"Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons." 13 This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith 14 and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the truth. 15 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. 16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.
Reread 15 and 16 again. They claim to know God, but they deny him. There are two types of people in the world. The "professors" and the "possessors".
The professors may come to church every sunday, they may sit thru a bible study but the fact is they don't study themselves, they say they know God, but they are just actors trying to look important. I like to call them pew sitters. They take up space, but don't absorb God's word.
Then there are the possessors. They attend church, they study the bible and they pray often. They want to have that close relationship with God. They want to know God on a more personal level. Because of their actions, God responds more greatly to them.
I know I don't want to be a lazy glutton. I want to spend as much time with my heavenly father, to know how to respond to satans attacks on me. Thank you father for reminding me of this.
Verses 8-9, “Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.”
Character is everything. The foundation of a leader is in who he is, when people are watching and when no one is. A leader can have all the talent in the world but if he doesn’t display the kind of character that Paul describes here, he is not a leader after God’s own heart.
Out of this very short list I think that the two that strike me the most are “holy and disciplined.” I realize we are to be holy and to strive after the life of Jesus, but to be honest that is a monumental task that if I seek to accomplish alone I will fail. However, I do believe it is connected to “disciplined” for a reason. That is my part. I am to take care of today, not worrying about tomorrow. My responsibility is to take care of my relationship with God right now. That means I follow the Rule of Life. That means I take care of my life – spiritually, physically, emotionally. This one is on me. I am responsible for my discipline. As I am disciplined in my walk with God, then God will take care of His part – the growth, and that will lead to being holy.
Charter Oak Church is a family of Jesus followers who want to reach out to those who are searching and equip believers to become fully devoted followers of Jesus.
"Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons." 13 This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith 14 and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the truth. 15 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. 16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.
ReplyDeleteReread 15 and 16 again. They claim to know God, but they deny him. There are two types of people in the world. The "professors" and the "possessors".
The professors may come to church every sunday, they may sit thru a bible study but the fact is they don't study themselves, they say they know God, but they are just actors trying to look important. I like to call them pew sitters. They take up space, but don't absorb God's word.
Then there are the possessors. They attend church, they study the bible and they pray often. They want to have that close relationship with God. They want to know God on a more personal level. Because of their actions, God responds more greatly to them.
I know I don't want to be a lazy glutton. I want to spend as much time with my heavenly father, to know how to respond to satans attacks on me. Thank you father for reminding me of this.
Verses 8-9, “Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.”
ReplyDeleteCharacter is everything. The foundation of a leader is in who he is, when people are watching and when no one is. A leader can have all the talent in the world but if he doesn’t display the kind of character that Paul describes here, he is not a leader after God’s own heart.
Out of this very short list I think that the two that strike me the most are “holy and disciplined.” I realize we are to be holy and to strive after the life of Jesus, but to be honest that is a monumental task that if I seek to accomplish alone I will fail. However, I do believe it is connected to “disciplined” for a reason. That is my part. I am to take care of today, not worrying about tomorrow. My responsibility is to take care of my relationship with God right now. That means I follow the Rule of Life. That means I take care of my life – spiritually, physically, emotionally. This one is on me. I am responsible for my discipline. As I am disciplined in my walk with God, then God will take care of His part – the growth, and that will lead to being holy.