Above All Else

2 Timothy 2:8-19

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+2%3A8-19&version=NIV;PHILLIPS

 

 

During game 5 of the 2017 NBA Finals, there was a play that resulted in a heated confrontation between David West, of the Golden State Warriors and Tristan Thompson, of the Cleveland Cavaliers. They got into a major argument with nose to nose shouting and pushing.

 

As a result, both received technical fouls, but nobody really won the argument. Often times, that’s how arguments end; there is no true winner, only losers.

 

In a heated argument, both people are highly invested in their own opinion. If they are

honest, neither is really interested in truly listening to the other person’s point of view. Mostly, they just want to win the argument. That’s not only the case with the above example; that’s human nature. But Paul wrote this to Timothy:

 

¹⁴ Remind your people of things like this, and tell them as before God not to fight

wordy battles, which help no one and may undermine the faith of some who hear them. ¹⁵ For yourself, concentrate on winning God’s approval, on being a workman with nothing to be ashamed of, and who knows how to use the word of truth to the best advantage.            Phillips NT

 

We live in a highly competitive world where winning can cause us to lose perspective; to lose sight of what is truly important. In fact, it’s been said, that winning is everything. But Paul is making the point that although God’s Truth is unchanging, winning God’s approval is, above all else, most important.

 

Before you leave for vacation, it always seems like you have twenty things to do and not enough time to do it. You have to focus and set priorities. You have to ask yourself, “What is most important”? So it was with Paul.

 

He knew it was close to the end of his life when he wrote his letter to Timothy. This helped him to focus on what was the most important thing. Don’t worry about winning every argument but, above all else, concentrate on winning God’s approval.

 

Above all else, guard your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.    Proverbs 4:23           NIV

 

 

 

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With Him I am Well Pleased

(7^th in a series on Lent)

Mark 15:33-41 & Hebrews 12:1-3

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2015%3A33-41&version=NIV;GNT

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2012%3A1-3&version=NIV;GNT

  

When I was a little boy, there was nobody more important to me than my Dad. Above everybody else, I needed his love and affirmation.

 

 

 

If I felt his rejection, I could easily be moved to tears. All he had to do was raise his voice and I would be hurt. If he spanked me I would cry, not because of the physical pain, but because I felt unloved.

 

³³ At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. ³⁴ And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”)… ³⁷ With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.      NIV

 

Jesus suffered unimaginable torture and pain before he even got to the cross. Crucifying someone was not only a shameful death, but it was an excruciatingly painful death. He had hung on the cross for three hours before he spoke these words. Was he referring to his physical pain? I don’t think so.

 

I believe at the moment Jesus spoke these words, he was experiencing the total rejection of, and separation from his Heavenly Father; the same one whom he had been completely obedient to despite being fully human; the same one who Jesus spoke of as “if you have seen me, you have seen the Father”.

 

Complete and total rejection from the one who he desired to please the most. His Father turned his back on him at the time that He was needed the most. Jesus suffered, with his eyes focused on the other side of his crucifixion when he would once again experience the love and union with the One who he loved the most.

 

² Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. He did not give up because of the cross! On the contrary, because of the joy that was waiting for him, he thought nothing of the disgrace of dying on the cross, and he is now seated at the right side of God's throne. GNT

 

Jesus smiles now because he hears these words: “This is my son whom I love. With him I am well pleased.” Nothing can be sweeter than to hear our Heavenly Father speak these same words to us.

 

  

 

 

 

 

(If God has spoken to you through this blog, please feel free to share it with others.)

http://lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com/