Day 302: Philemon 1:1-25

“He is no longer like a slave to you. He is more than a slave, for he is a beloved brother, especially to me. Now he will mean much more to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.” - Philemon‬ ‭1:16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“He is more” is the phrase that really spoke to me this morning. At this time in the first century, it was unheard of for a slave (or a woman) to be considered equal to all other men. Though institutional slavery would continue for centuries after Paul wrote this letter, the groundwork was being laid for the abolition of all those who were owned.

It is actually hard for us to appreciate this, but the vital change has to start in our homes in order for it to reach the top (legislation). It is our job as Christians to set the tone for morality with our faithfulness, day in and day out.

In our previous readings, we saw verses like Galatians 3:28 and Colossians 3:11. In these bold statements, all classification based on “cultural value” goes away.

Unfortunately, our world still has a long way to go, but it starts with how we treat people today, especially in our homes.

“I will lead a life of integrity in my own home.” - Psalm 101:2b NLT

"Paul wants his letters to be a means of grace—that is why he writes—and he intends them to result in peace, the rich harmony of human beings with God and with one another. This can come about only if God himself gives these Christ-shaped gifts to his people." - N.T. Wright

Day 301: Titus 3:1-15

“For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.” - Titus 3:3-6 ESV

William Barclay wrote this about our passage today:  "The point is that when we accept Christ as Saviour and Lord, life begins all over again."

Can you remember what your life was like before God's goodness and kindness burst upon you?

Paul paints a vivid picture of being bound by destructive lifestyles, allowing whatever we feel to reign supreme. Do I feel like hating someone or sinning sexually? What's holding me back? Will legislation or law enforcement be enough to keep us from sin? Usually, our flesh will find a way around them.

The moment of God saving us is a moment of re-creation and, thus, a reorientation of our entire lives.

Though we may still live in the same house or work the same job or attend the same classes, all of them are done in light of a deep renewal that took place when we believed and were baptized (see Mark 16:16, Acts 8:12). Living life with the renewing work of the indwelling Holy Spirit is the only way for us to be saved and to experience holiness day-to-day.

Jesus didn't just save us from our past; He also called us into a brighter future.

Day 300: Titus 2:1-15

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.” - Titus 2:11-12 ESV

In the fifteen verses of this chapter, Paul uses the same-ish word (sophron X2, sophroneo, sophronos) four times. Whenever we see this kind of repetition in scripture, we need to lean in a little closer to see why. In each instance, the words are translated as self-controlled in the ESV. 

These words are not anywhere close to Paul's word choice for self-control (enktrateia) in the fruit of the Spirit list (Galatians 5:22).

So why this word here? What's the purpose of Paul’s repetition as he talks through the different ages of church members in Crete for Titus?

The word Paul uses for self-controlled here in Titus 2 communicates being sensible or of sound mind. It's almost like he's saying, "May they use the minds God's given them in the right way."

In Mark 5:15, we see the same word used when describing the demon-possessed man Jesus had healed: "And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had the legion, sitting there, clothed and IN HIS RIGHT MIND, and they were afraid."

For these Christians in Crete to stand out, they were going to need to have new minds. Gaining control of our bodies will always begin with God renewing our minds. The Creator of our mind knows its best use.

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. - Romans 12:2 NIV

Day 299: Titus 1:1-16

"To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted." - Titus 1:15 NIV

During Jesus' earthly ministry, He showed us what it looks like to see things and people as sacred, not as mere products to use for our own purposes.

The word the NIV translates as corrupted here is μιαίνω miainō. The ESV uses the word defiled. It is a word that is primarily used to describe something that has been stained or dyed. This isn't a surface-level issue that will somehow work itself out on its own. Instead, this is a problem that has seeped deep into the fabric of their hearts.

This verse comes after Paul describes those from Crete as liars, brutes, and gluttons. For these people, all that was around them was for their consumption, selfish purposes, and desires.

One of our main reasons for existing as Christians is to redeem the culture around us. Jesus hasn't just placed us in this world to blend into the cultural norms.

These elders Titus is being commissioned to appoint were going to be on the front lines of showing those in Crete a brand new way to live. This is the charge for us today as well.

Day 298: 2 Timothy 4:1-22

“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” - 2 Timothy 4:1-2 ESV

Have you watched any videos or listened to any podcasts from The Bible Project? If not, you might find their content helpful. Something they often say that I think is profound is that "God will give us what we want." If we want to be close to Him, doing things His way, He will give us abundant life. If we want to go the way of the crowd, refusing to do things His way, He will let us do that.

Paul is encouraging Timothy to be ready, at all times, to share the word of God. The reason? Many need to be saved from eternal death, and others need to grow into a more mature faith in Jesus.

We can do this by 1) patiently correcting, 2) rebuking, and 3) encouraging.

Telling people the truth is the best gift we could ever give them. Yet the majority will not appreciate this, though they desperately need it.

Polycarp, one of our early Christian Church Fathers (AD 65 to AD 155), encouraged himself and those in Philippi to "let us leave behind the worthless speculation of the crowd."

May we make the intentional move from speculation to concrete truth from Jesus.

One last thing to note is that we never need to divorce kindness from the delivery of truth. It is so important for those with whom we are sharing the truth to know how much we love them.

Mutual respect and care go such a long way.

Day 297: 2 Timothy 2:22-26, 3:1-16

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV

Our culture today has many flaws, but one of the biggest has to be the inability to properly handle those who disagree with what we believe. Do you not come in line with my ideology? I will throttle you verbally and work to ruin your reputation.

One of the phrases I would never use to describe Paul is "afraid of conflict." Paul created a trail of unrest during his early years of church planting, especially among Jewish fanatics.

