Understanding Love So We Can Pursue It

    In order to “pursue love” (2 Timothy 2:22) we, first, need to understand what love it is that God wants us to pursue.

    You may think that an odd statement because, well, love is love. In English, yes, but in the original Greek there are two different words used in the New Testament, which both translate to our one, all-encompassing word ‘love; these words are ‘agape’ and ‘phileo.’

    Agape, simply stated is selfless love. This type of love is found 159 times in the New Testament. It is a choice, a preference. Preferring to serve God over self. It means to actively do what the Lord prefers. True agape love is always defined by God, because God is love (1 John 4:7). We love others just as God loves us - unconditionally, with mercy, forgiveness, compassion, and patience.

    Phileo is brotherly love. Found 21 times in the New Testament, it is affectionate love, sharing a strong bond with another person. An easy way to remember this is to think of the root word – Philadelphia – those living in the US may automatically think “the city of brotherly love” and that is what Philadelphia means ‘brotherly love’! It means to show warm affection in intimate friendship, tender compassion and kinship.

    Where phileo is of the heart (feelings), agape is mainly of the head (purposed, determined). Phileo love is easy, for some it comes naturally and without much effort, but agape love can be difficult because it means that we love (and are loving toward another) because it is the right thing to do (see Matthew 5:45-48).

    So, the love we are to pursue in 1 Timothy 2:22, which love is it?

    As you may have guessed, the love God wants us to pursue is AGAPE. I’ve said this many times before, and I’m saying it again, God’s commands are only ever for our good, and this is no different. He wants us to pursue the love that takes more effort and purpose, the love that puts our focus on others and off ourselves (Hebrews 10:24, Luke 9:23), the love that helps us to purify ourselves just as He is pure (1 John 3:1-3), makes us holy, just as He is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16), and results in us loving just as He loves (1 John 4:7-19, John 13:34-35)!

Are you pursuing agape love? If you’re not actively pursuing it in your day to day walk, are you ready to begin? Let’s work together to learn more about how to pursue this selfless love and make it part of our daily actions!

From wherever you are right now – let’s BEGIN!

Pursuing Love

“Flee also youthful lusts; 

but pursue righteousness, 

faith, love, peace with those 

who call on the Lord 

out of a pure heart.” 

(2 Timothy 2:22 NKJV)

LOVE

    GOD is LOVE (1 John 4:8,16)

    We must pursue LOVE, therefore, we can draw the necessary conclusion that we must pursue GOD.

    When we pursue God, we will learn to love as He loves (1 John 4:7, John 13:34-35); there is no purer source from which to learn how to love than God Himself (John 3:16, Romans 5:8, 1 John 3:1-3).

“Behold what manner of love 

the Father has bestowed on us, 

that we should be called children of God!” 

(1 John 3:1 NKJV)

    What a wonderful fact to meditate on as we begin our closer look at LOVE! God, our loving Father, teaches us all about love and how to love others (1 Thessalonians 4:9) when we diligently seek Him and study His word for guidance and growth!

    GOD IS LOVE. Let's pursue HIM together and find LOVE!

    You can do it! So can I!!

 

Pursuing Faith With Those Who Call on The Lord Out a Pure Heart

The coal nestled with others in the fire 

will brightly glow and continue to fulfill 

its purpose, but a coal separate from 

the glowing embers of the fire will 

soon cool, become ashen, and 

fall short in fulfilling its purpose.

    One of the reasons God established the church and instructs us to gather together, be together, pursue good things together is because He knew we need to be helped and we need to learn to be helpful. Consider Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 and Galatians 6:1-10.     

    In Paul’s letter to the Roman brethren, he states his hope to be an encouragement to them and in turn be encouraged by them, because of the faith they share (Romans 1:12).

    When we join ourselves to a congregation of believers – those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart - we need to commit ourselves to them, just as faithfully as we commit ourselves to our walk with God. How else can we encourage those with whom we share a faith? How else can they be an encouragement to us? See Hebrews 10:23-25, Ephesians 4:29, and 1 Thessalonians 5:11.  

