1 Timothy

I have started an interesting Bible study this past week.  The topic is 1 & 2 Timothy.  I am excited to find out more about these books and learn from the speaker.  It seems fitting to study these books because we are also studing the history of the church with the kids.  You know, we moved many times in my life growing up and I never thought it affected me much.  However, I married a man who lived in the same house his whole life.  He is very rooted, so rooted that the street they live on is named after his family.  I have come to appreciate what he grew up with more and more.  I long to give my children a foundation and roots that go deep into God's word.  Everything in this world will pass away but if I ground my children in eternal things, I am hopeful they will stay strong through it all. 
The first chapter of Timothy which is the focus for this week has taught me many things.  I want to share with you some of the versus to think about as well.  He is talking about the false teachings happening in the church and is asking Timothy to stop the people who are teaching wrong information about Jesus.  He says, "They promote contraversies rather than God's work-which is by faith.  The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith."  Faith is a very difficult thing to obtain.  It is hard to hold onto.  Yet, God says if we have faith like a mustard seed we can move mountains.  I was just talking with a friend down here about this idea of faith.  I liked his idea that we focus too much on the size of the seed and forget the message.  The message God is giving us through this passage is that we are to believe that we can do anything.  Instead of saying, "move this mountain" I would encourage you to fill in the blank with your troubles or anxieties.  For examply, you could say, "heal my son" or "bring my family closer to God" or any number of other things you could ask God for because we have the faith but sometimes forget.  God is in the business of doing miracles and when we limit Him to only what we think is possible we are short changing God's power. 
Now back to the Bible study comments......
Two things, if you keep reading in the passage you discover God came to save everyone.  He lists many different groups of people here.....lawbreakers, rebels, ungodly, unholy, sinful, murderers, adulterers, abusers, liars, slave traders and more.  I think sometimes we forget it was not for the righteous that Jesus came but for the unrighteous.  It seems if we are not wearing the right clothes, saying the right things and have the right stuff we are sometimes not accepted by our peers and even in our churches.  We need to remind ourselves the reason Jesus forgave us was so that we could do the same for others no matter what or who they are.  I was talking with my children about this scripture and Kyle said to me, "so next time we go out on the street and give away food we should give food to everyone."  My heart was warmed by his comment because he not only was beginning to understand what the scripture is saying but he is also realizing the need of the people. 
The last comment I have about the passage this morning is from the 12th verse on.  Paul is writing about the fact that he was such a terrible person before he knew Christ and after he received Christ on the road to Damascus he was forever changed.  I had a lady here in Nicaragua share with me her testimony.  It was a very difficult life she has had to lead from a young age.  Later, she asked me if what she had shared had made me no longer want to be her friend because of all the difficulties she had to go through.  I told her without a doubt, when someone shares their life story it only draws people closer not pushes them away. Tears welled in her eyes.  I just don't think there are many people who have welcomed her as a result of her testimony.  I am learning there are certain people and activites here in Nicaragua that are frowned upon by the majority of people and if for some reason someone ends up having to do those things they are ostresized and rejected by the people.  I am learning that perhaps God has brought us down here to undo some of that dislike and rejection.  I continue to spend time with this lady and care for her and love her.  I want her and many others to realize just because we have done bad things in the past doesn't mean we should send people away.  If that were the case, then there would have been no reason for Jesus to die on the cross.  If fact, I feel so strongly about the whole thing, I believe that is just about the only reason Jesus came.  He wanted to save people just like my friend and me.  Everybody has a story to tell, some stories may not be as dramatic but in the end we are all sinners and Jesus came for that very reason.  His sacrifice on the cross was our path to eternal forgiveness and redemption.  If we as Christians can not accept the people who are sinners(which would be everyone) then we are missing the point of scriptures. 
I would encourage you to think about the people you come in contact with daily.  Are they the people whom Jesus died for?  If so, share with them about what Jesus has done for you.  Give them an opportunity to meet the King eternal, immortal, invisible, only God and see how it will change their lives and yours.