Daily Inspirations

   Good morning.… Grace granted us from all eternity, but now (this grace) has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. For this reason I also suffer these things. Paul, if you are trying to persuade us to become a preacher, you are doing a poor selling job. And now another one of those really important verses. Despite all the suffering he has gone through: I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. Too often today, when people put down what the gospel says, we become ashamed and do not own up to what it says. Paul was not ashamed. He was confident that no matter what happened to him, in the end, he would be victorious through Christ, and would not lose anything. Father help us to not be ashamed of the gospel, but to e...

   Good morning. After telling Timothy that God has not given us a spirit of fear, he says, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel (you are so encouraging Paul) according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works (once again, there is nothing that you can do to earn salvation), but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity. Most people cannot conceive of what infinity really means. Take the largest named number in the world, googolplexian, and raise that number to the googolplexian power, and you’ve only just begun your journey to infinity (eternity). Most people are like the little brother of one of my students. His example of something that was infinite was a gumball machine :) Father help us to live up to that holy calling. Father thank You that You chose us from all eternity.

   Good morning. We now begin second Timothy: Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus. I thank God, whom I serve with a clear (pure) conscience the way my forefathers did (Paul said that he was a Pharisee and the son of a Pharisee), as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day. That’s a pretty bold statement that his conscience was pure. He then mentions Timothy‘s mother and grandmother who were also believers. It is always special when the faith runs in families. For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. We talked about this in first Timothy. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity (fear), but of power and love and discipline (self control). My Bible says that apparently lack of confidence was a serious problem for Timothy. Father thank You that You have not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and self-control. Hel...

   Good morning. Continuing with his admonition to the rich to not fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches: instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed. Instead of concerning themselves about being rich in money and things, they are to be rich in doing good things for others. As Dolly says in “Hello Dolly”, Money is like manure – it’s no good unless you spread it around. (As we have said before, the Greek word for treasure is thesaurus.) Paul’s admonition to Timothy at the end of this letter is also for all of us: Guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely call “knowledge” – which some have professed and gone astray from the faith.

   Good morning. Paul has just digressed so that you don’t realize that he’s referring to God, and not Jesus, when he says the next part: He who is the blessed and only sovereign, the king of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen (that reminds us of what John said in his gospel and confirms that it is the Father) or can see. To Him be eternal dominion! Back to his admonition against desiring to be rich: instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Sadly that is what Christians in today’s society do. If they have a good job, they don’t rely on God to supply their needs; they rely on their employer. If they have good healthcare, they don’t rely on God to heal them, they rely on their doctor and their medical plan. Too many things can happen to cause you to lose both of ...

   Good morning. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate (Jesus had every opportunity before Pilate to escape crucifixion; instead He stayed true to His confession that He was the Son of God); that you keep the commandment (it’s not clear whether Paul was talking about some single commandment, or all of the Commandments in general) without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ (in other words, until you die or fly), which He will bring about at the proper time. As we have said before, God always does everything at just the right time. He’s never early, and He’s never late. Father help us to always keep Your word, doing everything that You have commanded us.

   Good morning. But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. This is what we should all do, instead of pursuing money and what it brings. Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. Most fights are not good; but the one of faith is; and it is a fight. If there is no struggle, then it’s not really faith. If you know your paycheck is coming tomorrow, it doesn’t take any faith to believe for it. We have eternal life when we believe, but too many times the things of our every day life block out our consciousness of it. Do you have to make a confession of your beliefs in the presence of witnesses in order to be saved? No, but it can be helpful. Not only does it make it real in your mind, but it lets others know that they can help you when you struggle. My Bible says that it probably happened whe...

   Good morning. Paul then gives an admonition against stockpiling money: we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. This goes against today’s thinking that one should stockpile as much money as possible for retirement. Of course in Paul’s day there was no such thing as “retirement“. We would never be content with just food and covering; however, in today’s world there are a lot of people that that is all they have. Continuing with Paul’s thought: those who want to get rich (that’s way beyond saving up money for retirement) fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a (there is no article in front of “root” which in Greek normally, but not always, means it should be translated “a“) root of all evils, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselv...

