Sunday, December 8, 2024

PT-4 "Consider Your Resources" (2 Tim. 1:7)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 12/8/2024 8:00 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                           Focus:  PT-4 “Consider Your Resources”

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                     Reference:  2 Timothy 1:7

 

            Message of the verse:  “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline” (NASB 95).  For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (AKJV).

 

            I want to begin this SD by talking about the word discipline, which in the Greek is sophronismos, and the literal meaning is of a secure and sound mind, however it also carries the additional idea of self-controlled, disciplined, and properly prioritized mind.  MacArthur adds “God-given discipline allows believers to control every element of their lives, whether positive or negative.  It allows them to experience success without becoming proud and to suffer failure without becoming bitter or hopeless.  The disciplined life is the divinely ordered life, in which godly wisdom is applied to every situation.”

 

            I have mentioned in earlier SD’s that I appreciate how John MacArthur explains the meanings of different words found in the Bible.  This is a gift that I do not have and so most of the time, like this time, I will quote from his commentary to those who read these Spiritual Diaries can understand better the different words in the Greek language that we are studying. 

 

            “In his letter to the church at Rome, Paul uses the verb form of the term, admonishing, ‘I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment [sophrone], as God has allotted to each a measure of faith’ (Rom. 12:3). In his first letter to Timothy (3:2) and in his letter to Titus (1:8; cf. 2:2), he used the adjective form to describe a key quality that should characterize overseers, namely that of being prudent and sensible.”

 

            One more quote and then I will have to pick up where we leave off this morning in the next SD, as today is Sunday, and I have the privilege of teaching a very small Sunday school class at our church.  Now I think that this next quote will be very helpful in living the Christian life.

 

            “When we live by godly discipline that our gracious Lord supplies, our priorities are placed in the right order, and every aspect of our lives is devoted to advancing the cause of Christ.  Because of his Spirit-empowered discipline, Paul could say, ‘I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box is such a way, as not beating the air; but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified’ (1 Cor. 9:26-27).”

 

            I can’t stop here as I think you will understand:  “The great spiritual triumvirate,” “in ancient Rome) a group of three men holding power, in particular ( the First Triumvirate ) the unofficial coalition of Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus in 60 BC and ( the Second Triumvirate ) a coalition formed by Antony, Lepidus, and Octavian in 43 BC.),” of power, love, and discipline belong to every believer.  These are not natural endowments.  We are not born with them, and they cannot be leaned in a classroom or developed from experience.  They are not the result of heritage or environment or instruction.  But all believers possess these marvelous, God-given endowments; power, to be effective in His service; love, to have the right attitude toward Him and others; and discipline, to focus and apply every part of our lives according to His will.”

 

Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I am thankful to continue to understand more about this wonderful verse, through the help of John MacArthur’s commentary.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Remember that power, love, and discipline are gifts from the Lord given to me at my salvation some 50+ years ago.

 

12/8/2024 8:32 AM

  

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