Reallity is not based on my perception - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Timothy 4:1-2,

"In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction."

As Paul gives Timothy his marching orders, he makes note that he does so "In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus." He also mentions the coming judgment of those who will enter eternal life and eternal death. Additionally, he makes reference to the coming of the appearance of Christ Jesus back here on earth and the kingdom he will establish here.

Paul references spiritual realities that are not observable today, are not perceived by our five senses today. Yet, nonetheless, these realities exist and are just as authentic and truthfully the state of affairs as the things are that we do sense, we do see, we do feel.

This morning, on the way to work, I felt early summer weather. I saw the sun, I listened to music (the Beatles), I felt refreshed from a good night's sleep (I also felt the still-sore leg muscle that cramped on me in the middle of the night.) I didn't see God's presence and I didn't see the presence of Jesus Christ. I didn't observe anything relative to coming events in heaven, such as the judgement of the living and the dead. I did not witness the coming of Jesus Christ and I did not see his kingdom. I saw cars on the freeway, I saw traffic lights, I saw a police car (that I mistakenly thought was going to pull me over... ) I saw bridge construction and people scurrying about when I got into town.

However, I thought about the things of God on the way into work this morning. I thought about the reality of God and the things of heaven. I thought about my Savior who died a miserable death for me - that I might have a place at his table. I thought of the spiritual realm teeming with angels and others God has created. I also thought about the fact that their existence had nothing to do with whether I thought of them or sensed their presence. The spiritual world exists objectively whether I choose to acknowledge it or not. Just as I know the state of Tennessee exists even though I could not perceive it on the way into work. Spiritual realities exist whether I sense them or not. Neither's existence are subject to my perception of them.

I also thought about how God "cloaks" spiritual realities and his presence in heaven so that the opportunity for faith might exist. We live in a darkness. I am reminded of Isaiah 9:2, "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned." This is a reference, a prophecy, of the first coming of Jesus Christ to planet earth. He comes to people who can't see spiritual realities, providing the opportunity for faith.

Even though I do not sense spiritual realities as I do my morning commute, they do, in fact, exist. And, their existence has nothing to do with my perception of them. The adage, "Life is what you perceive it to be" is a lie. Life is what it is and spiritual realities exist no matter what I sense or think of them. They simply are what they are. The fool invents his own "reality" and deludes himself. The wise embrace God in faith and begin to understand what cannot be seen or felt or observed. These are the ones God has chosen for himself.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

God has his own purpose - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Timothy 1:9,

"He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace."

I am well aware of the love of God. I know of it, I have experienced it in my life and I am the recipient of God's lavish gift of eternal life because of it. What I do not know is why. Why does he love us so? Why did he send his Son, Jesus Christ to die on that miserable cross to secure my forgiveness, paying the penalty for all the wrong things I have done?

I know of his love, but I do not know why he loves the way he does. I am reminded of David's question of God, "Lord, what are human beings that you care for them, mere mortals that you think of them?" I know myself all too well, and I am a bit too honest with myself to know there is anything I would consider worthy of redeeming. And, yet, God does.

We read in Titus 3:4-5, "When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy." My passage this morning in 2 Timothy 1:9 says much the same thing. There really is no redeeming value to my life from my own actions, my own decisions, the things I say and do, the things I feel at times. And, yet, God loves me and has made a way for me into his family. He has done this for all of us. "Not because of anything we have done", "not because of righteous things we had done". No, not because of our loveliness, but because of his mercy, because of his incomprehensible love, because of "his own purpose and grace."

God's grace is expressed by giving us wonderful things we do not deserve. In God's love for us he provides us blessings I'm certain I do not even notice at times. God's grace flows from the sincere and overwhelming love he has for all people, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son..." John 3:16.

Here in this passage we read of something Paul refers to as God's "own purpose." God has his purposes and it is within the framework of his love for us he seeks to populate a family of his own out of us. He looks over all mankind and offers his invitation, his "call" to all who will embrace him in faith and trust. God is busy building his kingdom.

This agenda of God, to build his kingdom out of all who will respond to his offer, is what this life is all about. Our purpose for being here is to promote the human race, populating the earth with potential family members - those who become so by responding to God's invitation, the gospel. He asks us to participate with him in building his kingdom by sharing his message with others.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Faith: a living dynamic - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Timothy 1:5,

"I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also."