  Good morning. Teach and preach these (principles). The word “principles“ is in italics meaning that it’s not really in the text. This is not the first time in the letter that Paul has referred to “these“. Quite likely it refers back to everything he said, beginning with instructing certain men not to teach strange doctrines. That is supported by the next statement: If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose godliness (remember that these men had been talking about obeying the rules and regulations of the law) is a means of gain. But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied...

   Good morning. Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin. In context from what we said yesterday, my assumption is that he’s talking about laying hands on people to be installed as elders, and these elders sin and perhaps cause others to sin. The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins follow after. In other words, you can’t sneak into heaven, leaving your sins behind, without God knowing about what you have done. People on earth may not know about them, but God does. Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed. Father help us to show forth Your goodness and to not walk in sin, whether revealed to others or not.

   Good morning. Back to the elders and the accusations against: those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning. That sounds harsh, but it goes along with what was said in the gospels about someone doing something wrong to you. First you went to them alone, then you brought two or three witnesses with you, and finally you brought them before the entire church. Rebuking the elders in front of the entire church  would not happen today. Everything would be done in private. In this case, it appears that they have already been warned, and yet have not stopped sinning. Remember Ananias and Sapphira in the book of Acts dropping dead because they lied to the Holy Spirit. If God felt that way about members sinning, how do you think He feels about elders sinning? I solemnly charge you to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality. Father thank You for Your grace and mercy. Continue to p...

   Good morning. Paul then tells Timothy to be absorbed in the things that he told him to do last time, such as show himself as an example of those who believe. He then gives Timothy some instructions about the way to treat older people in the church, including taking care of widows. The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. That does not mean give them a plaque and say gracious words about them. We know that because he says that the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. In the church today, we have two extremes: on the one hand we have people who constantly criticize everything that is done by someone in authority in the church. On the other, we have the situation where anybody who has an objection to something done by someone in authority in the church is considered an outcast and is silenced. That is why...

   Good morning. Let no one look down on your youthfulness. We don’t know how old Timothy was, but this sounds like people thought he was too young to have the position in the church that he had. But remember, that one of the Gospels said that Jesus was about 30 years old when He started His ministry. Of course it’s the same today, that people don’t want to follow a young pastor. In speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. Give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. In other words, let your actions prove everybody wrong. Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the Presbytery. We don’t have that very often in churches today; a group of anointed people during a special service imparting spiritual gifts into people by the laying on of hands with prophecy. Father help us, no matter what our age young or old, t...

   Good morning. Have nothing to do with worldly fables (remember that Paul started the letter by warning Timothy to not pay attention to myths, etc) fit only for old (that means he’s not talking about you) women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. Of course if you don’t have any bodily discipline, the life to come will come much quicker :-) It is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. That does not mean that all will be saved. Jesus did die so that all would have the opportunity to believe and be saved. Prescribe (like a doctor) and teach these things. Father help this to be a glorious day for the reader and his/her family.

   Good morning. Refuting the abstaining from foods: everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer. Now he is not talking about not eating food because it is not healthy for you; but rather because the Old Testament laws forbade one to eat it. In Mark, it even says of Jesus, “Thus, He declared all foods clean“. My Bible says that this unbiblical asceticism arose out of the mistaken belief that the material world was evil – a central belief of the Gnostic heresy. And because of believers getting hung up on these issues… in pointing out these things you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith, and of the sound doctrine which you have been following. Father continue ministering to the reader and his/her family.

 Good morning. So what’s ahead for the body of Christ? But the Spirit explicitly says (it was perhaps through a prophecy either by Paul or one of those he trusted as a prophet) that in later times some will fall away from the faith (you can’t fall away from something unless you are in it; so does that mean that they are believers?), paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons (if you don’t stand for the truth, you will believe in a lie), by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron (We talked about this before – if you don’t pay attention to your conscience when it tells you that you have done something wrong, eventually it will not operate properly), who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods (things which on the surface might seem to be the proper thing to do based on the Old Testament laws and regulations) which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. Father hel...

