ODJ: worth it
January 13, 2012
We work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Saviour of all people and particularly of all believers (4:10).
READ: 1 Timothy 4:6-5:2
Racing along the beach as the moonlight hits the water, I dash toward the figure running toward me. I have a pile of tests to mark, a house in desperate need of attention, and a writing deadline to complete in less than 48 hours, and here I am running through the sand and trying to guard my team’s home base. I feel every bit of my nearly 38 years, but what might appear to the ordinary spectator to be simply a game of capture the flag is to me an investment in the living church.
If we truly understand God’s Word, we understand that no believers live for themselves. We’re the living stones set upon the Chief Cornerstone (1 Peter 2:4-5). To be unconcerned about the lives of those around me—to place my own spiritual growth at the peak of my Christian experience—is to miss the very heart of God.
Ministry isn’t about me. That’s a difficult concept to grasp when we come to church expecting to have our needs met—looking for programmes that best suit our interests.
Far from convenient, I chose to give up a weekend so that the next generation would know that Jesus has called them to greatness in the kingdom. While that might sound impressive, living by that precept has been far from romantic. Investing in others—whether they’re children, teenagers, or adults—can be time consuming, messy, and downright exhausting. The overwhelming message in Paul’s ministerial admonition to Timothy, however, is not whether Timothy should invest in others, but how he should do so (1 Timothy 4:11-5:2).
Christian doctrine isn’t simply about knowledge. It points us to transformational living (4:12,16). At the heart of all Christian doctrine is the call to relationship (5:1-2)—first with Jesus, then with others (Mark 12:30-33). Do we consider the investment to be worth it? —Regina Franklin
When you step through the front doors of your local church, what’s the first thought that enters your mind? Why must we keep our personal growth a priority?
Tweet This
Share on Facebook
Digg This
Save to delicious
Stumble it-
RSS Feed
Related
wrong impressions
June 19, 2009 God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him (v.17). READ: John 3:16-18 Recently, a pastor led a young man to faith in Jesus. At one point in their conversation, the young man had hesitantly asked the pastor, “Now that I’m a Christian, [...]
ODJ: the gospel and social justice
February 18, 2012 Will those who do evil never learn? They eat up my people like bread and wouldn’t think of praying to the Lord (v.4). READ: Psalm 14:1-7 Many people think there’s no connection between the gospel and the fight against such social evils as poverty, racism, and sexual trafficking. They surmise that the gospel [...]
ODJ: He Will Come
March 6, 2012 Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ (v.7). READ: 1 Corinthians 1:6-8 Four years ago, I became the primary carer for a 7 year old Ugandan boy who was dying of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). During the first 3 weeks that I [...]
ODJ: Practical Holiness
April 13, 2012 You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy (v.2). READ: Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18 Holiness is perhaps one of the most misunderstood terms of our time. A study by The Barna Group reveals that though the Bible talks a lot about holiness, most people are confused and even [...]
Christian Courses
Day Of Discovery
Discover The Word
Discovery Series
Help For My Life
My Utmost For His Highest
Our Daily Bread
Our Daily Journey
RBC Ministries
WarungSateKaMu
Manasociety
雅米