up in sinful lifestyles that had the power to destroy their lives? How did it affect you when you saw them making those harmful decisions? I don’t know about you, but I find it heartbreaking when I see someone I love doing things that are self-destructive and harmful to his or her walk with God. Doesn’t it affect you this same way?

Jude tells us what our attitude should be toward fellow believers who get caught up in the world again. We must realize that these fellow believers are in grave danger of reaping the consequences of sin and that those consequences are very serious. Therefore, we must act decisively when we see this happen to someone we love.

In Jude 1:23, Jude tells us, “And others save with fear….” That word “save” is taken from the Greek word sodzo. In this particular verse, it is used in the present imperative tense, which means the Greek calls for immediate, fast, and continuous action. This is not a mild suggestion that Jude is making to his readers. This is a strong command to take action and to do it as fast as possible.

The word “fear” is from the Greek word phobos. In this particular case, it evokes a fear or a strong dose of respect for something that is life-threatening, dangerous, or alarming. Jude uses this word “fear” to let us know that believers who continue in sin place themselves in a very precarious, dangerous, and alarming situation. This is no game. Sin in the life of a believer is extremely serious. Therefore, Jude commands us to act immediately when we see a fellow brother or sister compromising his or her walk with the Lord.

With the full meaning of these Greek words, Jude 1:23 could be translated:

“Because of the alarmingly dangerous state that some believers are in, I urge you to take immediate and fast-acting measures to see them delivered and rescued. And if they don’t quickly respond, don’t stop! You need to keep up your sense of urgency until you are convinced that they are rescued from this precarious situation.…”

There is no doubt about it! This verse places a heavy responsibility on us to do whatever we can to bring this deceived person back to a place of safety. Jude speaks in a commanding tone of voice to let us know that we don’t have a choice in this matter. We must act fast, act deliberately, and be continuous and unending in our efforts until we are certain that these straying brothers and sisters are back in safe territory again.

So if you know a friend or loved one who is allowing serious sin to continue in his life, pray for him. Then go to him and express your concerns in love. Love that person enough to speak the truth to him. Act fast on his behalf, and do what you can to save him. Otherwise, he may eventually make mistakes that will bring disaster and destruction upon his life.

That’s why Jude commands us to take action right now. The possible consequences are too serious to ignore. We must do everything within our power to save and rescue believers caught in the snare of sin as quickly as possible.

My Prayer for Today

Lord, help me know exactly what to say and what to do when I see fellow brothers or sisters who are headed in a wrong spiritual direction. Give me Your heart, Your wisdom, and Your boldness to speak the words I need to speak. Help me love them enough to speak the truth to them. I realize the consequences of sin are great, so please help me do everything within my ability to see them rescued as soon as possible.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I confess that I am moved to action when I see fellow believers caught in sin. I pray and believe for their deliverance. I go to them in love to express my concerns to them. I love them enough to speak the truth. I act fast on their behalf and do what I can to save them. 

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Are there people in your life who are headed in a wrong spiritual direction? Who are those people? Have you spent time in prayer asking God for a real “turnaround” in their lives?

2. Have you taken the time to go to them so you can express your concerns? Or have you asked the Lord to give you ideas of how you can approach them in a non-threatening way so they will listen to you instead of tuning you out?

3. If you were in their situation, wouldn’t you want someone to care enough that they would come to you to express their concerns? If this is what you would hope others would do for you, don’t you think it is the least that you can do for someone else?

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
— 2 Timothy 3:16

When I was a small boy, every summer I attended the Vacation Bible School that was conducted at our church. I loved it so much! It was one of the highlights of my summertime. What wonderful memories I have of those times in my childhood! I’m so thankful that my parents loved me enough to make sure I took advantage of every opportunity to learn the Bible. That Vacation Bible School was a magnificent tool to help place God’s Word into the tender hearts of every child who participated each summer.

One of my favorite memories from Vacation Bible School was the moment when all of us children marched like soldiers into the main church auditorium and took our seats for the opening morning session each day. Once we were all in our places, the pastor stood in the pulpit, commanded us to stand, and led us in the morning Bible pledge. Every year at the beginning of each day of Vacation Bible School, we all lifted our voices and boldly proclaimed:

I pledge allegiance to the Bible, God’s Holy Word. I will make it a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path, and I will hide its words in my heart that I might not sin against God.

Since that time, I admit that I’ve had to regularly renew my commitment to make God’s Word the center of my life. Although I am a pastor, Christian educator, author of Christian books, and a visible Christian leader, I must conquer the same struggles that others face, including the temptation to get so busy that I unintentionally neglect the daily reading of my Bible. Time and again, I’ve spoken to my flesh, commanding it to get back in line, and I’ve deliberately renewed my commitment to make God’s Word the center of my existence.

I even find myself inwardly repeating the simple pledge I made as a child at Vacation Bible School. That pledge made such an impact on my soul as a child that I still repeat it as I once again commit myself to the daily reading of the Bible. The words of that pledge remain deep inside me and continue to impact me even to this day.

What about you? Have you made a commitment to God to read your Bible every day? Is this an area in which you’ve been on again, off again? Would you like to become consistent and regular in reading God’s Word? If you’ll allow the Holy Spirit to help you, you can win this victory in your life. And even if you unintentionally skip your reading of the Bible for a few days, don’t let the devil condemn you. Ask for forgiveness and get back on schedule.

The truth is, there is nothing more powerful than the Word of God! It has the answer to every question you will ever ask, and it contains the power to meet every need in your life. The Word promises that if you will obey it, it will produce health for your body. In essence, it is the answer to every human need.

Conversely, when you neglect God’s Word and fail to include it in your daily life, that neglect will eventually affect every part of your life. The regular absence of God’s Word from your life will jeopardize your faith, steal your joy, produce an intolerance of others, and create putrid attitudes that disgust not only God and others, but you as well! In fact, ignoring the daily reading of your Bible will affect your ability to be spiritually productive and eventually make you spiritually infertile.

Paul wrote, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). In the May 2 Gem of Sparkling Gems 1, I share extensive insight about the word “inspiration” in this verse. If you have not read it, I strongly encourage you to study those pages because I believe it will richly bless you. But today let’s look at the benefits of God’s Word that the apostle Paul listed in Second Timothy 3:16. Once you really understand what the Word of God does for you every day when you take time to read it, you will find yourself getting more and more passionate about protecting your Bible reading time!

Paul wrote that the Bible is “…profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Let’s look at each part of this verse so we can get the full benefit of what Paul was telling us. First, he stated that the Bible is “profitable for doctrine.” The word “profitable” is the Greek word opheilo. The meaning of this word includes the idea of something that is needful or obligatory, like a debt that is owed. It can be translated as the word indebted, and it refers to something that is mandatory, essential, or an absolute requirement. By using this word, Paul was telling us that God’s Word is not optional in our lives; it is mandatory, essential, and an absolute requirement for us.

Paul connected the word “profitable” to the word “doctrine,” which is the Greek word didaskalia, the word for doctrine used in the New Testament to denote those things that we affirm and believe to be true. Some Christians sneer at the mention of “doctrine,” thinking it to be stuffy or unimportant. But that kind of attitude reveals their ignorance regarding the importance of doctrine.

