by Don Ruhl

Read First Timothy Chapter 3

Many members of the church have zeroed in on some particular doctrines, but give no attention to the manner in which they live or how they treat other people, even their own brothers and sisters in Christ. This is not right. Believing all the right things is important, but if the belief does not lead to the right actions, something is wrong. Paul even tells Timothy why he wrote to him,

15 ...I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15, NKJV).

A problem I have observed is that people believe good behavior is righteous, unless someone does something wrong or even believes the wrong thing, and then it is okay to tear into that person. Friends, you will never find such behavior endorsed in the Scriptures. Let us constantly examine ourselves to be sure that our conduct imitates the conduct of Jesus Christ.

by Don Ruhl

Read Jeremiah 1 and 2

The Lord says to the contemporaries of Jeremiah that their fathers failed to ask a fundamental question,

Neither did they say, 'Where is the LORD...?' (Jer. 2:6a, NKJV).

He says that even the priests, the teachers of Israel, did not ask this question (v. 8).

Failing to ask this question, led them to turn to idols. Likewise, many in our generation fail to ask this question, so they turn to other things, hoping to find answers to the perplexities and problems of life.

As disciples of Christ, we should learn from this that seeking the Lord daily is our number one concern. Observe yourself today to see if you are seeking the Lord in all that you do.

by Don Ruhl

Read First Timothy Chapter 2

After stating that we should pray for all men, especially for political leaders, that we may have a good life, Paul explains why we should pray thus. It is not for selfish reasons, but for something much higher.

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:3,4, NKJV).

Yes, we want a comfortable life, but if it is only for selfish reasons, then we have missed the point. We pray for the best conditions for the spread of the gospel, because that is what God wants.

Think of your garden. You remove the rocks, the weeds and other things that will keep your plants from growing healthy. You add manure, compost and other ingredients that will make your plants as healthy as possible. Why do you do this? Is it so the plants can enjoy themselves? No, you do it that you might enjoy the fruits of your garden.

So, it is with God. The world is His garden. We work with Him in His garden. By prayer we ask Him for help in removing all hindrances to growth and ask for His help in adding whatever will cause people to grow into healthy souls who will bear fruit for Him.

Do I desire what God desires or do I want Him to desire what I desire?

by Don Ruhl

Read First Timothy Chapter 1

The Christian's concern is to treat people well, but sometimes we have to be harsh, though not mean. Writing of some who made shipwreck of the faith by blaspheming, Paul says,

20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme (1 Timothy 1:20, NKJV).

Our job is to rescue people from Satan, but there are some people whom we must give back to Satan in order to save them from Satan! They are cast out of the fellowship of the church, putting them back into the world that they might see that sin is not tolerated in the church. Furthermore, they see that sin is the domain of Satan and that his fellowship is not good, whereas the fellowship of the church, from which they have not been cut off, is extremely dear. Hopefully, they will long for it, repent of their sin and come back. There is a time for tolerance and a time for intolerance. Let us be wise in knowing when, and over what, we should be tolerant and intolerant.

by Don Ruhl

Read Isaiah 65 and 66

Picture in your mind these two images of God. First, from Isaiah 65:1, look at Him wanting to be spotted by the Gentiles,

I was sought by those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me. I said, 'Here I am, here I am,' To a nation that was not called by My name. (Isaiah 65:1, NKJV).

The image that comes into my mind is God waving His arms, trying to get the attention of a group of people. He is excited and wants them to notice Him. They do not even know who He is, but with His zealous efforts, they eventually know Him and become His people.

There is another group of people whose attention He wants also. He stretches His arms out to them (v. 2), but they turn from Him, doing things that offend Him. They have a holier than thou attitude (v. 5, yes, that expression comes from Isaiah 65:5). Of these people, God says,

These are smoke in My nostrils. (Isa. 65:5, NKJV).

See smoke rising up to the face of God and the smoke enters His nostrils. It repulses Him, that is, they repulse Him.

Do I want God saying to me, Here I am, here I am, or You are smoke in my nostrils? I think that I know your answer. Let us then, not follow our own ways, but let us abandon ourselves and live for God through Jesus Christ.