365 Reflections

Lee Iacocca calls the "Bean Counters". People who handle the money for the organization. He often shared in his book how frustrating Bean Counters were to people with vision. Sometimes you need to grow even when the money is tight. The Church is known for putting to death many great soul-winning projects because of fear they won't have enough money. How foolish! I mean, who do we serve??? Meanwhile the world takes chances and risks necessary to do great things in the name of industry! Should we not to the same in the Name of Christ? Paul is sending a couple guys to collect the money for the mission to Jerusalem in 2 Corinthians 8-9. He's writing ahead to tell them who they should expect. The guys he picks to carry the money tells us a great deal about what kind of person should handle the money in the kingdom of God. 2 Corinthians 8:16–19 (ESV) But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. 17 For he not only a...

2 Corinthians 2:12–14 (ESV) When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, 13 my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia. 14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. Paul writes something incredibly interesting here. An open door for Him in the Lord (preaching and teaching) in Troas was given to him. Yet the circumstance was uncomfortable. Why? His partner and friend Titus was not there.   How true it is that we need our brothers/sisters in Christ!  Do you want to be effective for the Lord? Get some brothers in the battlefield. You can't do this alone. Think about this... Paul who lived and died to preach the Gospel (1 Cor. 9:16) couldn't find comfort in preaching the Gospel without his friend and partner Titus. Do you...

1 Corinthians 4:14–16 (ESV) I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I urge you, then, be imitators of me. Paul tells these boastful Corinthians they need a spiritual dad. They have guardians. They need a father. The difference is substantial . The word for "guide" or (better translated) "guardian" in the New Testament times referred to someone who worked for the family as a slave and shuttled the children to and from school, gave them instruction, and generally watched over their conduct. Like a nanny or tutor of sorts. A guardian is someone who will tell us what we should be doing. A guardian will train us. A guardian will correct us.  A guardian is great, but we need fathers. That's what Paul is saying. A Father will love us. And most of all, a...

Titus 2:1 (ESV) But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Five times int he Pastoral epistles Paul uses the phrase, "But as for you" right after describing the evil ways of the world.  Here's another one.   The word "Sound" in greek is the word from which we get "hygiene" from.  It means to be healthy.  When it comes to teaching, the teaching needs to be "healthy."  I like that.   Health is maintained by one particular attribute above all else: Balance. You eat, but you balance your diet. You balance your time, not over doing it. You balance your relationships, knowing when to say no and yes. You balance your energy.  Taking rest, and giving your all when necessary. This is true when it comes to teaching, Paul says, keep it balanced.  Keep it balanced doctrine.  Too much of one sort of food can be bad for you.  Too much of one emphasis in the Bible can do damage to the body as well.  Paul was...

Titus, like Timothy had been left in a city that was in bad need of godly leadership. Right from the third verse to Titus in the letter, Paul makes clear that Titus's job is to bring order where there is much chaos. A pastor's job is to straighten out the church. God is a God of order. One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, (Titus 1:12, 13 ESV) I just realized, Paul uses a prophet of the people's country to call out their character.  If you did the for America you'd have plenty of material.   The early church fathers testified that this came from Epidimes of Crete. Paul also calls this testimony true.  All truth is Gods truth no matter where it comes from. And the response for Titus the man of God... " rebuke them sharply". The man of God must be firm and quick in his reproof of those who sprea...

Titus 1:1–3 (ESV) Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began 3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior; Did you see it?  You may have to read it again.  This is an amazing scripture regarding the power and importance of preaching God's Word. Paul says what he often says, this whole thing was planned from before the Earth was formed.  God promised the salvation of the elect and their knowledge of the truth before the ages began.   YET... how did it finally come about?  "Through the preaching" he was entrusted by Christ to do! Preacher... PREACH! You are the voice through which God fulfills His purposes in the lives of those He has called. ...

2 Timothy 1:6 For this reason I remind you nto fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us oa spirit not of fear but pof power and love and self-control.  Timothy was a pastor with a lot of issues.  He was also a Pastor in a very large and influential church. And so it is for good reason Paul tells Timothy to keep the fire burning within him.  He has a high calling and a heavy responsibility.  He has a great spiritual heritage with is mother and grandmother.  He has a friendship/mentorship with the great Apostle Paul.  He needs to stay hot! The natural tendency for many of us is to let the fire diminish over time.  We all can lose our passion and zeal for the Lord.  Why?  It is because we forget the importance of our calling!  We forget that what we do for the Lord has impact beyond our own generation.  Timothy needed to remember who invested in him with their f...

1 Timothy 4:16 (ESV) Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. Timothy is a Pastor struggling through his Pastorate of an important Early Church.  He's dealing with false teachers, arguing over silly myths, and to top it off: looking down on him for his age.  Paul gives the young disciple much needed advice.   When your surrounded by doubters, look at yourself.  Keep watch on yourself.  It's not about what they say, it's about what you do!   It can be summed up in two words: GET BUSY. You don't have to prove yourself by arguing.  Words on the defensive rarely convince anyone.  So Paul gives Timothy a great word of wisdom: "Set an example" (VERSE 12).  Let these haters see your earnest energetic endless work for God!  It will speak for itself and keep you on track! So Timothy... Lead!   VERSE 11: "Command an...

Pastors (overseers in 1 Timothy 3) are to be men of great character in order to take care of God's Church. I think it is important we note Paul tells Timothy that if men "aspire" to be a Pastor, this is good.  The word for "aspire" in greek is oregō.  It literally means: "to stretch oneself out with your hand."  I know this from experience, Pastoring will stretch you. It's okay to want it! I grew up in a day when young had to feel "called" to be a Pastor.  I wonder why?  Why do we feel someone needs a "calling"?  I know Acts 20:28 says the "Holy Spirit made them overseers" but here Paul says it's a good thing to want to do it. Notice, this is an "office".  It is clear from scripture, God wants overseers in the church.  They are to be men worthy of respect and respected.  They are to keep charge over the flock as a shepherd.  They are in place by design in the New Testament for the sheep in Jesus...

Galatians 4:15–16 (NLT) Where is that joyful and grateful spirit you felt then? I am sure you would have taken out your own eyes and given them to me if it had been possible. 16 Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth? Any Pastor can resonate with Paul at this point.  In two of his letters in scripture, Paul has to defend his calling and Apostleship to the very local churches he started. In ministry, the honeymoon always eventually ends. Paul first arrived in Galatia because of a sickness.  They take him in and care for him.  He leads them to Christ.  But leaves on a missionary journey.  Only to find out later false teachers had come into to disrupt the flock.  And attitudes toward Paul changed dramatically.  No longer is there care and concern, now there is animosity and distrust to the point that Paul has to ask, "Have I now become your enemy?" How often that happens in the church.   But no...