Doctrine is the foundation of what we believe. It impacts what we think. It affects our worldview. It determines what we believe is right and wrong. It guides us in life, determines our convictions and standards, and affects all of our actions and activities in life.

In short, we are the product of our doctrine. Therefore, it is mandatory, essential, obligatory, and an absolute requirement that our lives be based and built on the Bible and that we must see ourselves as indebted to it. It is also very important to point out that the word “profitable,” the Greek word opheilo, was originally a word used in connection with law. Just as laws must be obeyed and we are obligated to live by them, we as believers must live our lives with the Bible as our guidebook and our law for life, obeying it absolutely to the best of our ability. If we take this approach, the power of God’s Word will be released in our lives, causing us to profit in every realm of our existence!

Next, Paul wrote that the Word of God produces “reproof ” in our lives. The word “reproof ” in Greek is elegmos and is found nowhere else in the New Testament. In the Septuagint version of the Old Testament, the word elegmos is used for conviction. When God’s Word shines into our lives, its glorious and brilliant light is so strong that it exposes every dark area that remains in our souls and minds. As the light of the Word shines on our darkness and works in our hearts and minds, we are reproved, convicted, or censured by the Holy Spirit. As a result, we don’t remain in darkness! We are changed as our minds are renewed to think correctly. What a benefit the Word of God is to us!

Paul went on to write that the Word of God brings “correction” into our lives. But wait — isn’t the word “reproof ” that is mentioned above the same as “correction”? What is the difference between these two words?

The word “correction” is actually very different from the word “reproof.” One reason it doesn’t seem so is that “correction” is a poor translation of the Greek word epanorthosis. This word is very difficult to translate, but the following is a serious attempt to convey its meaning. The word epanorthosis is actually a Greek triple compound composed of the words epei, an, and orthos. When epei and an are compounded, the new word means whenever, at any moment, or at any time. The third Greek word in this compound is orthos, which means straight, erect, upright, or level.

So let’s see what this triple compound word epanorthosis — “correction” — means in Second Timothy 3:16, where Paul used it in connection with the power of the Bible. The apostle was declaring that whenever, wherever, at any moment, or at any time a person makes the decision to build his life on the Word of God — and to allow its light to shine into the deepest parts of his being to expose the dark areas that need to be changed — that Word will release the power required for the necessary change. God’s Word will lift that person, even if he has been knocked flat on his back in life, and will set him back up on his feet again. This “correction” that comes from God’s Word will cause him once again to stand erect and upright, regardless of how long he has been down and out. The Word of God will release so much power in that person’s life that it will put him back on level ground!

Once it has put that person back on his feet, the Word of God will then become his “instruction in righteousness.” The word “instruction” in Greek is paideia, from the word pais, which is the Greek word for a child. The word paideia used in this verse means to train a child. In New Testament times, it simply meant to educate a child or to give a child everything necessary to prepare him for life. Hence, this word simply refers to child training or the process of getting a child ready for life so afterward he can be sent out fully equipped and successfully live as he was taught and trained to do. It was believed by the ancients that such child training was essential for success in life.

The word “righteousness” is dikaiosune, from the root word dikaios, which is the Greek word for that which is right or just. Although this word has a wide range of meanings in the New Testament, the form dikaiosune in this verse refers to right living or just living, and it epitomizes those who live by a righteous standard that results in upright living. When used in connection with the word “instruction,” the Greek word paideia, it tells us that when God’s Word is taken into our hearts and applied to our lives, it fully equips us to successfully live by a higher standard that leads to upright, godly, clean living.

When you put all of these word meanings together, an interpretive translation of Second Timothy 3:16 could read:

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is a mandatory, essential, and absolute requirement for those things we affirm and believe to be true. It brings reproof, conviction, and censure into our lives. It can take anyone — including those who have been knocked flat on their backs in life — and it can set them back up on their feet again, regardless of how long they have been down and out. The Word of God will make them once again stand erect and upright. It will put them back on level ground, fully equipping them to successfully live life by a higher standard that leads to upright, godly, clean living.”

When you see all the benefits of God’s Word, it is amazing that you would ever skip a day of reading the Bible! There is no other book in the world like the Bible. It literally has the power to change your life and put you on a path for success.

As you start this new year, let me encourage you to renew your commitment to read your Bible every day. With all the benefits you’ve read about today, why would you not include God’s Word in your daily schedule? Yes, I know that life gets busy, but it should never get too busy to exclude this wonderful Book that has the power to put you back on your feet and keep you on level ground!

If you’ve been on again, off again in reading the Bible every day, this year is your opportunity to break this sporadic pattern and become consistent in reading God’s Word every day. The Holy Spirit is your Helper, so ask Him to help you develop a daily habit of reading the Bible. It would be a good idea to make plans to read the entire Bible this year. I promise you that by the time you’ve completed that goal, the power in God’s Word will have made a huge change in how you think, in how you behave, and in the way you see life. You’ll be a much better person because you decided to make God’s Word a central part of your existence.

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, I am amazed at the power of Your Word and what it can do in the life of anyone who will read it, believe it, and apply it to his or her life. Every answer I need for life is in the Bible, whether it be for healing, deliverance, marriage, children, health, business, or success. Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us the Word of God. Please forgive me for the times I’ve let it sit on my shelf instead of reading it, meditating on it, and incorporating it into my life. This year I ask You to help me break the pattern of being on again, off again in reading my Bible. I thank You that by Your grace, I will become a consistent reader and applier of God’s Word to every part of my life!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I read my Bible every day. I do not skip days, forgetting to read it. God’s words are the very center of my existence, and I draw my strength from what I read in my Bible every day. It shines its glorious light into every dark part of my soul and renews my thinking to what God thinks. I receive the conviction God’s Word brings to areas of my life that are wrong. It picks me up, sets me back up on my feet, and keeps me on level ground. The Word of God prepares and equips me with everything I need to live a successful and godly life in this world.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Do you have a habit of reading your Bible every day? If yes, do you really ponder the truths you are reading so you can apply them to your life?
2. If you were advising others about how to start reading their Bible every day, what advice would you give them? Do you have a specific plan to help you read through the Bible every year?
3. Can you think of ways that your life has been changed because of God’s Word affecting the way you think? Take a few minutes and write down ten ways that your life has been changed or strengthened as a result of making God’s Word a daily part of your life.

How to Remedy Spiritual Boredom in Your Life!

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
—James 1:22

Do you ever get bored with church or with your spiritual life? If you say, “Yes, I get bored with my spiritual life all the time,” I want to help you understand the root of that spiritual boredom.

There is one primary reason why people get spiritually bored. It is very simple: Knowledge without application eventually becomes boring and unfulfilling — every time.

If all you do is sit and listen, listen, and listen to the Word without ever taking steps to apply it to your life, you’ll soon reach a place where you’ve heard, heard, and heard so much of the Word that you are sick of hearing it! Instead of anticipating what you might receive from the Lord, you’ll think, Oh, no, another sermon!

