1 Timothy 6:13-16 The Good Confession

1 Timothy 6:13-16

In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

The good confession.

In front of a judge who would seemingly decide His worldly fate, He made the good confession when it might have been so much easier to have taken a different path.  He made the good confession.  Pilate asked a direct question and Jesus answered with clarity and boldness...with humility instead of arrogance.

How many times have we been given the opportunity to make "the good confession" and we have simply taken the different path?  Perhaps it just didn't seem to be the right time, we didn't seem to have just the right relationship or we just didn't want to get involved so we don't.  Or perhaps our response depends on where we are at when asked?  Perhaps when we are in a place where an explanation of our faith will be appreciated or even heralded, we speak of our allegiance loudly.  However, when we find ourselves in places where our faith will attract attention or quite possibly require, at the very least, an explanation, we quietly refrain from answering directly or perhaps not even at all.

Yet when we find ourselves needing Him and His provisions, we speak loudly.  When we found ourselves wronged or treated unjustly by this world, we run quickly to His shelter.  When we find ourselves knocking at death's door, we call out His name and He answers us.  Every single time.

He reaches and draws us to Him without rebuke but rather with the softness of a Father who simply knows.  He loves us.  He just does.  He gave us life and provides us with a Light that darkness can't extinguish....no matter how dark.  A Light that shines through our darkest night and rivals our darkest day.  It never fades nor does it ever cease to exist.  A Light that isn't determined by what we define it as being but rather a Light that defines each of us completely independent of who we think we are.  He sees us as who we truly are when oftentimes we can't see it ourselves.  He sees His creation as in its purest form.  He sees our beginning and our seemingly end on this earth which is highlighted by His ability to see past what we can see. 

He makes no mistakes.

The world will discourage the boldness our faith.  It just will.  It will try to cause fear to guide our every steps seeking to discourage and contain us.  But, as children of His, we were never meant to be contained.  We were meant to soar on the wings of eagles, move mountains and stand boldly against the giants of this world.  I dare say, however, it will only be when we step outside of our own strength, when we have spent all that we have inside ourselves and we have left everything at His feet that we will experience the greatness of Who He is.  Only then can we soar when the wind and gravity drags us down.  Only then can we move mountains that are entrenched in the earth.  Only then can we stand firm no matter what we face off against.

Only then can we stand face to face against the mightiest judge in this land and not waver in our faith.

For some of us, it is a life long journey.  We lay it down and pick it up.  We walk in His strength until we can take it back ourselves.  We live in constant upheaval of trying to do it on our own while proclaiming His greatness when, quite honestly, we haven't given Him the latitude to showcase His greatness.  We have only experienced the previews.  Today, we stand with the choice of Who we follow but we also stand with the necessity of being disciplined enough to follow and allow Him to lead.

Live different.

1 Timothy 6:4-5 Live With Wisdom

1 Timothy 6:4-5

He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and and quarrels about words that result in envy, strive, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the Truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

Unhealthy interest.

How different would our lives be if we simply refused to engage in controversies? How many negative thoughts and ideas do we willing bring into our world as we listen to malicious talk and evil suspicions? How often do we entertain those whose minds are corrupt filled with envy and and strive?

And we wonder why our lives are filled with constant friction?

There are those in this world who will attempt to extinguish the joy in our lives. Perhaps not purposeful, perhaps even just pawns themselves, they seek to surround our lives with utter chaos. Their words are dripping of gossip, lies and envious words. As soon as they hear, they can't wait to spread.

And, we willingly choose to listen.

We control who and what we bring into our lives. Sometimes, we get caught up into the busyness of the world and we find ourselves seemingly as a ship at sea trying to just stay afloat. We try not to create any more waves and just try to sail. Yet, we were the ones who, purposefully or not, placed our ship amongst dark waters. And as the words continue to fill our life out of these relationships, we become more and more entangled.

Likewise, there are those who find game out of arguing. They find sport out of trying to "trip" us up.....trying to find our weak spots in our faith and pointing them out quickly. They hold court and judgement based upon a few words here and there. Never truthfully seeking for themselves, they are merely trying to "enlighten" those around them.

God has made us wise. He has filled us with great wisdom. Great wisdom. We must be intentional about whom we choose to listen. We must become disciplined against listening to gossip and malicious talk. Purposefully walking away, disengaging and protecting ourselves and our families from the chaos that seeks to enter.

We can do that. Really.

And by doing so, not only do we stop the unhealthy conversation from entering our minds, but quite possibly we may cause them to pause and ponder why we no longer engage. Why we no longer listen? And, perhaps someday they will ask why? The question that opens the door to share the greatest Story ever told.

We are called to live different from this world...in it, not of it.
Do we?

Live worthy.