SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 3/24/2025 10:57 AM
My Worship Time Focus: PT-2 “A Gentle Manner”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference:
2 Timothy 2:24
Message of the verse: “And the Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged.”
What I am about to write has probably been problematic
to believers throughout the history of the Church age, and that is that as much
as we are to speak boldly for the Lord without compromise, we are to do so with
the attitude of meekness, gentleness, and humility. Now we are never to be harsh, abusive,
overbearing, unkind, thoughtless or even argumentative. I know that can be hard for some believers,
but along as the Holy Spirit is in control then He will make this easier. There is to be a softness in the authority of
a Christian leader, just as there was in Paul’s and in the Lord’s when He was walking
on the earth. Paul writes in 1
Thessalonians 2:7 “But we proved to be gentle among
you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.”
John MacArthur writes “The responsible and godly
preacher must also be able to teach.
That phrase translates the single Greek adjective didaktikos, which carries the idea of being highly skilled in
teaching. The only other time it is used
in the New Testament is in Paul’s first letter to Timothy, where it is also
applied to elders (1 Tim. 3:2). The term
does not refer so much to possessing vast
knowledge or understanding as to having notable ability to communicate effectively whatever knowledge and understanding one
may have—in this case, knowledge and understanding of God’s Word.
“The godly leader who is an
honorable vessel must be patient when wronged, which is perhaps the hardest
qualification mentioned here. If the old
self is not firmly resisted, we are likely to become more offended when we
ourselves are wronged than when our Lord as His truth are attacked. When we are faithfully witnessing and living
for the Lord, it is not easy to graciously accept unjust criticism. But again Jesus is our example. ‘Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an
example for you to follow in His steps,’ Peter reminds us. He ‘committed no sin, nor was any deceit
found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while
suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges
righteously’ (1 Peter 2:21-23). In
addition to being our example, Jesus is also our resource for being patient. Patience is a fruit of Christ’s own Holy
Spirit (cf. Gal. 5:22), who will provide the strength we need for bearing His
fruit.
“The effective bond-servant of the
Lord is not concerned about justifying or vindicating himself but about serving
the Lord without bitterness, vengeance, or anger, and with graciousness,
kindness, and patience.”
Spiritual Meaning for my Life Today:
This section of this verse has had great meaning for me as it steps on
my toes because being angry has been a problem for me ever since I was a small
child. It is much better since the Lord
saved me, and I pray that he will continue to make this better in my life.
My Steps of Faith for Today:
I trust the Lord to work out His perfect plan for dealing with my wife’s
cancer. I pray for wisdom for both her
and myself to understand what that plan is and to follow it.
3/24/2025 11:22 AM
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