The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Timothy 3:14-15,
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 reply and let me know.
"Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth."
Paul provides instructions to Timothy regarding the selection of individuals to serve in various capacities within the local church. He has also provided instructions on the worship of God and the need for prayer. In his call for prayer he points to the transcendent love of God, "who wants all me to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth."
As Paul provides these instructions, he says he does so that the folks will know how to "conduct themselves in God's household". What Paul says about this household is what fascinates me this morning. As I think of my own household, it is what I make of it. As Paul calls the church "God's household" I am reminded that the church is what God makes of it. What he has made of it is "the pillar and foundation of the truth."
In a fascinating participation with redeemed men, God has chosen to build his church with those who respond to the gospel message, and since the earliest of days, there have been others who have tried to make something else of it. I think of those who attempted to bring law-keeping into the Galatian churches and the false teachers that John spoke of in his first letter. Many other examples can be cited of attempted perversions of the church by those who would lead the church astray.
While it has been easy to be critical (and rightfully so) of these attempts to pervert God's church, the church is nevertheless his household and what he makes of it. What he has made of it is "the pillar and foundation of the truth." It is from within the true church that the gospel message goes out to the world. It is from within the true church that the Scriptures have been preserved and taught. It is from within the true church that the Lord has raised up those who teach, those who preach, those who evangelize, those who bring the rest of us to a point of maturity that we be equipped and enabled to carry on what God is doing in and through his household.
What a magnificent household this is! What a magnificent Lord who has made the church what she is!
Paul provides instructions to Timothy regarding the selection of individuals to serve in various capacities within the local church. He has also provided instructions on the worship of God and the need for prayer. In his call for prayer he points to the transcendent love of God, "who wants all me to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth."
As Paul provides these instructions, he says he does so that the folks will know how to "conduct themselves in God's household". What Paul says about this household is what fascinates me this morning. As I think of my own household, it is what I make of it. As Paul calls the church "God's household" I am reminded that the church is what God makes of it. What he has made of it is "the pillar and foundation of the truth."
In a fascinating participation with redeemed men, God has chosen to build his church with those who respond to the gospel message, and since the earliest of days, there have been others who have tried to make something else of it. I think of those who attempted to bring law-keeping into the Galatian churches and the false teachers that John spoke of in his first letter. Many other examples can be cited of attempted perversions of the church by those who would lead the church astray.
While it has been easy to be critical (and rightfully so) of these attempts to pervert God's church, the church is nevertheless his household and what he makes of it. What he has made of it is "the pillar and foundation of the truth." It is from within the true church that the gospel message goes out to the world. It is from within the true church that the Scriptures have been preserved and taught. It is from within the true church that the Lord has raised up those who teach, those who preach, those who evangelize, those who bring the rest of us to a point of maturity that we be equipped and enabled to carry on what God is doing in and through his household.
What a magnificent household this is! What a magnificent Lord who has made the church what she is!
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 reply and let me know.
No comments:
Post a Comment