Month: April 2021

Disconnecting from the hypocrite…

The Apostle Paul told Timothy to mark a certain Truth…to give it his full attention: What was this important Truth? There would be terrible times in the last days—times when people would have a form of godliness but deny its power. As for these people, Paul said stay away from them. 2 Tim. 3:5.

Today, one doesn’t have to look hard to find those who voice an affinity for God but live in ways that do not honor or glorify Him. Paul describes these devotees of false religion as lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, and unforgiving, among other things. 2 Tim. 3:1-4. They are hypocrites who, while outwardly acknowledging God, refuse the Holy Spirit’s power of conviction and correction. They are imposters who will not yield to the power that would transform them into the likeness of Jesus. It seems wise that we should avoid them. For counterfeits to Christianity can tempt us to sin. Their words and actions can lead us away from the sound doctrines of Scripture. And their influence can tarnish our witness to Christ.

But does avoidance of hypocrites constitute our immediate and complete disengagement from them? No. As followers of Christ, it is imperative that we share the Truths He taught with them. We should try to convince them why the legitimate pursuit of godliness through Jesus and His Spirit means the difference between eternal life and death. Should our endeavors along these lines fail, however, we must remain conscious of how our continued connections might compromise the Gospel message.

With these thoughts in mind, how are you marking Paul’s instruction to Timothy? Are you giving it your full attention? Aligning yourself with it? Remember, Paul is not asking us to disconnect from the lost, the seeking, and the growing. We should be spending time with them. He is asking us to steer clear of those who claim to know God but act indifferent to His ways and His holiness. Have you taken an inventory of those with whom you spend your time? Do your “Christian” friends cause you to follow Jesus? Or do they convince you to take a few steps away from Him? Do your relationships lead others to view you as an authentic follower of Christ? Or something else? The answers to these questions may prove it’s time for some frank conversations or a restructuring of your current connections.

Retaining a Knowledge of God

The Apostle Paul describes what happens to us when we fail to retain a knowledge of God. It isn’t pretty. As we push God out of our thoughts, He allows us to act according to our own desires and intentions. As we continue to neglect His ways, we become indifferent to them. Over time, our thinking becomes futile. Our minds are filled with depravity.

The depraved mind is reckless. It is unconcerned with the consequences of poor choices and wanton behavior. It births attitudes and actions that are filled with things like greed, envy, strife, deceit, murder, gossip, arrogance, rudeness, and things that are unnatural. Romans 1:28-31. Laid bare before the standard of God’s Holiness, such things make us worthy of death. And we know it.

How can we escape the grip of indifference? How do we steer clear of depravity’s pull? We must actively pursue a knowledge of God and work diligently to retain it. Pursuing a knowledge of God isn’t difficult as there are two realms in which He is easily found. Nature and Scripture.

Deer Lodge Assembly of God

Paul tells us that nature openly reveals two of God’s foremost invisible qualities: His eternal power and divine nature. Romans 1:19-20. Indeed, as we examine the complexities and intricacies of life, we learn that God is a being of infinite creativity and wisdom, one that cannot be fully comprehended. All that we see, hear, touch, and tastes speaks of His ingenuity and loving concern for us.

Outside of the physical world, Scripture testifies to God’s character and integrity. It conveys His desires for how He wishes us to live. It delineates how He judges our hearts and actions. Most importantly, it explains the Way of redemption found in His Son, Jesus.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteou… | Daily bible verse, Scripture verses, Righteousness quotes

So, as we acquire a knowledge of God by considering nature and studying Scripture, how do we retain it? 1) We recall it. 2) We recount it. 3) We remember it. 4) And we rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to help us do so. At first glance, these actions may seem similar. Yet each is unique in substance and advantage. Let’s take a look!

To recall a knowledge requires that one meditate upon it. Psalm 77:12 states, “I will meditate on all Your work, and on Your deeds with thanksgiving.” Meditation begins when we give the full attention of our minds to the specific knowledge we wish to retain. Shutting out all distractions, we focus on its meaning. Yielding the proper amount of time, we ponder it thoroughly, considering its origins, causes, and effects.

We then recount this knowledge by repeating the substance of it…over and over. As it flows readily from our lips in purposeful fashion, it finds a firm footing in the memory banks of our minds. Should we take the time to write it down, journal about it or share it with others we engage in even deeper, more meaningful recollection. (Science confirms one of the best ways to retain knowledge is to teach it.)

Just how often should we recall and recount the knowledge of God we acquire? Joshua 1:8 offers guidance: “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.” According to this passage, any time of day offers a right time to reflect upon what we learn about God. By sunlight, candlelight or no light at all, we can, and should, engage in this process.

This brings us to another action required for retention: remembrance. To remember a specific Truth, one must act in accordance with it or upon it. Some might call this application. Think about the Fourth Commandment. How do we remember the Sabbath? We keep it holy. How do we remember the poor and needy? We give to them. It is in the living out of a specific knowledge about God that we find evidence the same has become a stronghold in our hearts and minds.

Whether we are recalling, recounting or remembering, we should always be relying on the power of the Holy Spirit to help us in our retention efforts. For Jesus promised us that the Spirit, our Advocate and Comforter, would teach us and remind us of all Truth…of everything He taught. John 14:26. Sometimes, a simple prayer “Holy Spirit, please remind me of what I learned” can help you regain the right perspective on an issue. I can say with confidence that He’s always been willing to help me lose my mind in order to gain His!