Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus)

Timothy and Titus Training 101

I Timothy 6, The Message
9-10 But if it’s only money these leaders are after, they’ll self-destruct in no time. Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after.

Running Hard
11-12 But you, Timothy, man of God: Run for your life from all this. Pursue a righteous life—a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. Run hard and fast in the faith. Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to, the life you so fervently embraced in the presence of so many witnesses.

I was taught as a developing teacher to evaluate, evaluate, evaluate! We were told in college days to evaluate the lesson before you teach it, while your teaching it and after you teach it to see how you could improve you skill at communicating. This point was driven home to me so many times that I cannot walk into any situation without evaluating my surroundings, what I say to people, how I say it, what battles to fight and which ones to let go, how I will approach problems that arise and how I live my life with God and for God. I relate to what Paul is trying to express to young Timothy…RUN hard. SEIZE life eternal. DO what you where called to do. PURSUE the righteous way of being and doing it. Wow, what words of challenge and affirmation, right?

What do we learn?
–Evaluate and take stock of who we are in Christ often.
–Run hard and fast in the faith. Say YES to God. Always.
–Seize eternal life, not the lusts of the world.
–Live the life you embraced when you were first called by God to be and do His purpose and will for you life.
–Embrace the righteous path. It’s narrow, but not hidden.
–Live a life of childlike awe and wonder for the works and ways of God. If we are aware, His Presence is always there. Every day. Look for Him today. I will.

But wait, there’s more!

Paul’s charge to Timothy…and to us!
3-16 I’m charging you before the life-giving God and before Christ, who took his stand before Pontius Pilate and didn’t give an inch: Keep this command to the letter, and don’t slack off. Our Master, Jesus Christ, is on his way. He’ll show up right on time, his arrival guaranteed by the Blessed and Undisputed Ruler, High King, High God. He’s the only one death can’t touch, his light so bright no one can get close. He’s never been seen by human eyes—human eyes can’t take him in! Honor to him, and eternal rule! Oh, yes.

17-19 Tell those rich in this world’s wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they’ll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life.

20-21 And oh, my dear Timothy, guard the treasure you were given! Guard it with your life. Avoid the talk-show religion and the practiced confusion of the so-called experts. People caught up in a lot of talk can miss the whole point of faith.

Overwhelming grace keep you!

Dear Lord, God of Heaven and Earth…Don’t let us miss the whole point of faith. May overwhelming grace from You be embraced to day and forever, In Jesus Name, Amen!

Timothy and Titus Training 101

Most pastors do not make enough to be “rich” in the world’s eyes, but maybe that’s why the temptation to lust after what you do not have needs to be discussed with advice from Paul to Timothy on what is really importantly…richly simplistically important!

Timothy and Titus Training 101

When we want our kids to get the message quickly, with urgency, we reduce all conversation and explanation to powerful action verbs of commands such as, “Stop that!” “Hang on to it!” “Eat, now.” “Drive carefully, please!” My favorite of all times..after the third child, “Lick you fingers, I don’t have a wipe at the moment.” Okay, now that I have grossed you out a bit, let’s get down to the wisdom of Paul’s action words to Timothy as he passes on the Truth that he commands Timothy to pass on to others. This is what a great leader who is motivated by The Message and not himself does with information that is powerful and life transforming.

1 Timothy 4, The Message (All caps for the action words are mine just to help me remember and take notice.)

REMEMBER THE MESSAGE…YOU’VE BEEN RAISED ON IT!

6-10 You’ve been raised on the Message of the faith and have followed sound teaching. Now pass on this counsel to the followers of Jesus there, and you’ll be a good servant of Jesus. Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion. Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart. This is why we’ve thrown ourselves into this venture so totally. We’re banking on the living God, Savior of all men and women, especially believers.

NOW DO IT! Action Words….Less words of conversation because Timothy knows the message from previous teaching of his elders and family…so now Paul gets down to the bottom line.

11-14 GET the word out. TEACH all these things. And don’t let anyone put you down because you’re young. Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity. STAY at your post reading Scripture, giving counsel, teaching. And that special gift of ministry you were given when the leaders of the church laid hands on you and prayed—keep that dusted off and in use.

15-16 CULTIVATE these things. IMMERSE yourself in them. The people will all see you mature right before their eyes! KEEP a firm grasp on both your character and your teaching. Don’t be diverted. JUST KEEP at it. Both you and those who hear you will experience salvation.

Reflection:
What is the bottom line for us, today?
What are those actions words we could pass on to someone else who needs to hear them…right now?
Do I need to go over the message I’ve been taught once more? Am I ready to pass it on, teaching and encouraging them, like Paul to Timothy?
What motivates my leadership, right now, today?

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for teaching us through your servants who longed for Your Message to be passed on through the generations. Help us to STAY at it, to KEEP Your Message pure and not watered down. Help us to FOCUS on You. May we stay IMMERSED in Your love, mercy and grace, willing to pass on the good news to others so they will experience and know You, too. Help us to know and realize Your love for us so deeply that we cannot do anything less but love others they way you love us. In Jesus Name, Amen

Timothy and Titus Training 101

Leadership Principle #3: Integrity

Who do you trust? Who would you follow? Who do you go to for advice and help? Like me, you probably seek out people who are consistently real, not perfect and knows it, has wisdom without judgement, confronts with care and loves like Jesus loves…without condition. You look for those who lay aside their own interests for the interests of others well being. They are not necessarily rich monetarily, but are content with what they have.

They “walk the talk”, living out what God’s Word says and live a blessed life in spite of circumstances beyond their control. They consistently do the right thing, even when it hurts. They seem to have a consistent communication with God and look for direction from the Holy Spirit when making decisions. They take a stand for God and don’t waver from Jesus’ teachings. This is called integrity of faith. Integrity, built through experience, is tested over the course of time. Their first thought in the morning is love for God and love for others.

Paul gives Timothy the perimeters for principled people to seek to help lead AND serve in God’s church.

1-7 If anyone wants to provide leadership in the church, good! But there are preconditions: A leader must be well-thought-of, committed to his wife, cool and collected, accessible, and hospitable. He must know what he’s talking about, not be overfond of wine, not pushy but gentle, not thin-skinned, not money-hungry. He must handle his own affairs well, attentive to his own children and having their respect. For if someone is unable to handle his own affairs, how can he take care of God’s church? He must not be a new believer, lest the position go to his head and the Devil trip him up. Outsiders must think well of him, or else the Devil will figure out a way to lure him into his trap.

8-13 The same goes for those who want to be servants in the church: serious, not deceitful, not too free with the bottle, not in it for what they can get out of it. They must be reverent before the mystery of the faith, not using their position to try to run things. Let them prove themselves first. If they show they can do it, take them on. No exceptions are to be made for women—same qualifications: serious, dependable, not sharp-tongued, not overfond of wine. Servants in the church are to be committed to their spouses, attentive to their own children, and diligent in looking after their own affairs. Those who do this servant work will come to be highly respected, a real credit to this Jesus-faith.

What do we learn?
–Integrity is tested over time leading to consistency of wisdom, insight and understanding.
–Integrity is highly sought after and honored.
–Integrity comes from a heart motivated by God’s Holy Spirit to lead and help others know Him more and more.
–Integrity is highly respected in our faith in Jesus. Jesus honors integrity for HE knows our hearts.

Dear Heavenly Father, In this world of fake, flattery and fraud, it is refreshing to find a person of integrity to love and lead well. May we mature to be all You intended for us to be and do in our families, in Your church and in the world of darkness. May we reflect Your powerful light of love and Truth.
In Jesus Name, Amen