"In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who WILL judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; BE PREPARED in season and out of season: correct, rebuke and encourage- with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their ITCHING ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, ENDURE HARDSHIP, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the GOOD FIGHT, I have finished the race, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day- and not only to me, but also to all who have LONGED FOR HIS APPEARING." 2 Timothy 4:1-8
So, "Think with Link" for a moment, will you?
*This letter was written by Paul, the one who was a persecuter of Christians, but had a radical encounter with Jesus where God spoke to him and caused him to be blind for a few days. His life was never the same after that, and he changed from one who persecuted Christians to a leader in Christianity. There are people in your life who may hate Jesus and persecute you for your faith. However, perhaps today may be the day God reveals himself to them and changes them into a fully devoted follower. Don't give up hope!
* Paul lived with these two truths in mind ALL THE TIME:
*My entire life, all I do and say, is done in the presence of God and Jesus. Nothing is hidden from God
*Jesus is coming back. God is at work RIGHT NOW preparing his eternal kingdom.
*There is the truth and there are "myths" and "restless cravings/desires" that are simply words that we just want to hear because it makes us feel good or keeps us from being responsible, etc..
May we make sure we are on the side of TRUTH and not just listening to what we want to hear.
*It is a fight - a battle, a struggle, a wrestling- to keep the faith (not "a" faith, but "the" faith- faith in Jesus as the way to the Father- not earning heaven through what we do, but receiving it as a gift from God because of his goodness) . But it is the GOOD fight. Hang in there!
(you are not alone. We are all in this together).
*There is a crown in store for those who have "longed for his appearing." We should LONG for Jesus to come back to earth and make everything right- to wipe away all sickness, all tears, all pain, everything evil and not of him, everything that detroys his beauty, etc...
LONG- yearn for; desire greatly; wish earnestly
*If we are not desiring him or his appearing with any part of our heart, perhaps we should ask ourselves a few questions:
*Do we know him?
*Do we understand what he offers?
*Have we become complacent?
*Have we made this earth our true home rather than heaven?
*Do we not grieve over sin the way He does, and not love the good like he does???
*....and many more questions..........
May it be these words, his words, that guide our thinking and captivate our hearts. May we have an "itch" for heaven and his kingdom - peace, joy, righteousness, Blessings from Bombadil. Kristy Joy Link
"I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me." Phillipians 1:25 & 26