But the problem isn’t the Word! God’s Word was meant to be acted on. So if you just sit and listen to more and more sermons, gathering more and more information but never acting on what you’ve heard, you’ll eventually become so oversaturated that you won’t want to hear any more!

If this describes you, it is likely that you are tired of hearing the same ol’ Word over and over again. You probably wish someone would come along to preach or teach you something that you’ve never heard before. You might even find yourself roaming from church to church, seeking someone or something to spice up your spiritual life. However, the problem is not the church, your pastor, or the kind of preaching you are hearing. The problem is you!

You are bored because you’re not doing the Word that you’ve heard preached. Let me tell you the truth: If you will simply do what you have already been told to do, you won’t have time to be bored!

Applying the Word you already know will necessitate that you have a serious prayer life. It will require great discipline; it will demand that you learn to crucify your flesh. In fact, walking in the kind of obedience that God expects of you will take every ounce of your focus. You’ll be so busy trying to obey what you’ve already heard preached that you’ll never have a moment to be bored!

This is why James 1:22 tells us: “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” Notice especially the words “hearers only” in the verse above. These words are taken from the Greek word akroates, which was used in classical Greek times to describe people who audited a class rather than taking it for credit.

In other words, these people didn’t attend the class to receive credit for the course. They were simply there to hear the lecture, think about what was taught, and then later discuss it with their friends. But they had no intention of actually applying what they heard!

In addition to being intellectually stimulating, these lectures could be quite entertaining. So these “hearers only” would roam from meeting to meeting because they loved special speakers and the excitement of hearing something they hadn’t heard before. Sometimes they followed their favorite speakers from city to city.

Although the “hearers only” had no intention of applying anything they heard, they loved to gather new information that made them look knowledgeable in the eyes of other people. It was their delight to attend meetings in order to be with the crowd, to have a good laugh, or simply to hear something new. But they never put any action to what they heard, because they were “hearers only.” They weren’t listening to the messages they heard to get credit for it, but simply to have a good time!

This means James 1:22 conveys this idea:

“Don’t be like those who attend meetings and listen to sermons for the sole purpose of being with the crowd or of gathering information that makes them look smart in other people’s eyes.…”

Since this is the background to the phrase “hearers only” used in James 1:22, we must take a good look at ourselves and ask:

• Am I serious about the Word of God and its application in my life?
• Or am I simply an “auditor” who has no intention of doing the Word?
• Am I doing something with the Word I’ve heard preached, or am I among those who hear the Word but do not act on what they have heard?
• Does God consider me to be a hearer or a doer of the Word?

The fact is, many people attend church regularly, go to special meetings, read books, listen to teaching tapes, and watch nonstop Christian television. They’ve seen a lot, heard a lot, and they really do know a lot — yet they do nothing with what they have heard. That’s why they eventually become bored with spiritual matters. They haven’t acted on what they’ve heard or put into practice the information they’ve gathered; therefore, they’ve become oversaturated and spiritually numb.

Don’t let this happen to you. Make the decision to be a “doer of the Word and not a hearer only.” Receive deep into your heart the truths you’ve heard preached over the years and let them begin to work in your life. You can be sure of this one thing: If you determine to obey every scriptural truth that’s ever been preached to you, you’ll never have time to become spiritually bored again!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, I ask You to help me become a doer of the Word and not a hearer only. Forgive me for the times I’ve heard the Word of God preached in power and even said “Amen” to the message, yet failed to walk out the truth I heard or to make it a part of my life. Starting today, I make the decision to be a doer of the Word of God. Holy Spirit, give me the strength and divine energy I need to take the Word I hear or read and put it into practice in my life!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I declare that I am a doer of the Word of God. I am among those who hear the Word and immediately apply it to their lives. I experience the power of God’s Spirit in my life because of my obedience to walk in what God has revealed to me.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Be honest! Have you been “spiritually bored” recently?

2. If Jesus were to ask you the reason for your boredom, what would you tell Him?

3. Make a list of steps you could take to eliminate spiritual boredom from your life.

Dealing with Wrong Attitudes the Right Way

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
—James 1:21

Today I would like to draw your attention to the words “lay apart” in the verse above. These words are taken from the Greek word apotithimi, a compound of the words apo and tithimi. The word apo means away, and the word tithimi means to place or to lay something down. When these two words are compounded together, it gives a picture of someone who is laying something down at the same time he is pushing it far away from himself. Therefore, this compound word means to lay something down and to push it far away and beyond reach.

An example would be a person who is about to sinfully indulge in eating too much pie but suddenly realizes what he is doing. So instead of diving into the extra piece of pie and eating it, he chooses instead to lay it back down on the table; then he deliberately shoves it away from himself lest he should overindulge one time too many! He lays it down, and he pushes it away. This is the idea of the word apotithimi James uses when he tells us to “lay apart” all filthiness in our lives. But there is another very important meaning to this word in the New Testament!

In New Testament times, the word apotithimi was frequently used to describe someone taking off his dirty clothes at the end of the day. How do you deal with your dirty clothes at the end of the day? You take them off and put them away in the clothes hamper! Now James uses this illustration to explain how you must deal with wrong attitudes and actions in your own life. Just as you wouldn’t go to bed in dirty clothes at night, neither should you go to bed with wrong attitudes. You must deal with them like an old set of filthy clothes. You have to decide to get rid of those bad attitudes!

James 1:21 could be interpreted to mean:

“You must make the choice to remove those filthy, stinking garments from your life, to permanently lay them down and then deliberately push them out of your range forever.…”

Also, it’s important to realize that dirty clothes don’t fall off your body by accident! To get them off, you have to push the buttons through the button holes, unzip the zipper, and slip the clothes off your arms and legs one piece at a time. Dirty clothes don’t automatically come off just because you realize they are dirty. They will come off only if you do something to remove them! This is exactly what James has in mind when he tells us to “lay apart” all filthiness from our lives.

When James says to “lay apart” all filthiness from our lives, he is telling us to first acknowledge what is wrong and then to take appropriate measures to remove those areas from our lives. If you are going to get free and stay free, it won’t happen by accident. You must start taking steps to remove those negative things from your life — to lay them down and push them so far away that you’ll never be able to reach them again!

Are you struggling with a sin today? Does a wrong attitude keep trying to conquer your life? If so, you must begin to look at that sin or wrong attitude like an old set of filthy clothes that isn’t worthy for you to wear anymore. Make the decision to step out of every destructive area of your life that has held you captive. Once you make that decision, the Holy Spirit will give you the power to carry it out!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, help me step out of the sins and bad attitudes that have held me captive for so long. Help me know the right steps to take to remove these destructive and unworthy things from my life. You want me to be free, and I desire to be free. With Your help, I know I can be permanently set free from these negative things, stepping out of them and pushing them so far away that I will never pick them up again!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

The Word of God reveals those areas in my life that are unclean and that need to change. Rather than act like a victim who cannot do anything about myself or my circumstance, today I start the process of acknowledging my sin and removing these attitudes, actions, and sins that are unworthy of the new creation I am today in Christ. I can be free, and I will be free. I will be ALL that God intended for me to be!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Do you recognize wrong attitudes or patterns of behavior in your life that you know need to change?