Faith, living in the hearts of Lois, Eunice and Timothy! Faith is a living dynamic that informs our thoughts and feelings as well as influencing our choices and prompting our actions. I have a suspicion that many of us have a limited concept of the realities of living faith.

I consider what Paul has to say a few verses later as one of his greatest statements of faith, revealing both the virility of his faith and providing it definition: "I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day." 2 Timothy 1:12b. His observation of Abraham's faith is similar, "He [Abraham] did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why 'it was credited to him as righteousness.'" Romans 4:20-22.

The wonderful thing about the gospel message is that it reveals to us that God has chosen for himself all who will embrace him in faith... and the wonderful thing about faith is that we all have a capacity for it. As a matter of fact, while we may consider this person or that person as being particularly equipped and well-suited for the things of God, all of us have the capability of Paul's faith, Abraham's faith or Timothy's faith. We all do!

God has wired into his creation of mankind our ability to embrace people and things in faith. We all have the capacity to place our trust in people and things. Often times it may turn out to be "misplaced" faith, but it is faith nonetheless.

Expressing faith, embracing people and things in faith, is not unique and does not bring us close to God in any way unless he is the object. If that faith has as its object Jesus Christ and his resurrection, his ability to save us, it brings us eternal life, it brings us into God's family, it ushers us into the Lord's presence. I have often heard it said, "You just need to have faith". However, when it comes to the things of God, it is all about the object of that faith: is it in the living God?

Some today argue that our capacity for faith in God is an illusion. The thinking is that if we express faith, then that is a "work" we do for which God would be indebted to us for our salvation. Therefore, if we have real faith in God, then it isn't our faith, it is something God manufactured or manipulated within us. Nothing could be further from the truth. All people can embrace God in faith, and for those who do, it is not "a work" that merits salvation. Faith is not "a work." God freely gives us eternal life if we place our faith in him. This is why it is said that salvation by faith is an expression of the grace of God. Paul speaks of this various places, "Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness." Romans 4:4-5. Faith as opposed to "earning" our salvation.

Here is how Paul puts it in Romans 9:30-32, "What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works." Faith is not "a work."

The Scriptures have a lot to say about faith and those who read their Bibles should  be fully versed in what faith is, what faith does, what faith looks like and how it manifests itself. James has wonderful teaching on faith, as well as Paul, Peter and the Lord himself.

What do you know about faith? Is faith alive in your heart? It certainly was in Timothy, his mother and his grandmother. When we learn about biblical faith we learn we all can have just as strong a faith as they did, as well as Paul and Abraham.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Guard the sound teaching - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Timothy 1:14,

"Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us."

The "good deposit" Paul asks Timothy to guard is the "sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus" that Paul imparted to him. Verse 13. I notice that Paul asked Timothy to guard it, to protect it. Sound teaching has a way of being challenged and corrupted. Paul's request of Timothy to guard it speaks of the need we all have to not only avail ourselves of the good apostolic teaching we find in the Scriptures, but to guard what we have learned and insure it is maintained within us in faith and love. It is important we not allow it to be adulterated, twisted, manipulated, or even simply lost.

Here is one of the many things the Holy Spirit can and will participate with us in, as a collaborative effort. I note that although the Holy Spirit can aid in guarding good teaching imparted to us, we, as believers, have a responsibility to set ourselves to this task.

Do you ever get the feeling that God is simply not going to do all the lifting with everything we encounter as believers? It is apparent to me that he desires to engage us in what he has for us as a participants, not spectators. There may be many reasons why things go awry, but one of the things I have learned to ask of myself is "...have I done what it is the Lord expects of me in this?" Participating with the Holy Spirit in guarding sound teaching given me is certainly within that possibility.

In any event, here is something the Holy Spirit does within us that we hear little of: he participates with us in guarding the good teaching we have received, couched in faith and love. With so many folks given to poor teaching, given to false and misleading doctrine, to misunderstandings of God, it is apparent that there is a vital need for this ministry of the Holy Spirit today - a ministry that we reap the benefits from if we initiate and actively engage the Holy Spirit in our lives - to participate with us in.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

What is in your heart? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Timothy 1:12b,

"I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to
guard what I have entrusted to him until that day."

