2 Timothy 1:1-2
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus.
An apostle of Christ Jesus. By the will of God. According to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus.
An apostle of Christ Jesus. By the will of God. According to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus.
One sentence identified Paul as who he was. One sentence summed him
up. He was an apostle of Christ Jesus. An identity that was bestowed
by the will of God. An identity that was according to the promise of
life that wasn't found in Paul himself but rather through Christ Jesus.
So, who are we? If we were given a statement to write with the first sentence being specified to identify ourselves, what would we say? Or perhaps even more relevant, what would those around us write?
Would we be identified by our careers? Successful business? Our positions as husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters? Duly devoted, of course? Would our summation refer to our own accomplishments and laurels so that when read they would trigger someone's memory of ourselves?
Would the merit of our faith even come into play? Would it point to identify us or add information that those close to us would not recognize? Would they be surprised? Or are we hesitant to add it to our description to whom we are because we are afraid it would come into play?
Who are we? At the core of who we are, what words describe us?
For some of us, we might have several descriptive statements about ourselves each relevant to specific areas of our life. One statement for who we at work, one for home, one for our friends, one for our other friends, one for our church friends and the list goes on and on.
Yet, Paul was an apostle of Jesus Christ. The rest of who he was were simply minor details. Window dressings, perhaps, not identifying details. Paul's life was so identified as being a believer of God that there was no other information that was needed nor that mattered.
Perhaps, it was expected of him and all given his position such as ministers and missionaries today. Absolutely their faith should be first and forth most. For the rest of us, it is personal. A personal matter. Which is exactly where satan wants us to keep it. Personal. Hidden and not lived out. And as our believers hide their faith for personal reasons, those who do not share in following Christ seem to begin to speak bolder and with greater authority daring us to speak out.
Do we believe or not? Being humble doesn't mean hiding nor does it mean being lesser than, it means not to be prideful. Somewhere, somehow we have begun to mistake living our faith overflowing out loud in our lives as being prideful. We should stand worthy of the blood that was shed for us. We should speak of our faith with a boldness that can only be from the assurance of being followers of the Great I am.
Who am I? I am a child of the Almighty.
Live worthy.
So, who are we? If we were given a statement to write with the first sentence being specified to identify ourselves, what would we say? Or perhaps even more relevant, what would those around us write?
Would we be identified by our careers? Successful business? Our positions as husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters? Duly devoted, of course? Would our summation refer to our own accomplishments and laurels so that when read they would trigger someone's memory of ourselves?
Would the merit of our faith even come into play? Would it point to identify us or add information that those close to us would not recognize? Would they be surprised? Or are we hesitant to add it to our description to whom we are because we are afraid it would come into play?
Who are we? At the core of who we are, what words describe us?
For some of us, we might have several descriptive statements about ourselves each relevant to specific areas of our life. One statement for who we at work, one for home, one for our friends, one for our other friends, one for our church friends and the list goes on and on.
Yet, Paul was an apostle of Jesus Christ. The rest of who he was were simply minor details. Window dressings, perhaps, not identifying details. Paul's life was so identified as being a believer of God that there was no other information that was needed nor that mattered.
Perhaps, it was expected of him and all given his position such as ministers and missionaries today. Absolutely their faith should be first and forth most. For the rest of us, it is personal. A personal matter. Which is exactly where satan wants us to keep it. Personal. Hidden and not lived out. And as our believers hide their faith for personal reasons, those who do not share in following Christ seem to begin to speak bolder and with greater authority daring us to speak out.
Do we believe or not? Being humble doesn't mean hiding nor does it mean being lesser than, it means not to be prideful. Somewhere, somehow we have begun to mistake living our faith overflowing out loud in our lives as being prideful. We should stand worthy of the blood that was shed for us. We should speak of our faith with a boldness that can only be from the assurance of being followers of the Great I am.
Who am I? I am a child of the Almighty.
Live worthy.
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