by J. Randal Matheny

"As for you, always be sober-minded, ..." 2 Timothy 4:5, ESV

Each year I choose a Bible verse to express my spiritual desires and work objectives. For 2004, I chose 2 Timothy 4:5. There are four phrases in this verse. In the next few days, I want to give attention to each one.

Life in Christ is often a contrast with the life of those who refuse to hear the truth and follow their own desires (vv. 3-4). This verse also puts spiritual character up against such carnal attitudes.

To be sober-minded or moderate means not to exceed the limits established by God.

Fairbairn says "it denotes more than we commonly understand by being sober -- a vigilant, wakeful, considerate frame of mind, which takes good heed to what is proceeding around, and with calm and steady aim pursues its course. It is an exhortation to maintain the clear perception and even balance of the mind, so as not to be entrapped by false appearances, or by undue excitement turned aside from the onward path of truth and duty" (Patrick Fairbairn, Commentary on the Pastoral Epistles, First and Second Timothy, Titus [Zondervan, 1956], p. 388).

The disciple exercises moderation in everything, for to give in in one area makes excess easier in another. This is the key to integrity.

Matters not what the worldly do. When Paul tells Timothy, "As for you," he means your (and our) way of life will always go against carnality. Instead of giving in to desires, we give up to God our lives, mind, heart, and soul.

by Warren Baldwin

Have you heard the saying, "Your influence counts: use it"?

George Bernard Shaw wrote, "This is the true joy of life, being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; being a force of nature instead of a feverishly selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy."

Ouch! Instead of being a problem, we ought to be a solution. Instead of expecting the world to make us happy, we ought to be working on someone else's behalf. Instead of just letting life happen, determine a truly worthy purpose for your life and spend all your energies on it.

Jack London said it this way: "I'd rather be ashes than dust! I'd rather my spark would burn out in a brilliant blaze than be stifled by dry rot."

Same idea as Shaw's, just put another way. "You won't find me decaying from within due to lack of something worthy to do. I'll burn my life out in a worthy endeavor of my choosing."

Jesus said it like this: "You are the salt of the earth ... you are a city on a hill that can not be hidden ... you are lights in darkness ..." (Matthew 5:13-16). How are we salt, a city, and lights? By our good deeds.

Too many people let life happen to them. Jesus says life is something that is within us. In a world of darkness, Christians can be light. In a world of despair, Christians bring hope. In a world of violence, Christians work for peace. In a world of selfish pursuits, Christians think of others. In a world of blandness (don't let exciting computer games and ritzy clothing styles mask the blandness that is within), Christians are salt.

The ideal is ...

We don't blindly follow customs ... we set them.

We don't acquiesce to societal norms ... we question them.

We don't despair at a community's questionable ethics ... we challenge and change them.

An easy calling? No. But has God called us to a life of ease? Or to be a "force of nature"? Do we want to fade out of the picture, or be a "brilliant blaze" in a world that needs light? Are we truly ready to be salt, a city, and light by the undeniable quality of the good lives God has called us to lead? Does our influence really count? Or are we content to leave it hidden in the safety of church buildings?

A small village received a beautiful sundial. The villagers were thrilled with the gift, but soon worried: Might the sun and rain deface their gift? They decided to protect it for future generations. So they built a roof over it.

God does not intend for your influence to be hidden or protected by the safety of the sanctuary. He wants it "out there," challenging the way "things are."

You can't find a better purpose for life to spend your energies on than that of the life-long search for truth, godly living, and making a positive difference in the lives of others.

By Michael E. Brooks

"Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Eph. 6:11,12).

The Sunderbans, which lies partly in Bangladesh and partly in India, is the world's largest mangrove swamp. It is a true jungle environment, and contains many of the few remaining wild Bengal tigers. These tigers continue to be extremely dangerous, and every year several woodcutters and fisherman are killed by them. The tigers are protected by law and the jungle people are rarely armed, so are forced to find other means to defend themselves from attack. One means that is effective is to wear masks resembling human faces on the back of the head. The tiger is by nature an ambusher, relying on stealth to creep close to his intended victim before rushing to the kill. If he believes he is being observed by the victim he often will not attempt an attack, thinking the prey will be able to escape. Thus the mask deceives the tiger, making him think he is being watched, and danger is averted.