Here is a statement of real, genuine, authentic faith. The kind of
faith God looks for in us all. The kind of faith Abraham modeled for
us when it was observed, "Abraham believed the Lord, and he credited
to him as righteousness." Genesis 15:6. It is the kind of faith James
was careful to communicate to us, "As the body without the spirit is
dead, so faith without deeds is dead." James 2:26. It is the kind of
faith that brings God's approval, his acceptance of us into his
family. It is the kind of faith that brings us the forgiveness that
was purchased by Jesus Christ on that cross. It is the kind of faith
that places us into that number that will join with Jesus Christ in
his own inheritance, which he will share with all those who are his.

Paul had entrusted his eternal outcome, his eternal well-being to the
Lord. He did so because he was "convinced" the Lord would follow
through on his promise to us in the gospel. The Lord will "guard what
I have entrusted to him until that day."

Here is Paul's observation of Abraham's faith, "He [Abraham] did not
waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was
strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded
that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why 'it was
credited to him as righteousness.' The words 'it was credited to him'
were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will
credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our
Lord from the dead." Romans 4:20-24.

Both Abraham and Paul were convinced about the promises and power of
God. They were entirely persuaded and trusted God for what they knew
he could do. They embraced the Lord in faith. Four millenia ago
(Abraham) this is what the Lord looked for in mankind, two millenia
ago (Paul), this is what the Lord looked for in mankind. Today it is
what the Lord looks for in each one of us.

He doesn't drop a "roofie" in our drink as some mistakenly think
today. He looks for all who will embrace him in an exercise of the
will, an embrace of faith. He has given all mankind the ability to
choose and the freedom to choose what we place our faith and trust in.

So, what is in your heart?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send
me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are
receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just
respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

What is up with God? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Timothy 1:9-10,

"He [God] has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."

Here is God's agenda. If anyone ever wanted to know "what's up with God?"... this is it! No mystery here, no guessing, no secret. God's purpose on planet earth is to save us, to invite us into his family that we might live our lives as family members.

Why is this God's agenda for us? Paul tells us that the salvation he offers us comes from "his own purpose and grace." Grace calls to mind God's incomprehensible love for mankind, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son..." John 3:16.

It is this agenda that drives all that happens in this short and temporary life. Real life begins following this life. Life following this life, resurrection life, will be different in that it is forever. Those who embrace Jesus Christ in faith will be raised to eternal life with all of the blessings that belong to the Son of God as he shares those with his family members. Those who fail to embrace the Lord in faith in this life will be raised for damnation, an eternity in what Revelation 21:8 describes as a "fiery lake of burning sulfur."

Expectations, assumptions, all that we pursue in this life, if we recognize what it is God is doing and pursue those things that are consistent with his "purposes and grace", will result in life well lived, a satisfied life lived here "under the sun". It is when we fail to recognize God, it is when we misunderstand what he is doing here, it is when we reject his agenda for our own is when we find unhappiness, disappointment, discouragement in this life.

So, what are you pursuing today?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

The devastating reality of a failure to pray constantly - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Timothy 1:3,

"I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers."

Here is a surprising reality: because God may do things he otherwise might not without his people asking in prayer, Paul has a clear conscience in regard to Timothy because he had been praying for him.

I realize that the notion that prayer may move God to do things he might otherwise not does not comport, does not "fit", many people's theology. Because they refuse to leave their theology at the door when they enter into the Scriptures, they are unable to handle some very simple truths - certainly this one.

Listen to what the Lord told us concerning prayer and our heavenly Father's potential response, "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: 'In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, "Grant me justice against my adversary." 
For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, "Even though I don't fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually come and attack me!"'

And the Lord said, 'Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?'"

The faith Jesus spoke of was the faith which would prompt people to pray continually. The point of the teaching was not how God the Father is like the judge, but that just as the woman persuaded the judge, so we can persuade our heavenly Father with those things that align with his purposes.

Here is quite a sobering thought: we have a responsibility to bring one another before God in prayer. If not, we cannot maintain a very important attitude toward God and one another - a clear conscience. If I can aid you by praying for you, enlisting God's resources for you, and if you can aid me in praying for me, enlisting God's resources for me, to not do so makes us culpable before God and one another. If we neglect such a wonderful resource for one another, how could we maintain a clear conscience? How could we say we love one another?

