The challenge of faith - 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 4:3,

"For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."

What is it that folks desire when they gather to themselves teachers who tell them what they want to hear? What is it they are seeking from these teachers?

We have a listing of what people will become "in the last days". We read in 3:1-5, "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people."

This morning my mind is on those who have a "form of godliness but denying its power." These would be religious people with their "form of godliness". They look the part and they play the part... but when it comes to faith, they deny the power of godliness.

Faith and the power of God are inextricably tied. The faith that the Scriptures teach us about, faith that leads to a righteous standing with God is bound to the confidence we must have in the power of God. We can have faith in anything. I crossed a bridge to get to work this morning, being confident it would hold up under the weight of my car and the others crossing with me. But it is not faith in bridges that brings salvation.

Abraham is presented to us as the example of the kind of faith God looks for in each of us. Paul tells us, "Yet 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. Abraham was "fully persuaded" in God's power.

In another place Paul provides the definitive answer to the question, "how do we get saved", in his explanation of the gospel. He says, "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." Romans 10:9-10. Note again, the issue of our salvation rests on our being persuaded of God's power... the power he demonstrated when he raised Jesus from the dead.

Faith demands we recognize God's ability to save us. It provides us confidence in the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, paying the penalty for our sins. It persuades us of Jesus Christ's divinity and the Father's acceptance of his sacrificial death on the cross as full payment for our sins.

We are saved through faith. Faith in God, a faith that recognizes the power of God. Some, who apparently struggle with this kind of faith advance other ideas, hence, gathering to themselves teachers who teach what their "itching ears want to hear." At times the truth that salvation is by faith is replaced with a laundry list of religious things that must be done. Other times faith is taught as not bringing salvation but merely manifesting salvation. These folks believe in salvation by appointment, rejecting even the possibility that we can have faith without manipulation by God (which, of course denies genuine faith.)

Paul's perspective in salvation by faith, specifically in God's power, is underscored when he speaks of the gospel itself, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'" Romans 1:16-17.

Faith is a struggle for many. It requires us to have a heart for God. It requires we have a confidence in God's love for us and a fear of God's judgment at the end of the age. Salvation is by faith, faith in the power of God.

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 great contest of wills... are you willing? - 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 1:1,

"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus..."

In his salutation to Timothy, Paul points out that his apostleship was due to God's will. It was God's choice Paul be an apostle. God's decision. Paul did not claim his apostleship was his decision, the decision of the leadership of the church in Jerusalem or the decision of the Gentiles to whom Paul would focus his ministry. It was God's will, God's decision and God's choice.

I am overstating this obvious point for a reason. Many of us fail so often to recognize God's will. We displace the pursuit of God's will for our own. All too often we seek out what we want and assign it as "God's will". We pursue what it is we desire, what we may feel brings us the best advantage in life, what we think might be most fulfilling or most fun.

Of course, there is nothing new here. Folks have been displacing God's will for their own all the way back to the very first two humans God created: Adam and Eve. In Paul's letter here to Timothy, he speaks of those who have displaced God's will for their own, "Warn them [God's people] before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen." Folks do those kinds of things, "quarreling about words" when they displace God's will in their lives for their own.

Those who truly seek God's will have a different perspective. "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness." That is, they must displace or subordinate their own will, influenced by their own sinful nature, in favor of God's will. Paul asks Timothy, "Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels." Why should Timothy want to do such? Because it is God's will to do so. 

God has his will and we have ours. The question is, whose will wins in the choices each of us make about what we think, say and do? The choice is ours. I suspect the real question is: Is it our will to follow God's will?

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

Don't forget the Lord - Ruminating in the Word of Gopd

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 2:8,

"Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David."

Here is something that can be viewed as astonishing. Paul asks Timothy to "Remember Jesus Christ..."! I find it startling to see Paul tell Timothy to remember the Lord.

I am certain Paul's exhortation to Timothy to do so is with the view of insuring Timothy keeps Jesus Christ front and center in his thinking, in his teaching, in his theology and in his life. It is not just Timothy that is asked to remember the Lord, we are all asked to do so.

As startling as it may be that we are exhorted to "remember" the Lord, it must be an important point for all of us. After all, as we celebrate communion, we are asked to so in remembrance of the Lord, "The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "'This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.'" 1 Corinthians 11:23-25.

Jesus Christ came to planet earth to die a miserable death to pay the penalty for my sins - how could I ever forget him? Jesus Christ extended his invitation to me to join his family - how could I ever forget him? Jesus Christ came to make a way for me to eternal life - how could I ever forget him? Jesus Christ has extended an incomprehensible love to me in offering to share his inheritance from God the Father with me - how could I ever forget him?

