by Don Ruhl

In the opening verse of Second Timothy chapter 2, Paul exhorted Timothy, by saying,

1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus (2 Tim. 2:1, NKJV).

How do we get strong in grace?

In the previous verses, Paul had spoken of how Onesiphorus had refreshed Paul by ministering to him. Paul then said, 18 The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day (2 Tim. 1:18). Right after that is when Paul tells Timothy to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Therefore, being strong in grace comes from serving one another. Moreover, in the second chapter, Paul teaches the young preacher Timothy that he must be single-minded (verses 3-5); endure all things for the sake of the elect (verses 6-10); concentrate on the reward before him (verses 11-13); concentrate on the word of God (verses 14-19); cleanse himself of youthful lusts (verses 20-23); and have the right attitude (verses 24-26).

That is, while grace is a gift from God, we must do something to be strong in grace, even as Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord, by living righteously and obeying the Lord.

by Don Ruhl

Do you not think that we can all grow in love? If your congregation shows love, can it still grow in love? What can we do to help the church increase in love? Here is what Paul did:

12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, 13 so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints (1 The. 3:12, 13, NKJV).

Paul prayed to the Lord that He would make the church increase and abound in love toward other members of the church and toward others. Verse 13 reveals why Paul was uttering this prayer: that by their increased love they would have hearts that were established blameless in holiness before God.

Therefore, if you think that we need to have more love, then pray to God about it. Of course, make every effort yourself to grow in love. Then we shall be holy even as the Lord is holy.

by Don Ruhl

Isaiah 27:4,5 shows what our God is like,

Fury is not in Me. Who would set briers and thorns Against Me in battle? I would go through them, I would burn them together. Or let him take hold of My strength, That he may make peace with Me; And he shall make peace with Me. (Isaiah 27:4,5, NKJV).

God does have wrath, but that is not what He prefers to show. If that is what He must do, He says that is what He will do!

However, what is really in His heart is that people take hold of His strength, and make peace with Him. You, Christian, have done that very thing. Therefore, live courageously in the peace of God, and fear no one. Make sure that you never let go of His strength, but cling to it through every circumstance in life, for if you do, you will make your way prosperous, but if you do not, then you shall fail.

How magnificent is our God!

by Don Ruhl

Colossians 1:9-12 is a prayer for spiritual things.

9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light (Colossians 1:9-12, NKJV).

Offer up this same prayer on behalf of your congregation, for if we can get many righteous people entering the throne room of the Father, pleading for spiritual growth on behalf of our home congregations, we can expect wonderful things to happen! Here is an outline of what Paul prayed for on behalf of the Colossian brethren:

1. That they may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
2. That they may walk worthy of the Lord,
3. That they may fully please the Lord,
4. That they may be fruitful in every good work
5. That they may increase in the knowledge of God;
6. That they may be strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power,
7. That they may have all patience and longsuffering with joy;
8. That they may give thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

We have the assurance in Scripture that when we pray according to God's will, He hears us, and if He hears us, we have what are we asking! It is written,

14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him (1 John 5:14,15, NKJV).

Join with me in uttering the prayer of Colossians 1:9-12 for our home congregations. Let us pray, and watch the wonderful fulfillment!

by Don Ruhl

Read Jeremiah 22 and 23

God spoke to a son of Josiah, who was a righteous king of Judah, but the son was wicked. God reminds the son why the father did well, saying,

He judged the cause of the poor and needy; Then it was well. Was not this knowing Me? says the LORD. (Jer. 22:16, NKJV).

What does it mean to know God? The passage above gives part of the answer. It is defending those who need defending. How does this mean that we know God? Think of it this way. Why are you and your friend, friends? You think the same way. You approach issues with the same principles. You treat other people in the same way. You like the same things and you dislike the same things. Therefore, you are drawn together and a bond is formed. So, it is with God. He judges the cause of the poor and needy. If you do the same, that catches His attention and He forms a bond with you. Find out how Jesus treated people and then do the same.