Honoring the Sacred Call - 1 Timothy 5:22 c.f. 1 Timothy 3:1-11 (NIV)

S. 1 Timothy 5:22 “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.”

O. Paul instructs Timothy on the importance of honoring elders in the church. Because of their important leadership role, Paul writes for them to not be hasty. Do not be too quick. Elders, Deacons - leaders in the church need a time of testing (1 Timothy 3:1-11).

I think Paul is describing the ordination of Elders (pastors). It is right to expect that the leaders have prepared themselves for the important task of leading the church - shepherding and equipping the flock.

A. I am reminded of the “sacredness” of the call and the need for preparation. I recall my own ordination and how really thrilling it was to experience that process. I have enjoyed in the past serving in the ordination process of those entering the pastorate. I will continue to uphold this very special time and process.

P. Thank you Father for this word and reminder. The “sacredness” of your call in our life as pastors. Grant me wisdom and insight to keep this as a lofty yet desirous process to ensure the protection and purity of the church.

S.O.A.P. 28 Day Challenge - February 28, 2021 Day #28 "Our Christ's Love Enhances and Drives Our Service."

S. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (NIV)

If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

O. Paul teaches on the topic of love. Love’s character is vividly described. Without love, what good is my faith? Without love what good is my knowledge and gifts? How can I hope without love? To be clear, this love is the divine love (Greek Agape) which is the love that Christ has for us and demonstrated it by dying for our sins and being raised for our new life.

Love’s character is what enhances my faith, my knowledge and my gifts. The Love of Christ (Paul said in 2 Cor. 5:14) is what compels us or drives us forward. When Jesus returns many of these other gifts will either not be needed or will decrease with Christ’s presence. But until then, Paul encourages the deployment of our gifts but with love in all its fully described character.

A. I too desire the love of Christ in all its character to be evident in my life - that it might truly be the compelling drive to serve ministries to others using gifts God has given me.

P. Thank you Father for your love that is embodied in the Lord Jesus. He truly exemplifies your great love. Holy Spirit fill me and guide me. May Christ’s love be the driving force in this season of ministering to others. In Jesus’ name.

S.O.A.P. 28 Day Challenge - February 27, 2021 Day #27 "Jesus Will Not Be Boxed In"

S. Mark 7:31-37 (NIV)

31 Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.[a] 32 There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.

33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. 34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). 35 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.

36 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. 37 People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

O. Jesus heals a deaf and mute man. However, he didn’t just lay hands upon him. He didn’t just speak and healed him. He put his fingers in the man’s ears, he spit and touched the man’s tongue - and the man could see and speak. But what I see is that in some cases Jesus would lay hands upon people. At other times he would simply speak it. Other times people would touch him or part of his garments. Others times he would put mud on the eyes. The observation is that Jesus does not work out of a bottle, he doesn’t work off a prescription or be boxed in. He will honor faith. That seems to be the constant (even a faith that is “challenged”).

A. As we look for Jesus to work miracles in our life today, we mustn’t try to “put him in a box.” We can’t expect him to do things the same way but Jesus has shown that He will not be boxed in by our expectations. He simply wants us to approach Him in faith, believing Him for the miraculous and then trusting Him to do what only He can do.

P. Thank you Father for your word today. Holy Spirit fill me and guide me. Grant me a bold faith to ask Jesus to do what only He can do and to leave the results with Him! In Jesus’ name!