    When we are faithful (in attendance and in active involvement) to the church, we have the blessing of others caring for us, seeking our best interests, and watching out for us. We have help in physical sickness and also in spiritual weakness (see James 5:13-20). If we are only there occasionally how will others know if we are sick (either physically or spiritually), how can we be a benefit to others when we aren’t there enough to realize these same concerns occurring in their lives?

    Consistently gathering with brethren for bible study and worship helps us to better understand the scriptures (Acts 17:11, 18:24, and consider the work of the preacher in 2 Timothy 4:1-5). Gathering together with those who call on the Lord out a pure heart allows us to better understand how to get through life’s struggles (Titus 2:3-5, Galatians 6:1-10), and how to better get along with others (Romans 12:9-18).

    Are you nestled together with “those who have obtained like precious faith”? Are you doing all you can to encourage fellow Christians to keep “glowing” and motivating them to fulfill their beautiful purpose of living for God? Keep burning bright! Continue to help those around you to keep seeking God and His perfect way (Romans 12:10-11)!

    Are you feeling a little “ashen”? Have you stepped away from worship and bible study and allowed your zeal for God and good works to cool? Look for ways to once again involve yourself in the work. Call up a sister in Christ and discuss ways you can get active and have your embers fanned to flame again! Pray for your appetite for God’s word and ways to increase your zeal (see Paul’s prayer in Colossians 1:9-11, and consider 1 Peter 2:1-3)! Desire to fulfill your purpose in serving God!

“For You will light my lamp; 

the LORD my God will 

enlighten my darkness.” 

(Psalm 1:28 NKJV)

    Pursue faith, not by yourself, but with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart! There are manifold blessings that come from being a member of the body of Christ – we can encourage and be encouraged, we can help and be helped (see Ephesians 4:14-16)! Do your part today! We’re counting on you, just as you are counting on us!

You can do it! So can I!!

Pursue Faith and Overcome the World

    Through faith we can overcome the world! Jesus overcame (John 16:33), and so can we (1 John 5:1-5), by following His example of faith, love, and obedience!

•     Faith can help you overcome the fears that hold you back (Isaiah 41:10, Philippians 4:6-8).
•     Faith opens your eyes to the way of escape so you can overcome temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13).
•     Faith enables us to lay aside the sin that easily ensnares us and to overcome its hold on us (Hebrews 12:1-2, Colossians 3:1-17, Romans 8:18).
•     Faith in God causes us to think differently and to behave differently than the world (2 Corinthians 6:11- 7:1, Ephesians 4-6). 

    When we serve God the world has no power over us, it has no lure with which to tempt us because we see the beauty of serving a faithful God who loves us dearly as His own children (1 John 3:1-3, Galatians 3:26-27), Who has never forsaken us but instead provided ALL we need to thrive!

    Faith allows us to overcome the world!

    Any problem you are facing, any irritant in your day, any gnawing fear, any puddle, any sin, any sadness – ALL can be overcome by pursuing faith in God and building trust in His grace, mercy, love!

    God wants you to overcome – and He is ready to reward you for your efforts!

    You who overcome…

• …will be allowed to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God (Revelation 2:7)
• …will not be hurt by the second death [Hell, eternal destruction, see Revelation 21:8] (Revelation 2:11)
• …will taste manna, and will be given a new name, that only you know, written on a white stone (Revelation 2:17)
• …will be given power over the nations and the morning star when you keep Jesus’ works until the end (Revelation 2:26-28)
• …will be clothed in white. Your name will not be blotted out of the Book of Life and Jesus will confess your name before God and the angels of God (Revelation 3:5, Luke 12:8-9)
• …will be made a pillar in the temple of God. Jesus will write on you the name of God, the name of God’s city, and Jesus’ new name (Revelation 3:12) 
• …will be allowed to sit with Jesus on His throne – because when He overcame He sat with God on His throne (Revelation 3:21, Acts 7:55-56, Colossians 3:1-3, Hebrews 1:1-4)
• …will inherit all things, God will be your Father and you will be His child (Revelation 21:7)

Are you ready to overcome? Faith will allow you to do just that!!

