Today I finished up 2 Timothy. Now I've read this book a few times in my walk with God, but today God decided that He would rip two things out of His word and smack me in the face with them. One of these things is in the beginning of chapter three as Paul is warning Timothy about the people in the last days he says something that stands out like crazy. 3:5 holding to the form of religion but denying its power. Now Paul is talking about wicked people here. These people are listed among those who are traitors, reckless, and lovers of pleasure over God. People who hold to the form of religion yet deny its power. I live in a city where there is a church on just about every corner. It's a good ol place called Pensacola. Most people here will tell you that they go to church somewhere. Many will even claim baptism and a relationship with Christ. And many of the many also deny the lifechanging power of the gospel every day. Can I be honest and say I have my days where my heart can be so cold to the power of my relationship with God that I'll just simply go through religious motions yet not seek to love on the hurt and broke, not seek to help the helpless, and not seek the glory of the kingdom. I have my days and by the grace of God He pulls me back to Him. My prayer after reading this is that I would be alert to the condition of my heart. Whether its a rock or an open door for Christ to work in. If rocky then God break it open and if it's a door COME ON IN and work on me more!
The second part that stood out was 2 Timothy 4:2 PROCLAIM THE MESSAGE; PERSIST IN IT WHETHER CONVENIENT OR NOT; rebuke, correct, and encourage with GREAT PATIENCE AND TEACHING.
Now that convenient or not part. That's stands out to me. How often in our walks we go with what we feel is convenient at the moment. This goes back to the alertness of the heart, because if I'm just embracing religion and denying Gods power then eventually I'm going to quit embracing religion. It's going to become a burden. When I embrace Gods power and love, walking in His commands is not burdensome! When I try to do all this with a rocky heart I run to convenience eventually. I start out going through motions, then I do what I think is good for me.
God calls us the chase His heart!
Not just religion!
When we chase His heart
We constantly find what fills our hearts
His power!
His love!
When we find His love
We are compelled by His love
To walk in His ways whether convenient or not
And when we mess up
And when we stray
We can come back to Him
In fact He pulls us back to Him
With His love
#knowGod
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