The Bible reminds us that Satan is a clever and powerful foe, able to attack from any direction and through a variety of means. We must be prepared for all of his wiles. It is not sufficient to simply wear a mask. He is not that easily fooled. But we are to wear the armor that God provides that is truly able to protect us. Faith, peace, truth, and righteousness not only give us warning of Satan's advances, but also help us to repel his attacks. Our sword, the word of God, is the weapon which allows us to do more than just stand him off. With it he is truly and finally defeated.

No one with any wisdom goes into the Sunderbans unprepared to avoid the attack of tigers. In the same way, no one in this world should be unaware of, and unprepared to face, Satan. He is by far the more powerful and dangerous foe. His attack leads not just to physical death but to "everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power" (2 Thes. 1:9). Put on God's armor. Enlist the help of Jesus who "bruised his (Satan's) head" and defeated him for all time. Through him we too are more than conquerors over Satan. We will reign victorious eternally, while Satan perishes in the pit prepared for him and all his followers.

by Greg Tidwell

"But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life" (Jude 1:20,21 ESV).

Growing in faith is a daily blessing for each child of God. Jude, in this passage, provides three insights which help us in this process:

First, we need to remember that faith is, at its base, a spiritual experience. Through faith we come to know the Lord in baptism and receive the gift which is the Holy Spirit. Our further growth in the faith comes as the Spirit bears His fruit in our lives.

Second, Jude reminds us that all that we are and all we can attain as Christians is made possible by the love of God. It was God's love that sent His Son into the world as our Savior, and it is the assurance of His love that keeps us day by day.

Third, as children of God, our faith grows as we consider the future which awaits us. God's mercy is not only something we received in the past; it is a blessing for today and a promise for the future. Eternal life with God in heaven is a reality which guides us, building our faith and strengthening us to face whatever may come in life.

The spiritual reality of God's work, appropriated into our lives, provides all that we need to grow into the men and women of faith God has called us to be.

by Tim Hall

It's a button atheists like to push. "How can you believe in God?" they ask with an incredulous expression. "If there was a good and all-powerful being, do you think he would allow war, poverty and disease?" It's a trap into which many have fallen. It just makes sense that an omniscient and omnibenevolent God would keep the world running in tidy fashion. But since the world is not tidy, then . . .

Gideon revealed such thoughts when the Angel of the Lord approached him. "O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us?" (Judges 6:13, New King James Version). When God brought Israel into their Promised Land, they were invincible. Now they had to run for cover whenever the Midianites came riding through on one of their frequent raids. God? Obviously, He was on vacation or else He would defend His people.

We have the benefit of "the rest of the story". God often allowed suffering to come upon His people in an attempt to correct their sinful ways. Amos 4:6-11 records God's explanation of why He often stood aside when troubles befell His people. Whether the trial consisted of famine, drought, plague or pestilence, God's motive was always the same: To get His people to return to Him. The pain inflicted by the parent's rod is harsh, but the parent's loving desire to correct the child justifies the action.

In the New Testament, Jesus' friends second-guessed Him. After their brother had died, both Martha and Mary ran to Jesus with the same complaint: "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died" (John 11:21,32). But they were mistaken. Though Jesus had not been physically present during the critical time of Lazarus' illness, the Lord was very much aware of his condition. There was a greater good to be served by waiting until after Lazarus died before arriving at their home.

Knowing the rest of the story helps us to see the wisdom of God. That's why Bible reading is such an important endeavor. We need to be reminded often that God knows the best path to take, even though human eyes may not see it that way at all. In time, His will becomes plain. But in the foggy present, we have difficulty seeing His wisdom.

Are we guilty of second-guessing the Lord? Have we made demands of God in our prayers, holding Him responsible for fulfilling our requests just as we state them? Do we excuse the disobedience of others by reasoning that "God will understand"? Are we guilty of pointing people away from clear statements of God's word toward a more comfortable "scholarly" explanation? In our minds it makes sense. But our minds are not God's.

The words of Isaiah 55:6-9 are both comforting and challenging: "Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. 'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' says the Lord. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.'"

It is nothing short of amazing that God extends such grace to sinful mortals. But sinful mortals who are dependent on that grace must never presume to speak a message God has not spoken.

"But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him" (Habakkuk 2:20).