    God does not ask us to do something that cannot be done – with His help and guidance we can and will overcome! So continue to pursue faith today! Dig into to God’s word, believe it to the extent that you obey it - wholly and completely! Trust in His promises! God wants us to succeed!! 

Jesus did it, you can do it, and so can I!!

From wherever you are right now – BEGIN!

Pursue Faith to Overcome Fear

    I saw a little handstitched piece on Pinterest the other day that stated “Worry ends where faith begins” – a welcome thought isn’t it? But still, many Christians struggle daily with frets and worries and in doing so they miss out on the peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7).

FAITH ALLOWS US TO OVERCOME FEAR

Fear of Not Having Life’s Necessities

• Consider the widow in Zarephath who, through faith, in time of great famine prepared bread from the last of her flour and oil and gave to Elijah the prophet who had asked her for it (1 Kings 17:8-16). Fear would have prevented this woman (her son) from receiving the abundant blessing with which God rewarded her – the jar of oil and bin of flour did not run dry until the famine was completely over.
• How about the poor widow observed by Jesus who, even out of her poverty, gave all that she had – two mites (Luke 21:1-4).  Fear of complete poverty would have prevented the widow to have been noted by Jesus – her generosity in poverty makes her rich to us as a beautiful example of faith! 

    We, like them, have no need to fear not having life’s necessities – God knows, He provides, and He can bless us through others also! Please read and consider Matthew 6:25-34, Galatians 6:2, Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-35, and Hebrews 13:5-6

Fear of Failure

    This is a BIG fear for many. “What if I try, and don’t succeed?” “What if…”, “What if…”, “What if…”.  

“There is freedom waiting for you, On the breezes of the sky,

And you ask "What if I fall?" Oh but my darling, What if you fly?”

― Erin Hanson, poet.

• The woman with the flow of blood could have feared failure – the studied physicians who attended her only dried up her savings and caused further suffering as her conditioned worsened – but she drew near to Jesus – the Great Physician – and trusted in His power to heal and she was blessed (Mark 5:24-34).  
• Sarah feared failure when she was told she would have a child in old age (90 years old), but she judged God faithful who had promised the child and she was blessed (Genesis 17:19; 18:11-14; 21:1, Hebrews 11:11). 
• The apostle Peter fell (denied knowing the Lord) and yet, through faith, got back up and he was blessed (Luke 22:54-62, John 21:4-19, consider also Psalm 119:59-60) – while you're looking up passages plan to sit down and read the book of Acts (to read of Peter's work for the Lord) as well as First and Second Peter!

    We can often feel like the recipient of the single talent, preferring to bury the talent, than to risk failure in trying to develop it. God wants us to trust in HIM and have faith in HIS abilities to help us succeed and to overcome! Please read Philippians 4:13, Ephesians 6:10, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, 1 Corinthians 2:10 (and 2 Peter 2:9), 2 Corinthians 12:10, Romans 8:31, and Hebrews 13:6

Fear of Death

• Rahab had faith that kept her in her house even as it tumbled with the rest of the walls when Jericho was conquered (Joshua 2 and 6), she could have feared death more, but she didn’t and we saw how she was blessed. 
• Esther’s faith gave her courage to stand in the king’s court uninvited – the fear of death in that moment was very real (see Esther 4:11)  - but she did so to make request to the king that would eventually help her save the Jewish people from Haman’s planned genocide (Esther 1-10). 
• Even Jepthah’s daughter showed great faith in God – and concern for her father in God’s sight – by refusing to let her dad renege on a rash vow he had made before battle (see Judges 11:29-40 for complete account). 

    We do not need to fear death. Jesus has been there, He’s done that! And He has gone before us to prepare a place for us (John 14:1-6)!

Faith allows us to overcome fear, and in overcoming fear we can also overcome the world!

    How do I know?  Because Jesus overcame the world (John 16:33) – and we can too!

“For whatever is born of God 
overcomes the world.
And this is the victory
that has overcome 
the world - our faith."
(1 John 5:4 NKJV)

    God is right there waiting to help, ready to alleviate your fears and fill you with His mighty strength!

    Pursue faith, hold fast to it, let it grow and develop as you put aside your fears and fly!!