There is one reason alone we might not be praying for one another. It has nothing to do with being too busy, too tired, not enough time in the day or any of the usual things we tell ourselves. It is simply due to the question Jesus asked at the end of his teaching on prayer: if we are not praying for one another, we lack faith. There simply is no getting around it.

Faith in the believer will prompt him to pray. It is no more complicated than that. So, what does my prayer life really tell me about my faith? 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Life and immortality through the gospel: God's grace! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Timothy 1:9b-10,

"This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."

The antecedent to "This grace" is what Paul reminds Timothy of in the first part of verse 9, "He has saved us and called us to a holy life..." Paul notes God did this, not as a result of finding us in any way meriting it, but simply because of his grace. Grace is that special expression of God's love for us in the many blessings he has bestowed on us - blessings he has showered us with, not because we deserve them but simply because of a profound and incomprehensible love he has for all mankind.

The culmination of this grace, of course, will only accrue to those who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith. This is the grace Paul speaks of: God does not require us to do anything to receive his blessings of eternal life, as he only requires us to embrace him in faith. This is the gospel message.

The gospel is all and only about faith. It is not about appointment (predestination), it is not about baptism, it is not about joining a certain church or denomination, the gospel is all and only about faith. It is not about attending church each and every Sunday, it is not about the completion of various and sundry spiritual disciplines, it is not about being a do-gooder, the gospel is all and only about faith. Not that any of these things are wrong in themselves (except the silly notion of predestination), it is just that faith is the one and only element that God looks for as he pursues his agenda of salvation through the gospel.

The wonder of the gospel is that it expresses the heart of our God in such a magnificent way! It is through the gospel that life and immortality are made known, are brought to light! It is through the gospel that a way has been made possible for life and immortality for someone as hopeless as me! It is through the gospel I have the opportunity to have the righteousness of Jesus Christ before God the Father! It is through the gospel I have a certain hope!

How wonderful is the grace of God as expressed and fulfilled through the gospel message!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

What has the Lord dropped in your pocket? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Timothy 1:6,

"For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands."

Here is an interesting verse! Paul reminds Timothy to "fan into flame the gift of God..." We are told that each of us are given what Scripture calls "gifts". These are particular enablements, special talents, specific abilities that are given us by the Holy Spirit when he comes to dwell within the hearts of believers.

These gifts are to be used for the welfare and benefit of all in the fellowship. We read in Romans 12:6-8, "We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."

Here is a fascinating passage that speaks of these gifts, "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines." 1 Corinthians 12:4-11.

What I note this morning is that although it is the Holy Spirit working within the hearts of believers that produces these "gifts", as it is he who gives them, we have a responsibility to utilize them. The Holy Spirit does not do it all, we have a very important part to play. Apparently, these gifts can lie dormant if not utilized by the believer. Paul tells Timothy to "fan into flame the gift of God" he had received. The Holy Spirit gave the gift, but it is up to Timothy to employ it.

Peter makes a similar comment about our responsibility in this matter, "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10. This is very important for each of us as Peter further observes, "If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ." Verse 11.

We have all received something from the Holy Spirit to serve others. What is it the Lord has enabled you to do? Might there be something he has worked within your heart you have still to discover? Are you employing what the Lord has given you? These are all questions I ask of myself.

Our participation in the kingdom of God begins in this life and we all have a part to play. I love how the Lord works through us in each other's lives. He didn't have to do it that way, but that is exactly what he does. How amazing he looks to us to exercise our own wills to employ in the lives of others, (expressing his love), the gifts he gives us!!

What has the Lord dropped in your pocket?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Changes within - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Timothy 1:7,

"The Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."

The "Spirit God gave us" is the Holy Spirit, commonly referred to as the third person of the Trinity, (God in three persons.) The other two persons, of course, would be God the Father and God the Son (Jesus Christ). Each are fully God and are not one person wearing three hats. The Scriptures reveal to us in a variety of places three distinct persons that comprise the Trinity.

Here is a sample from John 14 where Jesus tells his followers, "I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." Verses 16-17. This is the Spirit Paul made reference to in writing to Timothy that I quoted above. In John 14, Jesus goes on to say, "All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." Verses 25-26.

The Holy Spirit, (just as Jesus promised us), comes to dwell within our lives when we embrace Jesus Christ in faith. Of course, when a person experiences this indwelling, God now living within us, it produces amazing changes within our lives. Where God was not - and now is - is going to have impact. Great impact. In Romans 8:9, Paul tells us that all who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith will have the Holy Spirit come to dwell within them, and that if one does not have the Holy Spirit within, then he does not belong to Jesus Christ. That confession of faith would simply not be genuine.