Yet, sadly, I have to admit there are times when it seems my mind is miles from him. Things come up during the day, my mind goes to other places and after a while the thought may strike me, "Oh, yeah... what an amazing thing the Lord has done for me!" He "drifts" back into my conscious awareness. I need reminding!

Timothy faced opposition from false teachers. He had his things to do in the execution of his responsibilities as a member of Paul's team. I suspect he was pushed and pulled in a variety of ways by those he worked with. He was to maintain good doctrine and live a life pleasing to the Lord, "Watch your life and doctrine closely." 1 Timothy 4:16.

In the midst of all Timothy was involved in, in the midst of all we get involved in, even in "church stuff" (and, maybe particularly in "church stuff") we need to be sure we are always mindful of the Lord. We need remembrance of his love, his suffering on our behalf, the joy and hope we have in him and the remarkable inheritance we share with him.

Remember the Lord!

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's "fountain of youth" - 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 [our salvation] 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."

Wikipedia has an interesting article on the "Fountain of Youth", that begins with this comment, "The Fountain of Youth is a spring that supposedly restores the youth of anyone who drinks or bathes in its waters. Tales of such a fountain have been recounted across the world for thousands of years, appearing in writings by Herodotus (5th century BC), the Alexander romance (3rd century CE), and the stories of Prester John (early Crusades, 11th/12th centuries CE). Stories of similar waters were also evidently prominent among the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean during the Age of Exploration (early 15th century), who spoke of the restorative powers of the water in the mythical land of Bimini." I recall reading of Ponce de Leon and his quest for a fountain of youth in grade school when we studied the explorers of the world.

I am quite certain many folks over the years have looked in vain for some relief in facing the specter of death. As we read in Genesis 3, death was not a part of God's creation until Adam and Eve rebelled against God in the garden of Eden. The horror of death has spawned within man a gripping desire to cling to youth and to avoid death, even to the point of looking for a mythical fountain that would spare them the fate.

However, death is inescapable as we read in Hebrews 9:27, "Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment..." we simply cannot avoid it. However, as the writer of Hebrews acknowledges, death is not the end of us. Physical life is followed by resurrection for all people. Some are resurrected to eternal life and some to eternal death. In Revelation 20:4b-6 we read, "They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years." From this we learn of the two resurrections, the first to eternal life and the second to eternal death.

In his letter to Timothy, Paul speaks of where we find our escape from death. It is through Jesus Christ, who has "destroyed death" and brought "immortality to light" in the gospel. It is not escape from physical death - as sinners, we all will face that occurrence (except for those still alive at the Lord's return to earth). However, it is through Jesus Christ that we can enter into what our Creator originally intended for us all: living our lives in eternal bliss and pleasure with him, see Psalm 16:11.

Jesus Christ is not just a religion. He is life itself, life as God has always intended for us. Life free from a shelf-life, life free from infirmity, sickness, disease, life free from a world dominated by a collective sin nature. Beyond the absence of the negative things of this life, eternal life will be a life of eternal pleasure, life lived in the presence of God himself, life full of purposefulness, satisfaction and fulfillment.

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

Paul's love and passion - 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 1:15,

"You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes."

Paul's situation when he wrote 2 Timothy is heart-wrenching. Unlike his imprisonment when he first arrived at Rome, living in a rented house, Acts 28:30, he was now chained in prison, 2 Timothy 1:16 and 2:9. As such he was deserted by some of those whom he counted upon and those he loved. He says that everyone from the province of Asia had deserted him, specifically mentioning Phygelus and Hermogenes. I suspect these two are named specifically because it might be thought that for these two to do so, it provides a measure of Paul's sense of abandonment by those who should have stood at his side.

Paul spoke of his sense of concern and care for many of the churches he helped establish. In 2 Corinthians 11:28-29 he says, "Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?" He tells the Philippian church, "Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown..." Philippians 4:1. Listen to his passion for the folks in Thessalonica, "But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way. For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy." 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20.

For any fellowship to abandon Paul, many of which he expended his life for, must have been heart-breaking. Paul speaks of his great satisfaction and fulfillment in his work, always acknowledging the Lord as the one who empowered him and enabled him to do the work. As is seen in his feelings for those in the fellowships I have referenced above, to be abandoned by those he loved and expended himself for must have weighed on him heavily.

Paul suffered much in his calling to be the apostle to the Gentiles. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-29 he speaks of some of the difficulties and hardships he faced in his work, "I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?"