   Good morning. Paul says that he is hoping to come to see Timothy, but just in case he is delayed: I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. Paul then makes a statement which by its form could have been a common recitation or even a song. By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, was vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. That, of course, is the life of Jesus in a nutshell. That all sounds great, and one would think that believers would stay true to Christ throughout their lives. Next time, however, we will see that just like in ages past (Old Testament), believers in God still act fleshly. Father continue to keep Your hand on the reader and his/her family, helping them to grow up to be true men and women of God.

   Good morning. The overseer must not be a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. Today we will put anybody willing to work in any position in the church. The “higher up“ the position though, the more opposition that person will have from the devil and his cohorts, and new converts won’t be able to handle it properly. He must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. In today’s world, it would also bring disgrace upon the church itself. Paul then gives qualifications for deacons – also just men. Some are similar to those for overseers. He then says women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. Does that mean that Paul allowed women to be deacons? Probably not since the next verse says deacons must be husbands of only one wife. Some say that he was talking about the wives of the deacons...

   Good morning. Paul’s reason for not allowing a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man: For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. Sounds like he was grasping at straws to validate his beliefs. We will leave out the next verse which sounds even worse. It is a trustworthy statement: if any man (and yes, he leaves out women, which does not mean that it is true today) aspires to the office of overseer (that is what the person did – oversee the operations of the local body of believers), it is a fine work he desires to do. The person was sometimes known as an elder. He then gives a list of qualifications of an overseer. I am not going to list all of them, but they are characteristics that all believers should be exhibiting. One that is key: he must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity. See, it’s not just in toda...

Good morning. And if that from yesterday were not bad enough… A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. That sounds like first Corinthians where he said: the women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves. If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church. I’m sure that went over like a lead balloon. Some have said that it was because the women would ask their husbands in church about something that the preacher said, and that was disruptive. Women were not educated like the men, especially in the Scriptures. Continuing in Timothy: but I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. Next time, we will see Paul’s reasonings about this topic. We have to remember that just because they were Christians, did not mean that they (including Paul) automatically had the right ideas and attitudes abou...

   Good morning. For this (to bring about salvation) I was appointed a preacher and an apostle as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. Wherever Paul went, he spoke to the Jews first; but since they refused to hear, he then proclaimed the gospel to the Gentiles who received it joyously. And because of this: therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension. Their prayers will do no good if there is unholiness among those praying, or anger with each other, or dissension among them in the church. Paul then talks to the women. He would really come under fire in today’s culture, but in that day’s culture it was acceptable. He tells them not to be concerned about adorning themselves outwardly but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness. That’s bad enough, but there’s more to come tomorrow. Father continue to take care of the reader and his/her family, bringing blessings upon blessin...

   Good morning. So we are to pray for the leaders in authority that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life – this is good and acceptable in the sight of our God and Savior, who desires (comes from the same word that means “will“) all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. God desires all men to be saved, but He permits them to choose to not be saved, which is what I call the permissive boundaries (instead of will - which implies desire) of God. That is much more likely to happen if we have tranquility in godliness and dignity. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. There is not a bunch of different ways to get to heaven – there is only one - Christ Jesus. We were “kidnapped“ by the devil, and Jesus paid the ransom for our release. As the song says: “Jesus paid it all; all to Him I owe”. Father thank You that Jesus did pay the ransom ...

   Good morning. Paul then mentions two men who had suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith… whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme. Wow! Can he do that? He did the same thing in first Corinthians. There he said he did it for “the destruction of one’s flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the Day of the Lord Jesus”. I guess that’s – if you are dead, you can’t keep sinning. Now Paul tells Timothy a most important thing to do as the leader of a church: first of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. Paul said this, even though Nero was in power in Rome. We don’t get to pick and choose which rulers we pray for. God can change the hearts of rulers; but we need to pray for them. Sometimes something awful has to happen to them like it did to Nebuchadnezzar...