In this, what we call his second letter to Timothy, Paul reminds him that the Holy Spirit does not make us timid but gives us power, love and self-discipline when he comes to dwell within us. All who have placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ should be seeing these things take shape in their lives (or at least those around a believer should see them take place in the believer's life.)

Power, love and self-discipline... these are recognizable changes that should take shape within us as believers. I just find this fascinating! How about you?

For some further things the Holy Spirit brings to our lives, see Galatians 5:22-23. Love is repeated there, as well as self-discipline (self-control) There are seven other specific things mentioned there. Do you know what they are? If not, you may want to read up on what is taking place within you.

Pretty amazing, isn't it?!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Replacing the Savior with religion - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Timothy 4:1,

"The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons."

Although Paul says what it is these folks, who will abandon the faith in favor of religion, will do, he doesn't really elaborate on why. He tells us, in so many words, their faith and trust in Jesus Christ will be jettisoned for a pursuit of religion.

Astonishing!

How can one come to know our breath-taking Savior, how can one experience his love and kindness, how can one be the recipient of his wonderful mercy and receive his lavish grace he showers on us, and turn their back on it all for religion?

In a move that clearly expresses a rejection of his expressed love manifested on his cross in favor of being a do-gooder, these people do not find the sacrifice of our matchless Savior as good enough! No... in favor of setting themselves to the task of proving just how well-behaved and wonderful they can be, they make the foolish decision to make a demonstration of it to God.

Not me. I am not good enough! No effort on my own could ever approach God's amazing expression of love in sending his Son to die for me! "They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods..." How, on God's green earth, do people allow themselves to become so deluded to think they are good enough, their efforts are good enough, that they displace faith in Jesus Christ for being a do-gooder? They are all around us today, in various religions, in various denominations, in all kinds of churches... lip-service to the Savior but a cracking of the whip to engage in the strictures of religious exercises and disciplines.

My Lord knows all my weaknesses. In an incomprehensible love, he has made a way, the way of faith into his family for me. A place at his table, a joint-heir with Jesus Christ in his own inheritance. There is no way I'm passing that by to prove to God and others I'm something I clearly am not.

Jesus Christ is simply all I need. Nothing can begin to approach what he has done.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

On seeing progress - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Timothy 4:15,

"Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress."

Paul anticipated progress in Timothy as Timothy gave himself to following Paul's direction, among which was to "set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." Verse 12.

What captures my attention this morning is the realization that there should be a "progress" evident in our lives as we, like Timothy, follow apostolic direction as found in the Scriptures.

Timothy was Paul's younger protege, who undoubtedly spent many hours at Paul's "knee" being instructed, encouraged, trained and matured by him. This is the man Paul speaks to - of whom he desired to see continued "progress."

If Timothy was to demonstrate progress in his life in the things of God, certainly, how much more do I need of progress! I am quite certain none of us "arrive" in the things of God, a point at which we have nothing else we need to "get under our belts" of those things while here on planet earth. Following this life, I am equally certain we will have progressed well beyond where each of us might find ourselves in the things of God, no matter how long we live and how far we progress. In the meantime, I know I have a whole lot of "progressing" to do!

This tells me that where I should be this year, in terms of key indicators in my life, is not where I was a year ago, and not where I should be next year. My confidence and faith in God should be growing. My love for others should be growing. My understanding of what I am taught in the Scriptures should be growing.

A passage that comes to mind that might be a good yardstick to measure myself with from year to year is Colossians 3:12-14, "... clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

Here is a great question for myself, how does my life look this year, relative to last regarding Colossians 3:12-14? Am I seeing progress?

How about you? What passage might you use to gauge progress in your life? Are you moving ahead, from year to year? What do you expect God may be anticipating in your life this year in terms of progress from last year?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

The ultimate mission statement - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Timothy 1:15,

"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners..."

Here is the mission statement for the Son of God's visit here to planet Earth two millenia ago: he came to save sinners! I will never fail to appreciate the love of God for his expression in sending his Son that I might participate in eternal life, that I might have a way into his family, that I might have a place at his table! To think of it is simply breath-taking!

