e-mail 9/29/06

Today as I began to study I remembered a favorite verse from 2 Timothy 2:15, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman who needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of God."

Recently I posed a question to family, friends, and neighbors about whether or not she/he would put something on their Christmas Cards that favored an anti-Christian religion. One of my neighbors sent me a short note and said I should not be concerned about the Muslim's and their religion, that I should do what Christ did and just love them. (This is a half truth statement - yes, I should love them.) Someone else responded to me with the question, "Is your faith so weak that it would not allow this, what does it matter?"

I have had a lot of time to think about these answers given to me and how God would perceive them. What would He think about them? Should it bother us as Christians that non-Christian things bombard our homes every day and we say nothing? Do we just consider the times we live in and accept that we are free to believe whatever we choose?

My neighbor is in a cult religion and I honestly did not expect more than to plant a seed with her. I want so badly to have dialogue with her and the door has not yet opened for me to talk directly with her. I could push my way in unannounced or I can wait until the Holy Spirit lets me know that the time is now. Until then, I wait, I smile, I share flowers and use every opportunity but I also STUDY.

In the previous verses above 2:15, Paul says to Timothy, "This is a faithful saying:For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him,If we endure, We shall also reign with Him,If we deny Him, He also will deny us,If we are faithless, He remains faithful;He cannot deny Himself."

Paul then admonishes Timothy to "remind them (Believers) of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers (but) to be diligent to present yourself approved unto God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth."

Studying God's Word is so very important. There are so many books at Christian book stores that offer helps but nothing is as good as studying straight from the Bible. An easier yet I believe, correct translation is the New King James Version. There are others but if we are not careful we can read something that is merely man's opinion and accept it as fact when it may not be. I am first to admit that I do not know everything in the Bible. I sometimes do not understand what we have read and I have a terrible time remembering the address of verses. But every time I open my Bible I see something new or something stands out that ministers to my spirit for that day.

Paul told Timothy to be diligent, to study so that he would be an approved worker to God...not that he might find favor with man but to God. We are to know the Word so we will not be ashamed before God.

One of my favorite songs by "Mercy Me" is titled "I Can Only Imagine" This song can bring me to tears when I think of that glorious yet awesome day when I am going to stand before my Heavenly Father and give account of myself and my time as a Christian. Am I going to fall on my face and weep because my neighbors are lost and I could do nothing for them but pray? Am I going to be embarrassed because I tell God, "Sorry but I got so caught up in something on television that I could not spend some quality time with You or in studying Your Word. or "Sorry Lord, that football game was just to good to turn off and then it was late and I had to go to bed because I have to get up early tomorrow to go to work". Am I going to have to watch Jesus weep like He did over Jerusalem because I let Him down by not giving my best when He gave His all. Is this when Jesus will wipe away my tears? In 2 Timothy 3:2, Paul tells Timothy that "perilous times will come; for men will be lovers of themselves."

I have endured much in my lifetime like most everyone I know. Trials in this life are not easy. No one is immune from problems. But God is faithful even when our faith is weak. Paul reminded Timothy in the verses above that "if we are faithless, He remains faithful". But we have a responsibility and that is to be His witness and we cannot be a good witness unless we humbly and honestly seek God by prayer and studying His word.

2 Timothy is full of truths that we need to hear. Read the book as if you received this letter from Paul to you, Hear Paul say to you, "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering (patience) and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers (who say what they want to hear); and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you, be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry". The apostle Paul taught Timothy to

Share God's Love,
Peggy