New Testament in a Year

2 Timothy 1:1-18
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Today we begin Paul’s second letter to Timothy, which was likely the last letter Paul ever wrote. Some call this letter Paul’s “last will and testament!”

~ Second Timothy ~
Author: Paul the apostle
Place: Probably Rome
Date: A.D. 66 or 67
Content: This letter was probably the last letter that Paul ever wrote, and he addressed it to his former associate Timothy. It is a personal letter that expresses Paul’s deepest feelings and the assurance that though his earthly life might end, God had eternal life waiting for him in heaven. Paul also reflects upon the faithfulness of God (who led him through his entire life) and upon the coming desperate days when men would depart from the truth, refusing to acknowledge God as Lord. He exhorts Timothy to stand firm in the face of the coming persecutions.
Theme: The sovereign control of God over all things is the basic theme of this book. Although distress has come and will continue to increase, God is in control and those who trust him will have nothing to fear. Paul also adds his own testimony of faith, describing how he fought for the truth and will be rewarded by God in the end. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” pp. 29-30)  .

Second Timothy chapter 1 verse 6 is a very important teaching of Paul’s that each of us should consider in our own lives: “This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.”  Do you notice that Paul says “fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you”?  What does this say to you?  This says to me that when God gives us spiritual gifts, they don’t typically come in full bloom all at once!  The gifts are given, and then we are to partner with the Spirit of God in fanning the embers of the spiritual gifts into full flames!  This is really powerful to think about.  I think sometimes we think that once we’re saved, that’s it.  We’re done.  We’ve got all we need and there’s nothing more to do except wait for heaven.  Well…  I think once we’re saved the spiritual adventure really begins!  God’s gives us spiritual gifts.  He gives us Kingdom work to do on this side of heaven!  Do you believe that you have spiritual gifts?  Do you know what they are?  If not, do you suppose that perhaps your spiritual gifts are currently embers and now is the time for you to “fan into flames the spiritual gifts God gave you”?  Let us fan the flames folks!

Worship Video:  Today’s readings in 2 Timothy 1 reminded me of Tenth Avenue North’s great song, “Love Is Here:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sBuajPzBTw

Is Love here for you?  Click here for Love!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

Grace, love, peace, and joy!
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

1 Timothy 6:1-21
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Today we wrap up First Timothy!  Second Timothy begins tomorrow!  First Timothy chapter 6 today is full of great wisdom. Verse 7: "Yet true religion with contentment is great wealth." Are you seeking true religion? What is true religion? I think Paul gives some great hints to us in verses 11-14: "Run from all these evil things, and follow what is right and good. Pursue a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for what we believe. Hold tightly to the eternal life that God has given you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses. And I command you before God, who gives life to all, and before Christ Jesus, who gave a good testimony before Pontius Pilate, that you obey his commands with all purity."  Are you holding tightly to the eternal life that God has given you?  Hold tight!

Verse 10 is powerful today – "For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows." It is important to note that the "love of money" is the root of all kinds of evil. Not money in and of itself – that’s not the root of evil. But the love of money… this is a great distinction and a great truth. Do you love money? If so, should you be worried about this? If we love money, might we wander from the faith and pierce ourselves with many sorrows?

Worship Video:  Today’s readings reminded me of the MercyMe song “Flawless:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjLlLPZderk

Has the Cross made you Flawless?  Click here to remove your Flaws!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:10 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray that you do not love money. Pray that you are not eager for money. Pray that you are not pursuing all kinds of evil, nor many griefs, through love or eagerness for money.

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

Glory to God!
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

1 Timothy 5:1-25
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First Timothy 5:8 is a powerful teaching from Paul today: “But those who won’t care for their own relatives, especially those living in the same household, have denied what we believe. Such people are worse than unbelievers.” This is such a great reminder to care for our parents as they get older! I have seen some family members and friends do this for their parents – and uncles and other relatives – and it is such a blessing to see in action. This reminds me of the commandment of “Honor your father & mother.” What a blessed way to honor your father and mother by caring for them when they are older!

First Timothy 5:24 is so important: “Remember, the sins of some people are obvious, leading them to certain judgment. But there are others whose sins will not be revealed until later.”  There is so much I could say about this verse.  First and foremost, I think each of us needs to consider this verse in our own lives.  Are there sins in our life that no one else knows about?  Do you think that God knows about these secret sins?  Do you think those secret sins will indeed eventually be revealed?  I recently heard a radio talk show host talking about secrets.  And basically he made the point that none of us should have secrets in our life because if we do those secrets will not “keep” – they’ll spoil us inside and, worst case, someday they could explode in horrendous ways.  He made the comment that someone in our life needs to know absolutely everything in our life.  (not that everyone in our life needs to know everything – but at least one person does)  He ranked this in order of who he thought should know everything about us: 1. your spouse 2. a good trusted friend. 3. a clergy or professional counselor.  It was interesting that he did make the point that he didn’t think that your child(ren) need to know absolutely everything – but someone does…  Obviously, we all know that God knows everything about us.  But, I think there is so much truth in that one of the key ways to rid ourselves of a secret sin is to bring it out of the dark and into the Light by sharing that secret with someone else.  And if it’s a continuing sin, ask that person for help and accountability.  Let us not wait until we meet the Lord face to face for us to rid ourselves of the rotten burden of secrets!  Let us shine a Light on the secrets now for healing & peace!