I suspect it was the hardship of being abandoned, due to his love and concern for others, that weighed on him most heavily. Paul had a heart for people. Listen to his concern for his own countrymen who rejected the gospel, "I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, the people of Israel." Paul cared for people dearly, reflecting the love of the Lord himself in his actions and writings.

Isn't it amazing what the Lord can do in a hardened heart? Of himself, as a younger man, before having his encounter with Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, Paul confesses, "I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man..." 1 Timothy 1:13. Now we see a changed man whose heart for others is on clear display: a love and passion for the Lord and a love and passion for people.

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

Where to go to know - 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 3:14-15,

"As for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."

Some have fanciful ideas as to how people get saved. Some have long lists of all the things we need to do to get saved, some teach God drops a "roofie" in our drink when we are not looking (figuratively speaking), some have their own "peculiar" teachings about salvation found in the writers who began new religions and denominations, etc. Here Paul points to God's word, the Scriptures to find the true way to salvation.

Paul says to Timothy it is the Scriptures that makes one "wise for salvation." This is because our salvation is through our Savior, Jesus Christ and how we draw near to him is provided us in his word. Paul points out the way is "through faith in Christ Jesus." It doesn't happen by joining a church, by participating in ecclesiastical ordinances or sacraments. Salvation doesn't happen by imploring a priest, bishop, the Pope, pastor or elder. It is not found in mystical religions, through monks, the Dalai Lama, Muhammad or Joseph Smith. It is not found in vestments or appointments to ecclesiastical positions of authority. Salvation is simply through faith in the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

"Yet to all who did receive him [Jesus Christ], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God..." John 1:12. "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them." John 3:36. In this passage we are told what salvation actually is. It is to be saved from "God's wrath." It is God's judgment that determines our eternal destiny, and so it is God's word that provides us with the authentic and authoritative way to salvation.

Here is how Paul put it in Romans 3:21-25a, "But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith."

Salvation comes by faith in Christ Jesus. The Scriptures tell us this. Nothing and no one in this world can approach the Scriptures when it comes to knowing how we can have eternal life, eternal pleasures (Psalm 16:11) at the right hand of God for all eternity!

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 equips you? - 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 3:16-17,

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

We have lots of religions these days. There were in the historical days of early Israel as well, as some things never change. The draw for many of these religions, denominations, "faiths", cults, isms and schisms is that they promote the notion of having for themselves, and them alone, a corner on the truth. No one but them knows the real deal except for them. Often their theology and teachings are accompanied by special writings of their originators or key figures, or writings about them. It is good to be reminded that only the writings we have in our Bibles are authoritative. Sixty-six books, each and every one of them inspired by God. Other writings are not inspired by God. Peter explains what is meant by the term "inspired" in 2 Peter 1:20-21, "Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."

The "All Scripture" Paul speaks to Timothy of are books we have in our Bibles. While the New Testament was still under formation, the books of what we call the "Old Testament" were the focus of Paul's observation. Our Bibles contain thirty-nine books we refer to as the Old Testament. In Paul's day, those thirty-nine books were arranged somewhat differently into 24 books, or scrolls. However, by the time Paul wrote 2 Timothy, it was being recognized by the early church that the production of newly inspired writings was taking place. Peter speaks of it in 2 Peter 3:16 where he refers to Paul's writings as Scripture (a technical name indicating writings inspired by God himself, as in 2 Peter 1:20-21.)

Our Bibles contain what is deemed to be the inspired word of God, "the Scriptures." It is within our Bible's covers we find the "all Scripture" that Paul informs us is "God-breathed and is what is useful for becoming "thoroughly equipped for every good work." I note the all inclusive words of "All Scripture", "thoroughly equipped" and "every good work." Paul does not refer to some of the Scriptures, he does not say partially equipped and he does not say some good works. All Scripture is God-breathed. By "God-breathed", I understand that it is the Scriptures that God brings to life, illuminating our hearts, minds and spirits through his Holy Spirit as we spend time in them, bringing about the equipping for every good work.

Many people promote other books, other materials, other writings. They have other things to say. However, it is what God has to say that interests me. It is God who sent his Son to die for me, it is God who made a way for me into his family, it is God who has richly blessed me with an inheritance of eternal life, and, so, it is God I want to hear from. It is God who I want to listen to, it is God who will equip me for the work he has for me.

Are there other writings that might be helpful? I'm sure there are. However, it is the Scriptures I look for - for having myself equipped for what the Lord wants me doing.

How about you? Might there be room in your life for further equipping by God? I know there is in my life... and I avail myself of the Scriptures for just this very purpose.

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