2. Are you willing to make the necessary adjustments to walk free from the sins, attitudes, habits, and bondages that have been clinging to you?

3. If your answer is yes, what steps do you need to take to start walking toward your freedom?

And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
— 2 Timothy 2:2

The holiday season is a time when family and friends gather to celebrate — but it is also a time when some experience profound loneliness, heaviness, depression, and feelings of isolation. This is especially true if a loved one has died or if a person has suffered the loss of a relationship in the previous year. You may have experienced some of these emotions yourself this past holiday season.

If people have deficiencies in their relationships, the holiday season has a way of bringing them face to face with that deficit. Frequently that deficit becomes visible because they are with family and friends with whom they have had past personality conflicts, struggles, or disagreements. As a result, holidays can be times when old wounds are reopened, and emotions that a person thought were dealt with and dead start screaming again. Personalities collide. Feelings are hurt. People get rubbed the wrong way. Regretful words are spoken. And what should have been a wonderful time together degenerates into another hurtful event.

It is a statistical fact that the holiday season is among the most emotionally charged times of the year. This is one reason why we who are mature in the Lord must be a source of peace in potentially difficult situations, and we must keep a watchful eye on those who struggle with personal loss and loneliness. We also need to stay sensitive to the Holy Spirit, who frequently uses this time of year to confront us with the status of our relationships — and awaken us to our need to improve them.

So let me ask you — as you gathered with family and friends over the holidays, did the Holy Spirit make you aware of relationships that needed your attention and improvement? Did you experience loneliness or become conscious of your need to reach out to make new friends in order to fill a void in your life? Do you presently feel satisfied with the condition of your relationships, or are you aware of your need to put forth extra effort in order to take them to a higher level?

Relationships are like savings accounts; you have to put something into them if you expect to get something out of them. If all you do is take, eventually you will drain that relationship, like a bank account that gets drained and has nothing left in it. For your relationships to remain healthy and vibrant, you need to make many deposits into them. As you invest in the people in your life, they will grow. But if you put nothing into a relationship and keep expecting to take from that other person, you will eventually come to a point where that relationship will be drained and nothing will be left for you to draw upon. That’s when you’ll regret that you didn’t make better choices and invest more into that relationship to make it the long-lasting blessing God intended it to be in both your lives.

But you don’t have to live with that kind of regret. If you’ll make the proper investments into your relationships today, it will pay off tomorrow. Even if you’ve made mistakes in past relationships and you are facing the consequences of that now, there is no need to despair. The Holy Spirit is present to restore your soul and help you start making right investments into the people God has brought into your life. You can enjoy healthy, fulfilling relationships to the very end of your life. It’s never too late to start!

When Timothy was presiding as senior pastor of the church of Ephesus, he came face to face with a deficit in his own relationships. Those leaders he thought were his friends — those he assumed would be with him to the end — were the very ones who walked out and deserted him during the worst moments of persecution he and his church had ever faced. Timothy thought he would be able to lean on these coworkers in the Kingdom during difficult and challenging times, yet they abandoned him in his hour of need.

I can’t even begin to imagine the feelings of hurt, loneliness, and isolation Timothy must have felt at that time. He was, in fact, so hurt by this experience that he wrote to the apostle Paul and asked for spiritual help. Paul wrote back to the younger minister, and the letter Paul wrote to him became the book of Second Timothy in the New Testament.

In Second Timothy 2:2, Paul wrote to his young disciple and told him, “…The things that thou has heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” The word “commit” in this verse is a powerful key to building strong and lasting relationships. It is the Greek word parathou, which is a compound of the words, para and thou, the latter being a form of the word tithemi. The word para means alongside and carries the idea of a close relationship. This word para emphatically pictures two or more people who stand side by side or are mentally, spiritually, or physically in close proximity to each other. The word thou, a form of the Greek word tithemi, means to place, to put, or to deposit. When the words para and tithemi are compounded into one word, the new word is parathou, which means to come closely alongside someone else in order to put, place, or deposit a part of oneself into that person.

Paul was telling Timothy that he couldn’t afford to sit in despair and loneliness over the loss and disappointment of close relationships. It was time for Timothy to start all over again and “commit” himself to a new group of people and friends. As difficult as it was for Timothy to do this, he had to push beyond his hurt, reach out to strengthen the relationships that remained, and choose new people to draw close to and build a future with. It wasn’t time for him to “tuck his tail and run.” It was time for him to parathou — to come closely alongside others in order to put, place, or deposit a part of himself into them.

So Paul instructed Timothy to commit himself to “faithful men.” Although it isn’t stated emphatically, it is implied that the group who disappointed Timothy were not faithful people. Perhaps they were talented, bright, and full of potential, but they lacked the most important quality in relationships: faithfulness. As Timothy got ready to start all over again, Paul counseled him, “This time, make sure you invest yourself into people who are faithful.” The good news was that all the unfaithful people were gone already. Only faithful people remained, making it easier for Timothy to select people he could depend on even in difficult times of challenge and pressure.

The same may be true in your life. If you have felt forsaken, abandoned, or disappointed by certain people you thought were trustworthy, at least you now know who is faithful, for they are the ones who are still standing alongside you. They may not shine as brilliantly as the others who have disappeared from your life, but at least you can easily identify the people who will stick with you through difficult times. Those who have faithfully stayed with you through all your difficulties are exactly the kind of people who are worthy of your personal investment into them.

You may be at a similar crossroads moment to Timothy’s. It may be time for you to shake off a spirit of despair that has tried to attach itself to you. If that describes your situation, you can decide today to stop wallowing in discouragement concerning things that are in the past and are unfixable. If you made a mistake, learn from it and let the Holy Spirit lead you into the wonderful life that lies directly ahead of you. As you reach out to build new and better relationships, any feelings of loneliness, heaviness, or depression will go.

This week, if you have become aware of a relationship that needs attention or if you have come face to face with mistakes you have made in past relationships, determine to learn from the experience and then get over it as quickly as possible so you can move forward in life. As you allow the Holy Spirit to help you, He will show you how to make solid investments into your new relationships. He’ll also guide you in making fresh deposits into the lives of those who have been close to you for many years.

So I encourage you to let this be your commitment: “I will do all I know to do to keep the relationships God has brought into my life healthy and long-lasting — starting today!”