You can do it! So can I!! 

Pursuing Faith - The Just Shall Live By Faith

    “…the just shall live by faith.”

    This statement is made four times in the Bible: Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, and Hebrews 10:38. It is a statement about how those pursuing righteousness would live – by faith.

    The Old Covenant, the Law of Moses, was exclusively for the Jews and had to be kept perfectly; if they transgressed one part of it they were guilty of all (James 2:10, Galatians 2:10) and would need to make daily sacrifices for atonement. The statement, “the just shall live by faith” spoke/speaks of the New Covenant, established at Jesus’ death (Hebrews 8:7-13; 10:9), a covenant allowing both Jew AND Gentile (Romans 10:11-12, Galatians 3:26-28) who believe that Jesus is the Son of God to have life in His name (John 20:30-31, 1 John 5:13). That is why Habakkuk was told to prophesy of this, that one day the just would live by faith – that time began in the 1^st century and continues today.

    Paul the apostle, a man of Jewish descent, declared that following the Old Law would not justify a man in God’s eyes, but rather a man who had faith and believed in Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1-2, Galatians 2:16). He begged his Hebrew brethren who had become Christians to not return to following the Old Law, but to continue in their faith of Jesus and the gospel message (Hebrews 10:36-39).

    The righteous live by faith because without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6)!

    Faith comes from hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). In God’s word we learn that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, that He died for us, and that God has given us instructions that we must obey (John 14:15; 23-24, 1 John 3:23). God’s grace allows we who believe and obey to be saved, to have our sins forgiven, to live righteously before Him, and have hope of eternal life with Him (Ephesians 2:1-10, 1 Peter 1:3-9)! And EVERYONE in the world has this opportunity! EVERYONE can come to God through faith in Jesus!    

    Jesus came to save us, all of us – that’s how much he loves us! – He desires that you will have faith in Him, in who He is, and that you, through that faith will be obedient to God, living just as He lived, in full obedience (Hebrews 5:8-9, 1 Peter 2:18-25)! Believe Him! Believe in Him! Let go of any of your own notions and fully trust and obey God!

    Flee youthful lusts and pursue faith!                                    

    Let us have a heart that speaks as Paul spoke in Galatians 2:20:

“I have been crucified with Christ; 
it is no longer I who live
but Christ lives in me; 
and the life that I now live 
I live by faith in the Son of God, 
who loved me and gave Himself for me.”  
(NKJV)

You can do it! So can I!!

Learning From the Scriptures to be Faithful

     I discovered something interesting while studying for our topic of “pursuing faith." The word ‘faith’ is used 245 times in the Bible, and only 2 of those uses are found in the Old Testament - Deuteronomy 32:21 and Habakkuk 2:4.

    While the word ‘faith’ is not mentioned in the Old Covenant as much as in the New Covenant, what you find within those 39 books is example after example of people who exhibited their faith through their actions! Just as the first century Christians (who did not have a complete Bible as we do now) were encouraged to learn from “the Scriptures” (Old Testament), so can we (see Romans 15:4 and 1 Corinthians 10:1-11). We can learn how to be faithful by observing the men and women who lived right before God in the Old Testament.

    Noah had never seen or heard of “rain" before God’s warning, let alone a flood of rain, yet he heeded the warning and built the ark according to God’s exact instructions in anticipation of the day God’s word would be fulfilled (Genesis 6-7, Hebrews 11:7).

     Are you willing to follow God’s exact instructions in anticipation of the day God’s word is fulfilled? (Hebrews 11:6, Philippians 3:20-21, 2 Peter 3:10-13)

     Abraham was 100 years old when God blessed Sarah (who was 90 years old) with a child – the son God had promised him beforehand. Some years later God tested Abraham’s faithfulness by requesting that he sacrifice his son. Abraham’s faith was strong to the point of believing that in following through with this sacrifice God would restore his son to him. God saw Abraham’s faith and stayed his hand before the sacrifice happened and provided a ram to sacrifice instead (Genesis 22:1-19, Hebrews 11:17-19).