Yet, in our reading for today, we see him encouraging Timothy not to pick fights and for him to correct his opponents gently. Getting in people's faces with anger will not lead them toward a place of repentance (see 2:25).

The only power strong enough to break through to these detractors was the God-breathed Scripture. The only way Timothy would influence the Roman Empire (the way that Paul did) was to remember who he was (from infancy, he knew the truth) and let God's word do what only it could accomplish.

How will we turn our world away from the list of weaknesses in 3:2-5? It won't be by winning a debate or using physical violence (many have tried that). This will only come about by the breath of God. The same breath that spoke everything into existence (Genesis 1:1-2:1) is still seeking to make all things new today.

"The power of the Bible to affect change and demand obedience resides in the fact that all Scripture is God-breathed. The Bible originates with God. Claims of origins carry great significance because authority lives in the Creator." - Knute Larson

Day 296: 2 Timothy 2:1-21

“Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!” - 2 Timothy 2:8-9 ESV

Limits are frustrating. They are a constant reminder of what we CANNOT do. You cannot go without sleep for 48 hours and function well. You cannot refuse to drink water for over three days and survive. You cannot, in our present world, go a day without making a mistake.

Paul's limit toward the end of his life was literally being incarcerated. No more wild tangles with the beasts in Ephesus (1 Corinthians 15:32). No more sailing to contend with those in Corinth (Acts 18). All he had were his friends in Rome to keep him alive and a Scribe to write down letters on his behalf.

Paul became a Christian in AD 33 or 34 and was killed around AD 64 at the order of Nero himself. For the last seven years of his life, he was in chains. What would happen after the greatest missionary force in Christian history was gone?

Churches continued to grow, and the foundation we are standing on today was being laid. How was this possible with such a premature departure from one of our greatest leaders?

God has persisted throughout history in using limited people through His unlimited power that is sourced by the Bible we read and lean on today. You and I are still a part of this today. Don’t let your limits try and tell you what you can't do. Allow God to show you what He can do through you.

Day 295: 2 Timothy 1:1-18

“I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.” - 2 Timothy 1:5-6 NLT

I think many times we often downplay the significance of simple, daily interactions and what God can set in motion as a result of them.

Do you think Grandma Lois knew what would become of Timothy as she prayed over him while changing his diapers? Do you think Momma Eunice knew of her son's future when she had to discipline him as a pre-teen or make him attend worship (at someone's home) when he didn't want to?

Probably not. Yet these women invested in Timothy's life, and that investment compounded into a genuine, exponential faith. The word genuine (anypokritos) can also be translated as without hypocrisy. This kind of faith is only reproduced by consistently seeing other Christians who are the real deal.

By the time Paul arrived on the scene, his job was relatively easy with Timothy. He was laying his hands on a young man who was readied by strong women of faith. From this foundation, Paul was now able to equip and encourage Timothy into a great leader and successor.

Donald Guthrie said it well as he wrote, ”The apostle was not only deeply conscious of the powerful home influences which had shaped his own career, but was impressed by the saintly atmosphere of Timothy’s home.”

This naturally turns itself to us. How are we helping to raise up the next generation of Christian leaders? It isn’t as complicated as you may think, but it does require genuine and consistent faith in Jesus. It is also going to take a lot of patience. Are you up for it?

Day 294: 1 Timothy 6:1-21

“Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.” - ‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6:17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Knofel Staton insightfully wrote, “Someone has said that the wisest investors are those who invest in what outlasts life. Investing in kingdom work outlasts life on earth.”

What are your financial goals? I recently saw an article that was saying that most of us will need around a million dollars in retirement to live comfortably for the (estimated) final 29 years of our lives. Do we really think that having this kind of money saved will bring us the security we are looking for in this life?

The hunger for the acquisition of wealth seems to be a trap. Once we acquire it, we crave more; we set another goal. Trusting in money is like drinking saltwater. It doesn’t satisfy, and it only intensifies our thirst.

John 7:37-38 (ESV) records that, “Jesus stood up and cried out, If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

Trusting Jesus deeply satisfies in a way that money never can.

Give generously. Realize your role as a steward, not an owner.

Let God show you the right way to think about money. It leads to freedom and reliability found nowhere else in this world.

Day 293: 1 Timothy 5:1-25

“Remember, the sins of some people are obvious, leading them to certain judgment. But there are others whose sins will not be revealed until later. In the same way, the good deeds of some people are obvious. And the good deeds done in secret will someday come to light.” - 1 Timothy 5:24-25

It is so wild to see some of the things people post on social media, even when their names are attached to it. There’s something about firing off a comment or a hateful email to someone that makes it feel like it's being done in anonymity.

As we see in these two verses, nothing is actually being done in anonymity. God is paying attention to everything, both heroic and horrific.

Solomon wrote this in Proverbs 15:3: "The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good."

So whatever evil you've left unconfessed and has yet to be discovered by someone else has actually already been seen by your Creator. It is time to come boldly to the throne of grace and to find help in your time of need (Hebrews 4:16). It is time to receive healing from confession (James 5:16).

Have you also done something good that has gone unnoticed? God knows and cares. He sees you. In Him, there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5).

Ending with this quote from Michael Moss is so helpful:  After his brief digression with personal advice for Timothy, Paul returns to the matter of sins of elders. He first notes that ‘the sins of some’ are so clear they cannot be missed. Their sins race ahead and reach “the place of the judgment ahead of them. On the other hand, there are others whose sins are not as evident. Only later on do their sins become clear.

May this motivate us to, by the Holy Spirit, live lives of integrity today!