Daily Devotional For Thursday, July 11, 2024

Well, today is Thursday and you are almost to the weekend. Those who believe in evolution really an uphill battle to prove their point. For example, they want us to believe that something came out of nothing — no thing. Notta. Nothing. Second, they wants us to believe that order came out of chaos. I wish we could see that today. I find it amazing that at my house, order does not come out of chaos. Then why do I still have to dust, sleep and vacuum if order comes out of chaos? They want us to believe that we are evolving into something better than previous generations. Really? Then why is it when I look around it appears we are not evolving, but “de-volving?” And we see this in all sectors of life.

There are people out there who hate us as Christians. They see us as enemy #1 in politics, education, social media, government and etc. They attack us for simply being a Christian. John 1:5 says, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it” (NLT). Over the last 2,000 years many have tried: Rome, communists, Muslims, Jihadists, and etc. Jesus gave us a promise and here it is found in Matthew 17:18b, “I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (ESV). The church, Christians and Christianity is here until God takes us home or the rapture occurs. And even then, due to the 144,000 evangelical Jews sharing the Gospel during the 7 years of Tribulation, God will still have a remnant of His people saved and redeemed by the blood of Christ.

We do have a larger on our backs. Jesus told us we would be hunted down, tortured and even martyred for our faith in Him. Jesus even said this in Matthew 10:36, “And a person's enemies will be those of his own household” (ESV). What family has not been polarized and split over family member’s commitment to Christ? Jesus said this in Matthew 12:52-53: 

“From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or two in favor and three against. (53)  ‘Father will be divided against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law’” (NLT). 

So, what should be our response? The Apostle Paul gave some great advice to the young Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:25-26:

“And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, (25) correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, (26) and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will” (ESV).

I read one time this. When you must make a choice, to do nothing is to make a choice. The second is silence in the face of evil is affirmation. Finally, if you fail to respond to the evil you are confronted with, you will be increasingly overcome by that evil. The spiritual turmoil we are facing is real, and to pretend we don’t see it is to make that first choice. If we don’t confront it, our silence affirms it. 

If we don’t respond to it with a biblical worldview, it will increase. We must speak against evil when we see it. I understand we may face disapproval, rejection, or adversity. But the consequences for everyone will be far greater if we hide and do not share God’s truth. In Paul’s passage above, he uses the word “gently.” We are prone to insert out modern interpretation of that to mean weakness. The Greek New Testament word is [πραύ̈της, prautes].

Pastor and author John MacArthur writes this:

“Prautēs (gentleness) can also be rendered “meekness.” In the ancient Greek world the word was used of colts that were broken for riding. In such training, care must be taken to bring the animal’s will into submission to the rider without breaking its energetic and lively spirit. Contrary to the connotation that “meekness” often carries today, prautēs  has no relation to weakness but denotes power that is under willing control” (Source: John McArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, “2 Timothy,” p. 99).

The New Testament often describe Jesus as gentle or having gentlenessLook at:

• Matthew 11:29, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (ESV).
• Matthew 21:5, “Say to the daughter of Zion, ’Behold, Your king is coming to you, humble [πραύ̈της, prautes], and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden’” (ESV). 

If anyone could have wiped His enemies out with just a thought or a command, it was Jesus. Jesus said this in Matthew 26:53, “Do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?” (ESV). Instead, Jesus intentionally chose to submit to every ridicule, criticism, false accusation and unkind word and treatment. As His followers, we are to do the same intentionally and willingly. We have strong convictions but we are not never use physical or emotional force to come at our enemies. 

Again, I quote pastor and author John MacArthur:

“Jesus never defended Himself, but when they desecrated His Father’s Temple, He made a whip and beat them. Meekness says, “I’ll never defend myself, but I’ll die defending God.” Twice Jesus cleansed the Temple. He blasted the hypocrites. He condemned false leaders of Israel. He fearlessly uttered divine judgment upon people. And yet the Bible says He was meek. [For the Christian, therefore], meekness is power used only in the defense of God” (Source: John MacArthur, Kingdom Living Here And Now, p. 79).

Paul instructed the young Timothy  in 2 Timothy 2 to use “correcting” of his opponents. The Greek New Testament word is [παιδεύω, paideuo] and it means to instruct, educate, or give guidance. Because the objects of this instruction are those who teach false doctrine and live ungodly lives, this particular instruction is in the form of correction. And we are to do this void of self-righteousness. Why? Our obedience is based on humility and not pride. Our obedience is due to the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit. This is both true when we confront Christians teaching false doctrine and lost people who oppose us with their own opinions and ideologies. 

Paul said with this kind of gentle attitude it is the hope it would bring such people to repentance. That is always the motivation of a humble and compassionate heart. Even when those who are corrected are resentful of us and unrepentant, as some in Corinth were in regard to Paul, there is never a place in godly correction for personal animosity or judgmental self-righteousness.

The Greek New Testament word Paul uses for “repentance” is [ μετάνοια, metanoia]. It means more than just to feel sorry for being wrong. It means a genuine change of mind, change of heart, and change of direction. All genuine repentance is due to the grace of Jesus Christ. No person, no matter how sincere and determined, can truly repent and change his own sinful thoughts and ideas and correct his own sinful life. 

Only God can work that miracle in the heart. In the same way, we are able to love only “because [Christ] first loved us” (1 John 4:19), “because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Rom. 5:5). God works repentance in the willing heart of one who truly desires holiness. 

So this tells me several things and I would to share and then I will share some final points from pastor and author Chuck Swindoll”

• • First, Paul’s words to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:24-26 reminds us that a Christian and spiritual leader must be gentle, kind and nice. I have lost count the number of times I have seen church members at restaurants treating a server like that server was their slave. They were rude, cruel, harsh, and many times horrible tippers. How can we expect to be a witness when it seems we are mad at Jesus and we are letting the whole world know it?
  • “Chuck Swindoll says this passage reminds us to be ready, willing and able to pass on spiritual truth.” We can only do this by being students of the Word. We cannot pass on to others what the Holy Spirit through the inspiration of Scripture has passed on to us.
  • Chuck Swindoll says "a Christian is to be long suffering.” One of the fruits of the Spirit is patience. I see so many Christians who are so short-fused, almost waiting and looking for an opportunity to explode on someone (Source: Charles R. Swindoll, Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary, “1 & 2 Timothy & Titus,” p. 220).

Questions To Consider

1. When you are home in private and out in the public, are you a vessel of honor or dishonor to Jesus Christ in how you treat everyone?
2. Do you attempt to resolve quarrels or do perpetuate them? If things get heated, do you stay calm and gentle or do you get mad and erupt?
3. Do servers and clerks feel better being around you or wish they had never met you?
4. When you encounter a Christian who is teaching false doctrine as truth, do you confront them? If you do, how do you do it?
5. When anyone in the world mocks you for your faith in Christ, how do you treat them?

Scripture To Meditate On: Titus 3:1-2, “Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good. (2) They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone” (NLT).

Prayer To Pray: “Dear Jesus, help me to treat people the way I would want to be treated, especially if they are attacking me. It is so easy to get defensive and go on the attack. I want people who do not know You to repent and come to Christ because I model You in my life. Convict me to know Your Word so that I can give a defense of my faith and gently correct any misunderstanding or misinterpretation of Your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

I love you Southside!—Pastor Kelly