1 Timothy 4:12

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
This verse, to me, is all about allowing the Holy Spirit to work through you despite being young. Just because you’re not the oldest, most experienced Christian, doesn’t mean you can’t do great things for God. This verse breaks the Christian walk down into five components: speech, life, love, faith, and purity.I think all of those topics could be analyzed in depth, but no matter what they provide some excellent categories in which you can analyze yourself.

“What comes out of my mouth?”

“What kind of life am I living and what does that say to the world around me?”

“Am I loving my God and my neighbors?”

“Do I really, really trust God?”

“Am I trying to live a life of purity?”

Just mastering those 5 aspects of you life could take years and years! Which is why Christ’s work in us is a life-long process!

God bless,
daniel

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

On Saturday, February 7th, I found out that a man who means a lot to me passed away. He had been battling cancer for a few years now, and it had always been considered terminal, so I’d had time to prepare myself. Nonetheless, when I found out Doug was gone, it really hurt. It’s especially been hard because I wasn’t able to make it for the funeral and really don’t feel any sense of closure. The good news is Doug is in Heaven…cheering his loved ones on as they continue this race called life.

Alhthough I memorized Hebrews 12:1 a long time ago, I wanted to spend the week reflecting and meditating on this one. In Chapter 11, we read about many of the Old Testament saints and how awesome and faithful they were. Then in Chapter 12, we’re told these saints are watching us and (I’d like to think) cheering us on. And that we should follow in their footsteps and throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. We’re told to run the race marked out for us.

This week I’ve really been asking myself if I’m living the type of life that will make my Maker smile. I certainly hope so!

Ephesians 5:15-16

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”This is a great verse for me because it motivates me. As followers of Christ, we are called to live our lives intentionally. The verse says to be “very careful” how we live. In other words, carpe diem! The days we live in are evil and we have a world that’s watching us, waiting for us to drop the ball, waiting for us to disgrace the Cross of Christ.

But we are called to live, not as unwise, but as wise! Life is short…very short and I just had a reminder of that this weekend. We only get one shot at this life and we need to make the most of it. I want the Spirit to guide me and help me see the opportunities place before me. I hope to make a difference for the Kingdom.

Here is a song this verse makes me think of (ignore the pictures).

So the question is simple: How will you live your life?

God bless,
daniel

Ephesians 3:10-11

“His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.”This verse is DENSE, so I’ll go through it line by line.His intent: This means that God had a plan the moment He created everything. He is intentional.was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known: This line has three elements. First, it is NOW not later and not before but now. Second, something is being accomplished through the church–through God’s people. And third, we are to make God’s multifaceted wisdom known.

according to His eternal purpose: once again, God has had a plan since the begining.

which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord: Pretty simple: mission accomplished.

This verse is great for me and I wish I had more time to elaborate, but I gotta run.

God bless,
daniel