    Hannah desired a child, a son. She suffered constant provocation from her husband’s other wife, Peninah, who had children causing Hannah to lose her appetite and give in to weeping. Hannah turned to God and promised Him that if He saw fit to bless her with a child that she would give that child back to Him, to serve God all his days. God did see fit to bless Hannah and she dedicated her son Samuel to the Lord (1 Samuel 1). Instead of returning to sadness in giving up her son, Hannah turned to prayer and praise for God granting her petition (1 Samuel 2:1-10) and because of her faith and faithfulness, God blessed Hannah with five more children (1 Samuel 2:18-21).

     Are you willing to sacrifice whatever it takes (desire for more money, unscriptural marriage, sin, lust, etc.) to remain faithful to God?  (1 Timothy 6:7-10, Matthew 19:9, Ephesians 4:20-24, Hebrews 12:1-2) 

    David was chosen by God and anointed as king over Israel, while King Saul was still serving in that capacity. For 14 years David ran for his life, being pursued by King Saul and suffering many hardships because of him. Through this whole time we find David’s faith in God remains strong – some of David’s most encouraging psalms were written during this time period! David’s declarations of faith help us in our walk even today! See 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles, and the book of Psalms.

    Job lost all ten of his children, all his property/livestock, and the majority of his servants all on one day. He soon lost his health as well, finding himself covered in painful boils. His wife in her sorrow, only encouraged him to give up, curse God and die (Job 2:9) and his friends were only a comfort to him when they sat silent (Job 2:13, 16:2). Yet “in all this Job did not curse, not charge God with wrong” (Job 1:22) and after God brought him through his sufferings and helped Job realize His strength and power, “the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning” (Job 42:1-17).      

    Are you able to remain faithful to God through hardships of health and difficulties with others? Do you trust Him enough to allow your faith to flourish through trials? (Psalm 34:17-19; 119:67, 1 Peter 5:6-11)

    It is said of Abraham (and could be said of each of the people mentioned) that “…after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise” (Hebrews 6:15).

    Are you willing to patiently endure through whatever sacrifice you need to make, allowing yourself to become even more faithful, even more resolute in your trust, and keep your faith until the very end (1 Peter 1:6-9)?

You can do it! So can I!!

Pursuing Faith

“Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, 
faith, love, peace with those who call 
on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 
(2 Timothy 2:22 NKJV)

    God wants us to pursue faith, to eagerly seek after it and earnestly endeavor to acquire it. So what is it? What is faith?

    Hebrews 11:1 states “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (NKJV) – but what does that mean?

    Simply put, faith gives us confidence in the things we hope for and with faith we are convinced of God – even though we cannot see Him – we firmly believe in His existence, His Son, His truth, His promises, etc .

    We must pursue faith! Without it we cannot live righteously before God – it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6)!

    So how do we get faith?

“So then faith comes by hearing, 
and hearing by the word of God.” 
(Romans 10:17 NKJV)

    The Contemporary English Version says it this way: “No one can have faith without hearing the message about Christ.”

    Faith begins when you hear God’s Word (John 1:1-14) and are receptive to it (Matthew 13:23). Faith, from that point will either grow, if you continue to seek God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:31-33) or grow stagnant, if you let your focus return to the world around you (Matthew 13:20-22). 

       If the Lord wills, over the next few weeks we will take a closer at faith – how to have it, how to maintain it, how to build it up and increase it – so that we, who call on the Lord out of a pure heart, can learn to flee youthful lusts and pursue faith!

     Are you ready to grow your faith – to pursue that end earnestly and eagerly so that you may flourish in it?

You can do it! So can I!!

Pursue Righteousness, Become an Heir of Righteousness

    Today, as we continue in our study of pursuing righteousness, I would like you to consider Noah. Noah was more like us than you may have once considered – or maybe I should say we are more like him than you may have once considered. 