   Good morning. This command (to instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, not to pay attention to myths etc.) I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you (we are enlightened about this from second Timothy when Paul said to “kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands”), that by them you fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. In another place it talks about people having their consciences seared. If whenever our conscience pricks us to inform us that we are doing something or have done something wrong, and we immediately correct the situation, then we can, as Jiminy cricket sang, “let your conscience be your guide“. Otherwise, we will suffer shipwreck. Father help us to always keep a “clean conscience“, and to listen to it when it tells us that we have done something wrong.

   Good morning. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. That was why Jesus came the first time. He came as the “suffering servant“. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. We want everything immediately; we do not want to wait. If we have a friend or relative that is not saved, we want that person to become a Christian immediately; we do not want to have to wait. Sometimes it takes years for this to happen, and we give up hope. God knows the best time and way for it to happen. The next verse sounds like a “song“ that they might’ve been singing in Paul’s day. I know I have in the past. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only (wise) God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. Father thank You that Jesus came at j...

   Good morning. So, was the law a bad thing? We know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully (not to control people, as some were), realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane…, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the Blessed God, with which I have been entrusted. I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer etc. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. Formerly Paul was good in the eyes of the law, but unrighteous in the eyes of God. Despite that, God was more than able to use him in a magnificent way to bring the gospel to the Gentiles. Father thank You that Your Grace ...

   Good morning. Continuing with the idea of certain people teaching strange doctrines: The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. The reason for the strange doctrines: for some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, wanting to be teachers of the law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions. They were not saying that these things might be this, or could be that, they were saying these doctrines were definitely the way they were proclaiming them. They did not want to receive instruction; they wanted to give instruction to others. Some of them were wanting to bring Christians back under the law. Remember that it was for freedom that Christ set us free – from the law. Father help us to always have love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

   Good morning. Today we begin first Timothy. My Bible says that the two letters to Timothy and the one to Titus are known as the pastoral letters because they give instruction to Timothy and Titus concerning the pastoral care of churches. After his usual greeting, Paul then says, as I urged you upon my departure from Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, not to pay attention to myths and certain endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith. Sometimes it seemed like Paul couldn’t leave a church without it coming into corruption. As soon as he left Ephesus, different men brought in different “doctrines“. One of the doctrines was Gnosticism, which we have talked about before. Apparently they were also teaching “old wives tales“; things not based on the gospel which Paul preached, but which were based on speculations. From things said late...

   Good morning. Paul then talks about how when he was with them he did not take things from them, but worked himself so that they would not have to supply his needs. He wanted to be a model for them. And then the verse that seems to confirm that those who were leading an unruly life were ones that stopped working because they claimed that the return of Jesus was imminent. For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. This again supports the idea of shunning someone. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write. Paul mostly dictated his letters, but usual...

   Good morning. Now we command (not just a request) you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (he’s really getting serious when he invokes the name of Jesus), that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us. This is probably one of the places where the idea of shunning comes from. In certain religious groups, if someone in the church does something against their beliefs, no one in the church (including family) can have anything to do with that person. When you see it happen in movies or on TV, it always seems too extreme. Family members are not permitted to eat with and many times not even allowed to speak to those who are being shunned. It is true, however, that bad company corrupts good morals. In other words, associating with unruly people will more likely affect you than your good behavior affect them. My Bible says that this reference to leading an unruly life probably refers back to his first le...

   Good morning. Pray for us (not that he would be blessed personally) that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful (even when we are not) and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. The word “one“ is in italics, which means that it is not in the Greek as such; in fact it is not even included in the King James version. However it does include the article “the“, which in this case is masculine. That would imply that he is talking about a “person“, and not about “the” evil things. Again Paul’s prayer for them, is my prayer for you: May the Lord direct your heart into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.