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, I realize that I’ve made some mistakes in my relationships in the past. I know I got too busy at times and quit making deposits into the people I loved and needed. I expected them to perform for me, but I didn’t put enough good back into them, and now I’m experiencing the consequences both of my actions and my inaction. Please forgive me for not showing appreciation to the people who are so precious to me. I repent for misplacing my priorities. I ask You to please help me restore the relationships that are restorable and to strengthen the relationships that remain in my life right now. Help me make solid investments into the people who are close to me so I can be a real blessing to them and so these relationships will stay strong and close till the very end of my life.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

Today I shake off the spirit of despair that has tried to attach itself to me. I refuse to wallow in discouragement about things that are over and unfixable. I have repented and received forgiveness for my mistakes, so I will learn from them and let the Holy Spirit lead me into the wonderful future that lies directly ahead of me. Feelings of loneliness and isolation are lying emotions that must go in Jesus’ name! The Lord surrounds me with people who stick with me through times of difficulty. These faithful people are worthy of my time, attention, and personal investments. Therefore, I forget the past and its pain, and by faith in God I allow myself to build new relationships and to trust again.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. How has your first week of the new year been so far? As you gathered with family and friends, has the Holy Spirit made you aware of relationships that need your attention and improvement?
2. Have you experienced loneliness and become conscious of your need to reach out to and make new friends to fill the void that currently exists in your life? Have you felt satisfied with the condition of your relationships, or are you aware of your need to put forth extra effort in order to take your relationships to a higher level?
3. What do you need to do to make your relationships stronger? What is the Holy Spirit saying to your heart about the deposits you need to make into your present and even your future relationships so that those relationships will remain vibrant and long-lasting?

Do Not Grieve the Holy Spirit!

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
— Ephesians 4:30

Many years ago, when I first studied the word “grieve” in Ephesians 4:30, I ran to my bookshelf and pulled out my Greek New Testament to discover exactly what the word “grieve” meant. I found that this word was taken from the Greek word lupete. This surprised me, because the word lupete is from the word lupe, which denotes a pain or grief that can only be experienced between two people who deeply love each other.

This word lupe would normally be used to picture a husband or wife who has discovered his or her mate has been unfaithful. As a result of this unfaithfulness, the betrayed spouse is shocked, devastated, hurt, wounded, and grieved because of the pain that accompanies unfaithfulness.

This tells us, first of all, that the relationship that exists between us and the Holy Spirit is precious! The Holy Spirit is deeply in love with us. Just as someone in love thinks about, dreams of, and cherishes the one he loves, the Holy Spirit longs for us, thinks about us, desires to be close to us, and wants to reveal Himself to us.

But when we act like the world, talk like the world, behave like the world, and respond the same way the world does, we cause the Spirit of God to feel shock, hurt, and grief. You see, when we deliberately do what is wrong, we drag Him right into the mire of sin with us, because He lives in us and goes wherever we go.

The Holy Spirit convicted us of sin and brought us to Jesus; then He indwelt us, sanctified us, empowered us, and faithfully remains alongside to help us. So when we deliberately enter into sin, it grieves Him. Just as a husband or wife would feel who has just discovered that his or her spouse has committed adultery, the Holy Spirit is shocked when we dishonor His Presence in our lives.

One scholar has translated Ephesians 4:30 in the following way:

“Stop deeply wounding and causing such extreme emotional pain to the Spirit of God, by whom you have been sealed until the day of your redemption.”

We need to realize how precious the Holy Spirit is in our lives and honor Him by making sure we live holy and upright lives. If our behavior has been wrong, we should confess our sin and receive cleansing by the blood of Jesus so we can be restored to fellowship with the Spirit of God.

So before you get started with your daily duties today, stop and ask, “Holy Spirit, is there anything in my life that causes You grief? If there is, please reveal it to me so I can change.”

My Prayer for Today

Lord, I ask You to forgive me for allowing attitudes and actions in my life that are dishonoring to You. I want to please You more than ever before, so I ask You to help me recognize those negative things in my life that cause You pain. Help me to permanently walk free of them. From the depths of my heart, I thank You for all You have done inside me. Starting right now, I want to live every moment of my life with the intent to please You and to never cause You grief again.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

Starting today, I make the choice to walk away from everything in my life that is displeasing and desecrating to the Holy Spirit’s Presence within me. I walk away from every negative thought, word, and deed that has tried to operate in me and that is dishonoring to Him. I turn the other direction to walk a new walk and talk a new talk that shows respect and love for the Spirit of God who dwells inside me.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Are there any wrong attitudes or actions in your life that grieve the Holy Spirit? If so, write them down and then pray about them.

2. Are there any relationships in your life that have a negative effect on your relationship with the Lord?

3. For you to get right and stay right with God, what changes do you need to make in your life?

If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
— Luke 16:11

Was getting your finances in shape one of your New Year’s resolutions? Do you wish you had more money available to give to the Gospel? Do you long to be free of the credit-card debt that has a hold on your life? Do you allow debt to keep you from being obedient to God in the area of tithes and offerings?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, I want you to know you shouldn’t feel alone, because most of the world, including the Christian community, longs for more financial freedom and less debt.

The fact is, most of the world is in financial debt. Nations are in debt; families are in debt; churches are in debt. But you don’t have to fall into this pattern of slavery and bondage. You can be financially free if you really want freedom in this area. You just have to realize that to get free and stay free will require a firm commitment on your part to make some tough decisions regarding your spending habits.

Many people declare they want to be financially free. But when it’s time to say no to something they really want to buy and to wait until later when they can pay cash for it, their flesh cries out to have it now!

But that is when the true level of your commitment becomes evident. At that time, you must decide: Will you stick with your commitment to exercise discipline and self-control and thereby stay debt-free or avoid incurring new debt? Or will you succumb to the flesh and make that purchase using your credit card, thereby adding to your debt load? It may be difficult to stick with your commitment to do what it takes to become free of debt. But if you’ll exercise discipline and self-control in these types of decisions, afterward you’ll be happy you did when you’re on a solid foundation in your finances! And you’ll never stop thanking God for helping you do what you committed to do until you reached your goal — financial freedom for life!

For most people, credit is easy to get; all they need to do is apply for a credit card. It’s also easy to use! But it isn’t so easy to get free from the debt that builds up from using it. It’s all so convenient and so deceiving as the message is hurled at people, “Why delay purchasing what you want now when you can charge it, enjoy it, and pay for it later?” But the reality is that debt is a destroyer if not properly managed, as is evidenced by the nearly two million credit-card holders who declare bankruptcy each year in the United States. And one of the largest contributors to these bankruptcies is last-minute, emotional spending on credit cards.

So — do you really wish you had more available money to give to the Gospel or to meet the needs of others? Do you long to be free from the load of debt that has a hold on your life? Are you burdened by the struggle to pay your tithe?

If your answer is yes, it’s time to ask God for specific wisdom regarding what needs to be adjusted in your life. For instance, do you owe too much money to creditors because you didn’t exercise discipline and wait to make certain purchases? Do you carry a balance on your credit card and pay a large amount of monthly interest to your creditors?

If you were free of credit debt, you would have more money to give to the Gospel and to meet the needs of others. And if you weren’t paying so much interest to your creditors, it would be much easier for you to obey God with your tithes and offerings — which would remove any guilt you carry in your soul from feeling like you’re robbing Him and His Kingdom.

You probably don’t have a real picture of how much you’re paying in interest each month, so it would be good for you to take a look at your monthly bills, add up how much you’re paying in interest, and see how much money you’re throwing away each month on those interest payments. This situation of compounded interest is so serious in the United States that the total amount of finance charges paid annually is astronomical! At the time I am writing this book, consumer debt is completely out of control! European debt is growing at a similar pace. This means there are very few people in this world who are financially free.