    Hebrews 1:7 states, “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of the things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir to the righteousness which is according to faith.” (NKJV)

• Noah HEARD God’s words – “being divinely warned…” (see Genesis 6:13-21)
• Noah BELIEVED God’s words – “…of things not yet seen…” (rain or flooding, see Genesis 2:4-6)
• Noah OBEYED God’s words – “…moved with godly fear, prepared an ark…” (see Genesis 6:22-7:1)

    Noah heard, believed, and obeyed – just like the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:29-39 and countless others through the centuries, and just like us - he was separated from the world by water, in a literal sense, just as we are in a spiritual sense, when we are baptized (John 15:18-19, 1 Peter 3:18-22) – we, as Christians, are separated from the world (saved, set apart, seen as different). We now proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9)!

    In doing these things Noah became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith – the righteousness we pursue is according to faith also. We hear God’s words (Romans 10:17), we believe (John 20:29-31), and we obey (Romans 6:1-14, Matthew 28:19-20, James 1:21-25, I could go on and on!). We pursue the righteousness of God whom we have not seen, yet we hear His words, believe His truth, and through faith we obey!

    We are heirs together with Noah! Pursue righteousness just as he did – put your faith into action! Show the world that your trust is in God; that your integrity comes from serving Him first and foremost!

    You have been set apart from the world – flee those youthful lusts that trap the world – pursue righteousness each and every day you are blessed with!

    You can do it! So can I!!

Practicing Righteousness (Proverbs 10-11)

“Little children, let no one deceive you. 
He who practices righteousness is righteous, 
just as He is righteous.” (1 John 3:7 NKJV)

Truths About The Righteous Found In Proverbs 10 & 11:

WE SPEAK ONLY GOOD WORDS:

• “The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.” (10:11)
• “The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, the heart of the wicked is worth little.” (10:20)
• “The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of wisdom.” (10:21)
• “The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut out.” (10:31)
• “The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.” (10:32)

~ Read and consider Ephesians 4:29-32, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Romans 12:9-21, and 13:9-10

WE SEEK ONLY GOOD FOR OTHERS:

• “The desire of the righteous is only good, but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.” (11:23)

~ Read and meditate on 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, Galatians 6:1-3; 7-10, and Matthew 5:43-48

 

WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN TO SEEK & SERVE GOD:

• “Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished; but the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.” (11:21)

~ Posterity means ‘future generations.’ Consider the battle in Joshua 9-11, also see Genesis 18:19, Deuteronomy 4:9, and 2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14-17

 

WE TEACH OTHERS TO SEEK & SERVE GOD:

• “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.” (11:30)

~ Read and think about Matthew 28:18-20, John 6:68-69 (how can we keep it to ourselves when we know this?), and James 5:19-20,

 

GOD'S WORD HELPS US MAKE PROPER CHOICES:

• “The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright, but the wicked will fall from his own wickedness.” (11:5)

~ Read and consider Proverbs 3:5-6, and Hebrews 5:12-14

 

GOD WILL NOURISH US:

• “The LORD will not allow the righteous soul to famish, but He casts away the desire of the wicked.” (10:3)

~ Read and meditate on Matthew 5:6 and Isaiah 55:1-3

 

GOD WILL BLESS US:

• “Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.” (10:6)
• “The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not inhabit the earth.” (10:30)
• “If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner.” (11:31)

~ Recompensed means “rewarded.” Consider Matthew 5:5, Psalm 37:11, and Hebrews 11:6

 

GOD HEARS OUR PRAYERS:

• “The fear of the wicked will come upon him, and the desire of the righteous will be granted.” (10:24)

~ Read and think about James 1:5, Matthew 7:7-8, John 15:7-8, and James 5:16-18

 

GOD HELPS US IN OUR TROUBLES:

• “The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, but the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.” (11:6)
• “The righteous is delivered from trouble, and it comes to the wicked instead.” (11:8)

~ Consider Haman’s actions and his demise in the book of Esther – see Esther 5:9-14 and 7:1-10, also Psalm 34

THE BENEFITS OF PURSUING RIGHTEOUSNESS:

• “He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage.” (11:28)

~ Read and consider Psalm 1:1-3, Jeremiah 17:7-8, 1 Timothy 6:5-10; 17-19, Matthew 6:19-21, and Ephesians 1:3-14

 

WE HAVE A CONFIDENT HOPE:

