How you doin? We made it. We went to bed at 8:45pm last night just to get day 21 over with. Of course I was awake at 3:30am. I can't wait for my scrambled eggs and cheese with potatoes and toast. I do like getting up early. I love my alone time with God. For those of you that know me well, know I can't go too long without talking to someone or something (if necessary). So here in the morning while Stacey and the kids are sleeping, I talk with God. My alone time with Him is when I hear/listen to Him the most. I'm not the greatest listener. Too often my idea of listening is waiting for my turn to talk. God has really increased my desire to listen and pay attention to Him. He's working on/in me to want to listen to other people. It's coming. 1 Timothy 3 today.
16 verses in chapter 3. The heading in my Bible is "Overseers and Deacons". This chapter is instructional to these positions in the church. Verse 1, "It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do." This verse gains weight after reading the long list of "do's" and "don'ts".
Verse 9 is my favorite, "but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience." WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!! What an intense instruction. This is that paying attention thing that I mention so often. "Holding on to the mystery of the faith...". What is the mystery? Colossians 1:26-27, "that is,the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, 27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." It's this revelation that makes it possible for me to understand who I am in Christ and who He is in me. COME ON!!!!!!! Verse 13, "For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus." This verse makes me what to serve well. I want "high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus". AWESOME!!!!!!!
Verse 16 (NASB), "By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness:
He who was revealed in the flesh,
Was vindicated in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Proclaimed among the nations,
Believed on in the world,
Taken up in glory."
Verse 16 (NIV), "Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:
Was vindicated in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Proclaimed among the nations,
Believed on in the world,
Taken up in glory."
Verse 16 (NIV), "Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:
He appeared in the flesh,
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory."
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory."
SO GOOD!!!!!!! Too many things to discuss about this verse. There's something about the "clear conscience" in this reading today. I'm going to reach right out and grab it. May the mystery of faith be revealed to you today.
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