But just because the rest of the world has fallen into this trap and so many people live like this doesn’t mean you have to remain trapped in the prison of debt. The truth is, how you handle your finances is a very spiritual issue. According to Luke 16:11, your finances — how you manage and respect them — is a test God uses to assess whether or not you are ready for higher levels of blessing, prosperity, responsibility, and authority. Jesus clearly taught that God watches how you manage your money and that this helps Him determine if you are ready for promotion. This is precisely what Jesus meant in Luke 16:11 when He said, “If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?”

Pay attention, because it is very important for you to understand what Jesus was telling us in this verse. In the Greek New Testament, the word “faithful” used in this verse is the word pistoi, which paints a picture of someone who is known to be faithful, responsible, conscientious, and trustworthy — in contrast to a person who is impetuous, thoughtless, rash, irresponsible, and therefore not trustworthy. This verse could be interpreted to mean: “If you are impetuous, thoughtless, rash, irresponsible, and untrustworthy with unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?”

The word “unrighteous” is from the Greek word adikia, which in this verse is used to convey the idea of something unspiritual, common, worldly, or something that belongs to the realm of human beings. The word “mammon” is the word mamonas, a very old Greek word that denotes money or wealth. When these words “unrighteous mammon” are used together as they are in this verse, it means common, worldly money. It refers to money with all of its buying power in this earthly sphere. In this verse it means, “If you are impetuous, thoughtless, rash, irresponsible, and untrustworthy with money and all of its buying power in this earthly realm, who will commit to your trust the TRUE riches?”

When Jesus refers to “true riches,” the word “true” is the Greek word alethinos, which means true, real, bona fide, genuine, indisputable, or authentic. You see, money seems so powerful in this earthly realm with all of its buying power, but it’s nothing compared to the power of God! Heavenly power and heavenly riches far surpass the power and authority of money. For those who have proven themselves faithful and reliable, God will upgrade the level of spiritual power and authority that operates through them. But according to Jesus’ words in Luke 16:11, before God upgrades this level of spiritual power and authority in a person’s life, first He watches to see how the person manages money. That’s the big test!

If you aren’t faithful, responsible, and trustworthy with money, which is the lowest form of power in this earthly realm, why would God promote you into greater levels of spiritual power, responsibility, and authority?

Your money — how you handle it, how you manage it, and what you do with it — is far more important than you’ve ever realized. It’s good that you want to get your finances in shape this year and get out of debt, but you need to know that what you do with your money is a big test. God is watching to see how you are managing it, and what you are doing with it. If He finds you faithful with money, He will know you can be trusted with real spiritual riches that are unequaled in power.

So determine to listen to the Spirit of God, use common sense, exercise self-control, and plan your purchases in advance. As you do, you will begin to live a life that becomes freer and freer of debt — until the day arrives when you are out from under that burden completely! It will take determination to do it, but if you really want to become debt-free and remain free, there is a way for you to achieve it!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, I am so thankful that You have spoken to my heart today about my finances. The Holy Spirit has been speaking to my heart about getting my finances into better shape, and I now see how crucial it is that I pass this very important test. I want You to trust me with promotion to higher levels of responsibility, authority, and spiritual power. Therefore, I ask You to help me prove myself trustworthy by demonstrating my readiness for promotion by the way I handle my finances. Thank You for granting me divine wisdom, strategies, and strength to help me stay the course until I am finally debt-free!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I listen to the Spirit of God. I have the mind of Christ, and I walk in divine wisdom concerning finances in my life. I will exercise self-control, and I am disciplined in all things. I plan my purchases in advance and practice restraint so I can live a debt-free life. I am determined to remain free with the Holy Spirit’s help. I make the decision to get my finances in order. Therefore, I diligently manage my money, and I spend it with prudence. As a result, I pass this test that is so important in the eyes of God.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Do you know how much money you are spending on interest every month? Have you ever taken a look at all your credit cards, lines of credit, and other forms of debt to see how much money you are “throwing away” each month that could be used in other ways if you were not in debt?
2. Do you pay your tithe on your income? Are you able to support other ministries as the Holy Spirit leads you, or does your debt burden keep you from being the blessing you really want to be?
3. What specific steps come to mind that you could start taking today to get on the path that leads to financial freedom? Write those steps down, and then continue to add to the list as God gives you wisdom. Trust Him to help you develop a “getting out of debt” plan that works as you focus on reaching this all-important goal this year. Then determine to stick to the plan!

How Often Should We Pray?

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.
—Ephesians 6:18

How is your prayer life? Is prayer a central and significant part of your life, or is it something you only do when you are with other believers? Is prayer a daily discipline for you, or do you mainly pray when you get in trouble? Do you pray when you are home alone, or do you find that you pray and worship the Lord only when you come to church and are in the presence of other worshiping and praying people?

To pray regularly requires discipline. Unfortunately, most people are “on-again, off-again” when it comes to prayer. They are faithful for a while, but then they fall out of prayer because they are too tired to get up early, or they become distracted by other things.

But how often are we supposed to pray? Ephesians 6:18 gives us the answer! It says, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”

The word “always” is taken from the Greek phrase en panti kairo. The word en would be better translated at. The word panti means each and every. You could say that this word panti is an all-encompassing word that embraces everything, including the smallest and most minute of details. The last word in this Greek phrase is the word kairo, the Greek word for times or seasons. When all three of these words are used together in one phrase (en panti kairo) as in Ephesians 6:18, they could be more accurately translated at each and every occasion.

Ephesians 6:18 conveys this idea:

“Pray anytime there’s an opportunity — no matter where you are or what you’re doing. Use every occasion, every season, every possible moment to pray….”

This clearly tells us that prayer is not optional for the Christian who is serious about his or her spiritual life. According to this scripture, believers are to make prayer a top priority. Yet, unfortunately, prayer is largely disregarded by the average Christian today.

If prayer isn’t a priority in your life right now, why not make it a priority starting today? You might say, “But I don’t have time to pray.” You have time to do whatever you really want to do. If it’s truly in your heart to pray, you can find the time. And if your schedule is as busy as you think it is, take Ephesians 6:18 to heart. Grab any available time you can find, and make it your prayer time. Why not start this day out right? Make a quality decision to make prayer your first order of business!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, I ask You to help me become consistent in prayer. I admit that other things have distracted me from being in Your Presence, but I ask You to forgive me for this and to give me the strength to say no to those things that keep pulling me away from time in prayer. Thank You for helping me to make this a high priority in my life. I know that with Your help, I can learn to discipline myself to pray. Thank You for helping me get started on the right path today!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

With God’s help, I have the power to say no to the distractions that keep trying to steal my time with God. Prayer is a top priority in my life; therefore, I am consistent and habitual in my prayer time. Nothing is a higher priority than the time I spend every day with God. From this moment onward, I will be as faithful as can be when it comes to this issue of prayer!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Have you been “on-again, off-again” in your prayer life? What keeps distracting you from being consistent in your prayer life?

2. What type of event in your life consistently jolts you out of prayerlessness and into a time of praying?

3. What changes do you need to make in your life or environment to assure that your prayer life becomes disciplined and consistent?