• “Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death.” (10:2)
• “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.” (11:4)
• “The hope of the righteous will be gladness, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.” (10:28)
• “The labour of the righteous leads to life, the wages of the wicked to sin.” (10:16)
• “The wicked man does deceptive work, but he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.” (11:18)
• “As righteousness leads to life, so he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.” (11:19)

~ Read and think on Romans 8:12-17 and 1 Peter 1:3-9

 

WE WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR GOOD:

• “The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot.” (10:7)

~ Read and consider those noted in Hebrews 11, the woman in Mark 14:3-9, and Dorcas in Acts 9:36-42

Do you want to be a benefit to others? Share your confident hope in God with others? Do you want to be blessed, nourished, helped, and heard by God? Do you want to make good choices and be remembered for doing good? Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33)!! It is worth every effort and every sacrifice!

You can do it! So can I!!

Seek FIRST God's Kingdom and His Righteousness

“Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, 
faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord 
out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22 NKJV)

    God never asks us to remove something from our lives without giving us something good to replace it with (take note of Ephesians 4 and Colossians 3 “put off…” followed by “put on…”). In our theme verse, we are told to run from youthful lusts and instead run toward righteousness, faith, love, and peace. It is important that we understand what we are running toward in order to keep our determination focused on the goal.

Side note: The King James Version uses the word “follow” in 2 Timothy 2:22, but I like how the New King James Version uses the word “pursue.” “Follow” feels to me unintentional without thought, coincidental even (although it does not mean that), you are simply following someone down a hall, for example, but “pursue” is ripe with intention and purpose, you are pursuing someone down a hall, you fully determine to get to them!

    We are to PURSUE righteousness.

    Righteousness is ‘equity of character or act.’ ‘Equity of character’ is to possess all good qualities (of God, His attributes) in perfect balance.

    God is just while still possessing compassion and mercy. God is kind but His disposition toward sin will never be altered. God is love, but His love never undermines His Truth. 

For example: 2 Peter 3:9 “[God] is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish (His love for us), but that all should come to repentance” – His truth states that we will perish if we do not repent and submit to Him (see Romans 2:2-11). His love offers us hope, but we have a responsibility toward Him in order to have salvation.

    All that God is is in perfect balance! We should always be striving to be like Him in all things (1 Peter 1:13-16, 1 John 3:1-3), striving to conduct ourselves with that same balance.

    How important is it that we pursue righteousness?

    Consider Matthew 6:33:

“…seek first the kingdom of God 
and His righteousness, and all
these things will be added to you."
(NKJV)

    Seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Above all else, seek Him and His righteousness. It’s THAT important!

    What are the things that will be added to you when you seek first God and His righteousness? See verse 31 – you will have life’s necessities: food, drink, and clothing. With these things you can be content (please read 1 Timothy 6:6-8) and you will not have to worry, God WILL provide. God blesses His children with what we need each day; that is why verse 34 states the command “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for today is its own trouble.”

    When we trust God to provide the necessities of life for us each day as we humbly seek and serve Him, we will soon realize that He also provides us with wisdom and strength to get through our day. When we realize that, we will not worry about tomorrow because we will know that if God grants us a new day, with that new day He will also grant us renewed strength and ability (Psalm 103:1-5, Isaiah 40:28-31, Lamentations 3:22-26) to use in that day.

    A woman seeking FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness, will not worry about tomorrow. She will not borrow trouble from some future day - destroying the peace of her “today” – she will instead trust wholly in God, knowing He will be there in any tomorrow she may be granted. She will bless God and praise Him for the blessings He grants her today, her heart will overflow with thanksgiving and her mind will be guarded with peace (Philippians 4:6-8).

    God loves us! He is full of lovingkindness. He asks us to seek Him first. With each day we are given, let us do just that! And at the end of each day, let our hearts praise Him for the strength, wisdom, and ability He gave us to get through the day – He is forever faithful! Let us be forever faithful in our pursuit of being like Him, in our pursuit of being found right in His sight, in our pursuit of righteousness!

“It is good to give thanks to the LORD,

And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;

To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning,

And Your faithfulness every night.”

(Psalm 92:1-2 NKJV)

 You can do it! So can I!!