Worship Video – Today’s readings reminded me of the Steven Curtis Chapman song “Love take me over:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qn5mi5G9RQY

Has love taken you over?  Click here for true Love!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” 1 Timothy 4:16 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray that you watch your life and your doctrine closely each and every day. Pray that you persevere in your faith daily through a saving faith and relationship in Jesus Christ, your Lord and Savior.

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

Grace, love, peace, and joy!
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

1 Timothy 4:1-16
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Today in 1 Timothy 4:7-8 we will read: “Train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” How are you doing on training yourself to be godly? Do you believe this is something you can be trained in? Are you practicing spiritual disciplines on a regular basis? Spiritual disciplines might include: prayer, journaling, quiet time, fasting, retreats, Sabbaths, reading the Bible :), to name a few.

YouTube:  I’ve had a lot of great conversations lately with people about the power of not only reading Scripture, but actually listening to it!  I know many of you are following along in our One Year Bible readings using the Tom Dooley link or are listening on Bible Gateway.  A few years ago I listened to the Bible using “The Bible Experience.” It is fantastic – see the video below for an overview. Does anyone have any other audio Bible versions you could recommend in the Comments section below?  Thanks!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OM9JTjI39Co

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: “Train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” First Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray that you are training yourself to be godly each and every day. Pray that you are pursuing godliness for both the present life and the life to come!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

Glory to God!
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

1 Timothy 3:1-16
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Paul’s teachings in 1 Timothy 3 gives some great rules and regulations for leaders in a church. It all makes a lot of sense. I would encourage anyone who has interest in leading in your church – or if you are currently leading in your church – to prayerfully read through these. How are you doing on these? Are there some areas in your life discussed here that need redeeming?   One of my favorite verses in all of these is verse 5 – "For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?"  How very true is that?  How are you doing in managing your own household?

Verse 16 today beautifully demonstrates Jesus’ divinity and his humanity!
"Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith:
Christ appeared in the flesh
and was shown to be righteous by the Spirit.
He was seen by angels
and was announced to the nations.
He was believed on in the world
and was taken up into heaven."
Do you believe in everything written above?  When is the last time you meditated upon the fact that Jesus ascended into heaven?  I heard a Pastor recently say that he thinks the Ascension is one of the most overlooked facts of Jesus’ life in the church today.  Jesus ascended into heaven and sits at the Father’s right hand!  This is very good news for us indeed!  Below is a painting by the Italian artist Garofalo from the year 1510 titled "The Ascension of Christ":

Worship Video:  Today’s reading reminds me "Jesus Paid It All" by Kristian Stanfill:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FHwdx5BIvc

Do you believe that Jesus Paid It All for you?  Click here and receive payment on your debt!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.” 1 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray that you believe wholeheartedly in this mystery of godliness. Pray in thanksgiving that Jesus appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, is believed on, and was taken up to glory to sit at God the Father’s right hand!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

Grace, love, peace, and joy!
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

1 Timothy 2:1-15
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1 Timothy 2 starts of with yet another reminder to pray for others… I love and need this type of reminder in verses 1 and 2… often! “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God’s mercy upon them, and give thanks. Pray this way for kings and all others who are in authority, so that we can live in peace and quietness, in godliness and dignity.” This is powerful. Pray for all people. Make requests for them. Plead God’s mercy upon them. Give thanks. Pray for those leading our government. I think these verses are very appropriate during a time of local and national elections coming up. Pray for all of the candidates. Make requests for them. Plead God’s mercy upon them. Give thanks.  Pray.

The other thing these opening two verses remind me of is to “Pray the News.” I think often times we read about all of the bad news in the world and maybe feel a bit helpless or hopeless in the midst of it all. However, I strongly believe that God has blessed us with the ability to “Pray the News.” Pray for earthquake victims, the people starving and dying in other parts of the world, the person who was in a car crash in your town, etc. etc. Pray for them. Make requests for them. Plead God’s mercy upon them. Give thanks.  Will you join me in “Praying the News” each day?

I realize that Paul’s instructions for women in today’s readings can be controversial.  This is one of those days that if you have the Tyndale Publishers One Year Bible Companion to please read the 3 questions & answers for today.  All 3 relate to these instructions of Paul’s.  Basically, the instructions for women in today’s readings can either be interpreted as being: 1. historically conditioned – instructions just for the women of the church in Ephesus at that time and place or 2. universal and timeless instructions.  Honestly, different Christian denominations interpret these verses different ways – but probably along one of the two lines above for the most part.  The One Year Bible Companion does a great job of going down these 2 paths. If you want to dive into further study on 1 Timothy 2:15 today: “But women will be saved through childbearing…” please check out an in depth look at this verse on bible.org at this link.