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
— Hebrews 12:11

In yesterday’s Sparkling Gem, I encouraged you to be faithful to your commitment to lose weight this year. Today I want to take it one step further and exhort you to stick with your commitment to start exercising!

If one of your New Year’s resolutions was to begin an exercise program, I want to ask you:

• Have you begun to exercise regularly as you pledged to do in this new year?
• Do you find that you are already making excuses for not getting started?
• Are you already saying, “Tomorrow I’ll get started,” but tomorrow keeps getting further and further away? Do you find yourself already procrastinating in this area?
• The Lord is watching as you read this, so you might as well be honest about it. How are you doing at keeping this new commitment so far this year?

It is day four of this new year. If you’re still on track with your commitment to regularly exercise, well done! If you’re already faltering in that commitment after just four days, you need help getting started and maintaining that heartfelt commitment to the Lord.

•  

You may tell yourself, Well, I’ll start tomorrow. But the world is filled with people who put things off again and again! Are you going to let that be your story this year as well? Are you going to take your place among world-class procrastinators who never do what they promise about getting in shape and who therefore deteriorate physically year by year because they won’t take care of themselves? Remember, you need to stay strong physically not just for your own sake, but to be able to finish your spiritual race strong for Him!

So let me ask you: If you haven’t done anything yet to prove that you’re really serious about starting an exercise program, what are you going to do now to get back on track with your original commitment?

Many years ago, Denise and I decided we would start exercising regularly. Instead of purchasing Christmas gifts for one another as we normally did each year, we decided to put our money together to buy a computerized treadmill that could read blood pressure, heartbeat, and even tell us how many calories we were burning as we huffed and puffed each morning during our exercise regimen. But we felt that a treadmill was not enough, so we also purchased a stationary bicycle to be a part of our exercise equipment. The treadmill and bicycle were top-notch and cost a lot of money. Denise also wanted to work on her circulation, so we added a mini-trampoline to our collection of home equipment so she could jump up and down every morning to increase her blood circulation.

At first, we were faithful — walking, bicycling, and jumping every morning. But after a while, it got more and more difficult to get on that treadmill, bicycle, and mini-trampoline. Soon I found myself using only the treadmill — and for fewer and fewer minutes each day. It wasn’t long until all that equipment became silent pieces of unused machinery in our Moscow apartment.

One day I was sitting in my easy chair, thinking about how I needed to exercise, when I looked over at the treadmill and realized it had become a platform for boxes! Clothes on hangers were now hanging from the handlebars we used to hold on to so tightly as we briskly walked! I turned to the exercise bike just behind the comfortable chair where I was sitting. The seat we once sat on while we exercised was now piled high with stacks of study books. The mini-trampoline that Denise previously jumped on each morning to get her blood circulating was sitting upright on its side against the wall, collecting dust.

As I looked at it all from my big comfortable chair where I was sitting, I remembered how noble our intentions were when we spent the money to purchase all that equipment. But Denise and I had fallen into the same trap so many people fall into when they start exercising. The biggest part of our commitment was spending money to buy the equipment, but we had not been committed enough to consistently get on the equipment and exercise. Our good intentions were not enough. The only way we would ever take control of our flesh and submit it to this discipline of exercise was if we were committed and determined to do it, regardless of the cost.

I pondered all the exercise equipment Denise and I had purchased and how much I despised exercise, despite the fact that I so wanted to be in better physical shape. Then the Holy Spirit brought Hebrews 12:11,12 to my mind, and I began to feel very uncomfortable because it brought such conviction to my heart! The passage says, “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyful, but grievous; nevertheless it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness to them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore, lift up the hands that hang down, and the feeble knees.”

Although this passage is actually talking about the chastening of the Lord, the fact remains that the principle is applicable to the subject of exercise or any form of discipline. The word “chastening” in verse 11 is actually the Greek word paideia, which is taken from the Greek word pais, the word for a child. However, when it becomes the word paideia, it refers to child-rearing; child discipline; or the process of transforming an undisciplined child into a disciplined child. Eventually it became a word that referred to all forms of discipline. Therefore, it could refer to budgetary discipline, mental discipline, spiritual discipline, or physical discipline, such as exercise. Therefore, the verse actually could be translated, “Now no discipline for the present seemeth joyful.…”

Notice this verse says no discipline for the “present” seems joyful. The word “present” in Greek is the word paron, which literally means at this very moment. Let’s talk about this word before we proceed any further in the study of this verse.

Isn’t it true that when you’re trying to teach a child discipline, this is often the moment when wills collide and that innocent-looking little child can put up the fight of a lifetime! Isn’t it amazing to see how strongly a child can resist your instructions! At that moment, the conflict between parent and child may seem unending, but the truth is, it is fleeting and temporary. As tough as it can be to win the battle of wills and teach a child who’s in authority, it is necessary for the parent to endure that moment in order to establish who’s in charge and teach that child the need to obey and submit to parental authority.

However, this enduring of unpleasant moments isn’t only true of dealing with children; it can be applied to any area of flesh where discipline is needed. For instance, flesh despises and resists financial discipline because it has to say no to things it wants to purchase. Flesh hates dietary discipline because it has to push away the plate when it wants to overeat. And flesh loathes the physical discipline of exercise because it doesn’t want to be subjected to the “hardness” of such rigorous activity. It abhors the inconvenience of getting out of bed early, walking down the hallway to the exercise equipment, and feeling forced to do something physical. Flesh doesn’t want anyone forcing discipline on it. It’s like a child who must be taught to obey!

So as you begin the exercise program you pledged to do as a part of your New Year’s resolutions, know in advance that when it’s time to start exercising, your flesh will probably rant, rave, scream, resist, and recall everything you could be doing at that moment instead of exercising. It will try to escape by reminding you of other things that you need to do, people you need to call, other places you need to be, things you need to fix, and so on. The pain of discipline isn’t attractive to the flesh, so it may look for a way out of that momentary discomfort.

This is exactly why Hebrews 12:11 goes on to say, “…No chastening for the present seemeth joyous.…” The word “seemeth” is the Greek word dokeo, and in this verse, it could be translated as feels. The word “joyful” is the Greek word chara, and it means enjoyable, pleasant, or joyful in this context. Thus, the verse could be translated, “No discipline feels pleasant or enjoyable at the moment it is happening.…”

This verse goes on to say that, far from enjoyable, discipline at first feels “grievous.” In Greek, the word “grievous” is lupe, which depicts something painful, sorrowful, or something that is filled with anguish, torment, or agony. What a description of what I felt every time I walked to my own treadmill! My flesh did everything it could to resist it — and at times, forcing myself to get on that machine was pure agony! However, if I wanted to get in shape, I had to speak to my flesh and tell it to obey, whether it wanted to or not!

I have a suggestion for those moments when you fantasize about physical development and weight loss that requires no effort — or on those mornings when your flesh tries to escape exercise. It would be good for you to have a photograph placed in a visible place, such as on your refrigerator or the mirror you use each morning, that reminds you of what you’d like to look like as a result of dieting and exercising. It may be painful to get through the process of achieving that goal or vision, but the fruit of experiencing your desired outcome is worth it all!

