Stop, Listen and Pray

I left university early today feeling overwhelmed and tired. On my way to buy rice an elderly man stopped me. He asked me for money to pay for his prescriptions.

Now... My brain said 'don't trust him' but I stopped and emptied my pocket of $3.55 and told him that's all the cash I had.

Only after I'd done my shopping did I realise he had been asking for more and that there was a chemist nearby. If I had stopped to talk to him I might have found out why he couldn't afford his prescriptions. I could have gone with him to the chemist and paid for them all and then prayed for him.

But instead of serving him with God's love I let the world fill my head. I gave him $3.55 and kept walking.

What if he needed someone to talk to? I neglected to show him Jesus. May The Lord grant me another chance to see this man or may he send someone else to love him instead of me.

Because although this man needed money right now, he really needs to hear the message of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour!

If you're stopped and asked for money... Maybe stop a little longer to ask why and to see if you can impart some love on that person.

This is something I hope do get the chance to do properly.

The elderly especially are prone to neglect and loneliness. So let us try our best to care for them.

Many Blessings.

2 Timothy 1:1-7

Today I began a study in Timothy. And much like the first few posts I did on this blog I am going to outline it for you!

This is what it looked like:

I began with this structure:

1. Questions

2. Observations

3. Big Ideas

4. Take it home

1.Questions

V3 - who are Pauls forefathers?

V4 - what/when/why was Timothy crying? Were these tears of grief or joy?

V5 - is this faith passed down through genetics (nature) or from his upbringing (nurture)?

V6 - reference to 1 Timothy 4:14 - what was the message here? Is the gift that of teaching?

How far apart were these letters written?

2. Observations 

V5 - it's interesting that sincere faith here is passed through women first.

V6 - laying on of hands -> appointed by church leaders but wih divine prophecy as well (reference to 1 Timothy 4:14). So his work has not only the approval of men but of God also?

V7 - is speaking of the Holy Spirit.

3. Big ideas

A letter written by an older man to a younger. They have avoid relationship - like that of a father and son.

Paul is remindingTimothy of where he has come from and what tool he has (the Holy Spirit) to help him do his work.

V6 - 'fan into flame the gift of God' -> the spark is still there and Paul is calling Timothy to action.

A reminder that it is God working through the spirit given to Timothy. This spirit is powerful outside of Timothy.

Power, love and self-discipline. Gods word is powerful, he gives Timothy the capacity to love and calls Timothy to exercise self-discipline to flee from sin and dwell on holy things. (Maybe overlapping things here and. It quiet right).

4. Take it home

We have the Holy Spirit just as Timothy did. We often need to be reminded, like Timothy, of where out origins lie, of who called us.

We have the same spirit of power, love and self-discipline. We should exercise these things. We should not be timid and remember it's God working through us with his spirit. Everything we have is God given!

So obviously I didn't answer my questions above. I am planning to take them to someone who is trained in the Bible and maybe check out my bible dictionary. But I hope this little study can be kind of instructional for your bible time. We don't always need to answer all our questions at once. God can teach us even when we don't know all the answers! 

If you have accepted the gift of Christ then you will have this spirit in you! So you hold power, love and the capacity for self-discipline.

Keep your noses in the word and go out to the world to share his love we hold. God is powerful so don't be timid! And feel blessed that God uses us to spread the message of his love and saving grace.

Many blessings!