SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 11/17/2024 8:13 AM
My Worship Time Focus: “Altruism”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: 2 Timothy
1:2b”
Message of the verse: “Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”
In most of Paul’s letters this would be called a
greeting, but these are not just words but the expression of a genuine desire
for God’s best to be reality in the life of Paul’s young son in the faith,
Timothy. It was Paul’s desire to
motivate Timothy by his altruism, (meaning unselfishness), that his unselfish
concern for the devotion to the welfare of others. Like all believers, Timothy was saved by
divine grace; the unmerited favor of God’s providing forgiveness and also
justification. Paul wanted his son in
the faith to continually live in divine mercy, the inexpressible blessing of
deliverance from the misery that sin deserves and creates. Paul also wanted Timothy to continue in full peace
of mind and heart, the inner tranquillity produced by divine grace and
mercy. Paul also wanted Timothy to have
the best that God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord offer to redeemed
sinners: now grace to cover sin, and
mercy to overrule misery, and then peace to dominate his life.
MacArthur concludes this very short section by writing “If
we want to truly motivate other believers, we must, like Paul, have genuine,
loving, and unqualified concern for their full spiritual blessing. In addition to their recognizing our
authority under God, we want our brothers and sisters in Christ to know that
they are loved by us without reservation.
This too, elicits response.”
Spiritual meaning
for my life today: It is because
that I have many of the issues that Timothy has, I desire to better understand
how Paul is writing to Timothy to correct these issues in his life which I
believe will help me in my life to serve the Lord better.
My
Steps of Faith for Today: I am having some trouble excepting how small
our Sunday school class is at this time, and pray that the Lord will comfort me
so that I can do the best job I can do in teaching this small group.
11/17/2024 8:36 AM
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