Worship Video:  Today’s readings reminded me of the MercyMe song “All of Creation:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UADsz7ToO8w

Are you singing with all of creation? Click here and sing!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

Grace, love, peace, and joy!
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

1 Timothy 1:1-20
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This week we begin Paul’s first and second letters to Timothy! These are very powerful letters to read because Paul wrote them toward the end of his life. Paul’s second letter to Timothy was likely the last letter he ever wrote. Some call this letter Paul’s “last will and testament.”

~ First Timothy ~
Author: Paul the apostle
Place: Uncertain
Date: A.D. 64
Content: This letter was written by Paul near the end of his life and he addressed it to his associate Timothy, whom he had left in Ephesus to correct some problems in the church. By this time problems had arisen concerning doctrine, church practice, church government, and various aspects of Christian living. Paul wrote to instruct Timothy concerning these matters so that the church would function properly. He also wrote to encourage Timothy so that he would not become weary in his Christian life, but would live wholly to the glory of God. There are some specific regulations given for the ordination of church officers as well.
Theme: The importance of right belief and right behavior form the theme of this book. Paul stresses that we must know the truth and defend it against the false doctrines that arise. We must also be very careful to live lives that are consistent with the truth so that Satan will not get an advantage over the people of God. The importance of dedicated and pure-hearted men to lead the church is also stressed. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” p. 29)  Below is an image of Timothy receiving from a messenger one of Paul’s letters to him:

First and Second Timothy and Titus are considered to be “The Pastoral Letters” because they provide instruction about the care of churches.  We have some powerful teachings from Paul today in First Timothy chapter 1.  One very interesting thing to note is that Paul uses the clause “This is a trustworthy saying” in verse 15.  What’s interesting about this is that this clause is found nowhere else in the New Testament except for its use 5 times in the Pastoral Letters to identify an important teaching.  So, here is the important teaching in verse 15: “This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”” What do you think about this teaching?  So simple a teaching at first glance, and yet of course so profound in it’s meaning!  I like how Paul starts off this letter to Timothy with a lot of humility.

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in First Timothy chapter 1 titled “Critical Concerns for Pastoral Ministry” is at this link.

Video:  Today’s readings reminded me of the great Christian movie called “Facing the Giants.” Have you seen this movie yet?  My wife and I just watched it for the first time a couple of weeks ago on DVD and loved it.  It’s made by the same folks that made the movie “Fireproof.”  Here’s a trailer for it, below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xneiV7Ru6Q

Are you facing the giants in your life?  Click here and face the giants!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

Grace, love, peace, and joy!
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

2 Thessalonians 3:1-18
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Second Thessalonians chapter 3 is a nice closing chapter to this 2nd letter of Paul’s! The first few verses remind us of the need to pray. Pray for those doing the Lord’s work! How are you doing in praying for your pastors, your church, other ministries you support?

Paul then goes into an exhortation for proper living. These verses remind me of the importance of work in our lives. We are not called to be blissful aesthetics – but called to work. Paul worked hard during his time of ministry. He was at times a “tentmaker” – making a living during the day and preaching and conducting ministry in the evenings and weekends. How are you doing with work these days? Are you giving your all, your 100% for the hours you are at work?  No matter where you are working – are you working as if you were working for God?

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in Second Thessalonians chapter 3 titled “Final Exhortations Regarding Idleness in the Church” is at this link.

Worship Video:  Today’s readings remind me of Jeremy Camp’s song “I’ll Take You Back:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMkXRcIDRjs

Have you allowed God to take you back?  Click here and be taken back!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

Grace, love, peace, and joy!
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

2 Thessalonians 2:1-17
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Second Thessalonians chapter 2 is a good look at the 2nd coming of Jesus. Verse 7 is interesting – "For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way." Seems that this is alluding to sin and the temptation to sin that pursues people in our world today. The lawlessness is at work – secretly – and will remain secret until it comes out in the open in the form of the anti-christ?  Again, I’m not big into end times stuff.  But, clearly, there will come the day of Jesus’ return.  And the Bible is preparing believers for what to expect and to know that God is bigger than whatever evil comes in those days.   God is bigger!

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in Second Thessalonians chapter 2 titled "Challenges to Believers in View of the Day of the Lord" is at this link.

Worship Video:  Today’s readings reminded me of Matt Redman’s fantastic worship song titled "Better is One Day."  My hunch is that many of you have worshiped to this song in your churches. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PdXmvMTyx0

Have you entered God’s courts? Click here for a better "one day" today!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

Grace, love, peace, and joy!
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!