The mission statement for God's Son is our mission statement as well. A lot of folks have never figured out what this temporal life is all about. In the list of classic philosophic questions is the really big one: why are we here? What is the meaning of this "life under the sun"?

Our answer lies in the mission of Jesus Christ. He came to save sinners. Our mission is to get saved. We are all sinners and we all need God's love, mercy and forgiveness. This he offers us in Jesus Christ and was paid for by his death on that miserable cross!

This is why we are here: to be born again, as Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3. The wise will recognize that our lives here, our lives "under the sun" are merely precursory to what is to come. A little later in this letter Paul speaks of living our lives here as a "foundation for the coming age". In doing this we "may take hold of the life that is truly life." 1 Timothy 6:19. This life is merely the obstetrics ward in God's great cosmic scheme of things. We are here to be saved, to be reborn, to be regenerated. As an obstetrics ward, life here is only temporary, it is only for a short time. As babies cannot remain forever in the obstetrics ward, we do not remain here forever. We pass from this life into eternity - however, what happens here determines our future in eternity. If we embrace Jesus Christ in faith, we join his family. If we reject Jesus Christ we will participate in that fiery lake of burning sulfur, Revelation 21:8. No exceptions.

Some think we are here to amass wealth: "He who wins is the one who dies with the most toys." Some think we are here to fulfill the "American Dream". Some think we are here to advance ourselves, to improve ourselves, to learn things or to work through our karma, etc. I suspect most of us think we are here simply to coddle ourselves.

The truth is that college, a career, a marriage, raising a family, the accumulation of stuff, the enjoyment of all kinds of activities all find their only value in one thing, and one thing alone: being reborn, being saved, joining God's family. Everything and anything in life is subordinate and contingent upon this one thing.

This life is fleeting. Today I turn 65 years old and I am here to tell you time flies by fast. Make sure you stop everything in your life (if you have not done so yet) and reorder it around this one thing: being spiritually reborn! As Jesus said, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Ordering and forbidding others - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Timothy 4:3,

"They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth."

I can't help but notice the thrust of those given to false teaching is to manipulate others. Notice the false teachers: they "forbid", they "order" others. Whether their motivation is avarice (which accompanies so many false teachers these days), or the pursuit of accomplishing some self-gratifying purpose that feeds an arrogance or conceit, they are always attempting to control those around them. Those who yield to them become useful in accomplishing their questionable ends. I'm sure you can identify examples of this you have encountered.

The Lord has raised certain ones up in our lives to equip and train us, "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." Ephesians 4:11-13. The context in which this kind of godly ministry takes place exists in contrast to the efforts of false teachers. While false teachers operate in a sphere of forbidding others, ordering others, manipulating others, godly teachers recognize the direct connection each and every believer has with their God, and refrain from such manipulation.

I am not referring to the taking of a strong stand against sin, or against false teaching - indeed, Paul told Timothy to command the false teachers from peddling their wares, "As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies." 1 Timothy 1:3-4. What I am referring to is the manipulation of others to achieve ends that are not consistent with God's agenda. An example of this would be a false teacher or teachers identifying "distinctives" in their theology - perversions of orthodoxy - that require a break with a genuine fellowship. This might provide these teachers with a following of their own, a financial benefit that might accrue to the leadership that such a new group might bring, etc.

When it comes to thinking of those who manipulate others, I am reminded of what Paul said earlier in this letter, "There is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus..." 1 Timothy 2:5. Each of us have a direct connection to Jesus Christ when we embrace him in faith, and that connection extends to the entire godhead. We, each, can now approach God's throne of grace on our own with full confidence and without the manipulations, distortions and perversions of false teachers who promise us theirs "is the way!"

Paul makes some interesting observations relative to these things in Romans 14. He says, "Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. One person's faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand." Verses 1-4.

Indeed, when it comes to ordering others, false teachers may need to be reminded, "One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind." Verse 5. And, "You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. It is written: 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.' So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister." Verses 10-13.

Possibly the best advice for false teachers who have a compulsion to manipulate others is, "So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God." Verse 22.

There is a place for teachers in our lives that bring us into God's presence and point us to him. Such folks are wonderful. Those who seek to manipulate us with false doctrine, do so, not to bring us near God, but bring us near their false teachings and their questionable agenda.

Something to think about...

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com