That’s why the remainder of the verse says, “…Nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peace- able fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” The fruit of discipline and exercise is available to anyone who is willing to pay the price to obtain it. If you and I will be willing to endure the momentary pain, anguish, agony, and inconvenience of regularly exercising, it will pay off big time when you begin to look sharper and actually feel physically stronger.

Hebrews 12:11 could be interpreted:

“No discipline feels pleasant or enjoyable at the time it is happening. But later on, it produces long-awaited righteous fruit in the lives of those who are willing to undergo the discipline required to attain it.”

So when it’s time for you to head to the gym or get on your home exercise equipment, expect your flesh to put up a fight and look for an escape. But just determine beforehand that you’re going to steadfastly subdue and conquer that fleshly “pull” to give up on your commitment. You have to let the flesh know that it is your servant and you are the boss!

There is a price to pay for any success. You must decide how far you are willing to go to win the victory in the physical realm. What price are you willing to pay to look better and finish your race strong?

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

 

Father, I made a commitment to begin an exercise program. It is my will to keep this promise that I made both to myself and to You. I have been convicted for a long time that I need to take better care of myself, to get into good physical shape, and to honor this body that is the temple of the Holy Spirit. I thank You for the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit who will help me take charge of my flesh in order to carry out this commitment. I receive Your grace and mercies that are new every morning to help me to exercise control over my flesh. I yield to Your quickening power that will help me maintain this position of victory. Thank You for strengthening me to remain steadfast in this area of my life, each day from this day forward.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I am in charge of my flesh and my flesh is not in charge of me. It has ruled and dominated me long enough! So starting today, with God’s help, I am taking charge and submitting my fleshly desires to the sanctifying power of the Spirit of God. My body is His temple, and I will treat it with respect. I will care for it; I will discipline and exercise it. I will do everything I can to make sure it looks good, feels strong, and is equipped to live a long and healthy life. God has a lot for me to do in this world! Therefore, I will get my body in shape so I can run this race and have a long and blessed life with a physical body that is free from the adverse effects of physical inactivity and lack of discipline.

 

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. If one of your New Year’s resolutions was to start exercising this year, how are you doing so far? Are you on track with your exercise program, or are you already losing ground in this commitment you made to yourself and to the Lord?
2. What are you going to do to change your present course of action? What is your exercise program? Exactly what kind of plan have you developed to get moving toward your goal? Can you articulate what you want to achieve and the specific goals you’ve set for yourself, as well as the plan to attain them?
3. If you have struggled in the past with self-discipline in this area of your life, is there someone who can exercise with you or at least check in with you every day so you can be held accountable in your new exercise regimen? Who can you bring into the process to help you stay on track in this way?

Isn’t it Time for You to Hit the Rewind Button?

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
— 2 Timothy 1:6

Have you ever experienced the delivering and rescuing power of God? I’m talking about those moments when your situation looks completely hopeless — but suddenly God’s amazing grace intervenes and your situation is miraculously changed! Can you think of moments like this in your past?

It’s amazing that when we are confronted with a new challenge, we often fail to remember God’s faithfulness in the past. Our perspective gets blurry because of the problems we are currently facing, and we forget that we’ve gone through similar or worse circumstances before. The looming mountain of problems before us looks so big that we momentarily fail to remember all the other mountains we’ve already faced and overcome with the help of God.

When Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy, the younger man was facing the biggest mountain of his life. Nero had become the emperor of the Roman Empire. Because of his tyrannical rule, believers were being persecuted and were even dying for their faith. In the midst of all the panic, Timothy was tempted to fear for his life and his future. He must have wondered, Is God going to be faithful to me in this terrible hour?

So in Second Timothy 1:5, Paul tells Timothy, “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice, and I am persuaded that in thee also.” Paul wanted to remind Timothy about something very important!

God’s faithfulness was a part of Timothy’s family heritage. His grandmother trusted the Lord —and the Lord had never failed her or let her down. His mother trusted the Lord — and the Lord had never failed her or let her down either. Because Timothy was dealing with great stress and difficulty, Paul took the opportunity to remind him that just as God had never failed his grandmother or mother, neither would He abandon Timothy in his difficult hour.

Then Paul told him, “…I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands” (2 Timothy 1:6). I want you to particularly focus on the phrase, “I put thee in remembrance.” It is taken from the Greek word anamimnesko, a compound of the words ana and mimnesko. Pay close attention, because this is very important! The word ana means again or to repeat something. The second part of the word mimnesko means to be reminded of something, such as memories.

When these two words are joined together as in this verse, it means to regather or to recollect memories. The little prefix ana carries the idea of replaying these memories over and over again in your mind, the way you would hit the rewind button on your video player so you can back up and watch one part of a movie over and over again.

This means there are some memories we should never forget! For example, we should constantly hit the rewind button in our minds and “replay” the times that God has been faithful to us in the past — delivering us, healing us, and rescuing us time and time again. We should “replay” those scenes in our minds until we never forget His faithfulness to us!

You could translate Second Timothy 1:6 in the following way:

“I am putting you in memory of all these things, so that by your remembering them, you might stir up the gift of God that is in you….”

Paul reminds Timothy (and us) to take our eyes off these times of trouble or the present crisis and to remember God’s delivering and rescuing power in the past. If we really looked at our past, we’d find that we have faced other moments more severe than the one we’re facing right now — and God never failed us or let us down. In fact, He delivered us and turned those situations around!

Don’t ever forget what God has already done for you, for those memories will stir you up and encourage you to face your present dilemma with faith. Just as God has always been faithful to you in the past, He will be faithful to you right now.

Never forget how:

• God has healed you.
• God has delivered you.
• God has saved you.
• God has guided and directed you.
• God has brought you through difficult trials.
• God has provided for you during hard financial times.
• God has protected you from the snare of the enemy.

These kinds of memories are powerful and will stir up your faith today!

So the next time the devil tells you there is no way you’ll survive what you’re facing, take the time to get alone with the Lord. Then hit the rewind button, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you regather and recollect all those past events when God came through for you! As you replay those memories over and over in your mind, your faith will rise to a new level of confidence. You’ll be able to look your problems right in the face and say, “God’s record with me has always been faithfulness, and I know He’ll be faithful to me now as well!”

My Prayer for Today

Lord, You have always been faithful. I thank You that even in my present situation, You are going to be faithful again. Please help me recall all the times in the past when You delivered and rescued me from other situations that also looked hopeless. Thank You for helping me keep those awesome experiences alive and fresh in my mind and heart. I thank You for always being faithful to me!  

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I confess that God has never failed me or let me down. He has always delivered me from difficult times, and He will rescue and deliver me now as well. Today I will dwell on those past moments when God did for me what everyone thought was impossible! Just as He intervened on my behalf in the past, He will intervene on my behalf again! I will not succumb to fear, doubt, or failure. With God’s help, I will conquer what the enemy meant for my downfall and defeat!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. As you think about God’s faithfulness in your life, how does it affect the way you perceive the problems you are dealing with right now?

2. What are some of the seemingly impossible situations you faced in the past that God delivered you from?

3. What steps can you take to trust God more fully to deliver you from your present situation as He has done for you in the past?