A Father's Love

2 Timothy 4:1-8

 

 

 

The story has been told about a teenager in high school who played on the baseball team. He desperately wanted his father to be proud of him, but his dad never came to his games.

 

It was the final game of the season and his school was playing for the championship. The score was tied in the bottom of the ninth with two men out. He was the last chance for his team. He hit the ball deep into the outfield and began to run the bases. The crowd went wild. As he rounded third and headed for home he heard a familiar voice above all the rest, “That’s my son”! Dressed in a suit, his Dad had come to see him play.

 

The need for our father’s love and affirmation resonates deeply within me. Paul was Timothy’s spiritual father, and he had put Timothy in charge of the church at Ephesus when he continued on his fourth missionary trip. Today’s passage comes from the second letter that Paul wrote to Timothy to encourage him.

 

First, he gives him a warning: “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”

 

We can see this type of scenario taking place today in our own world. Preachers who craft their sermons so as not to offend anyone in the congregation. Besides this warning, Paul gives Timothy this advice:

 

“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction”. What better tool to use than God’s Word. But be sure to note that Paul instructs Timothy to do so with great patience and careful instruction

 

Finally, Paul gives the punch line. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing”.

 

Paul uses himself as an example. Finish the job. Stay focused. Don’t be distracted from the prize. The goal for Timothy, for the Ephesians and for you and me is to finish well.

 

Like the young man who desperately needed his father’s love, we strive for the goal. In so doing, we can see our Heavenly Father waiting for us, even cheering us on. And, like the father in the stands, He is shouting with love in his voice, “That’s my son! That’s my daughter!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To Make Your Joy Complete

1 John 1:1-4

 

 

Hello. My name is John. Not John the Baptist, but John a son of Zebedee. I’m a fisherman by trade and used to work in my father’s business with my brother James. Mostly we fished in the Sea of Galilee.

 

There has been a lot of unrest in our little part of the world. People were unhappy with the oppressive Roman rule, and our Jewish religion was at a fever pitch of expectation for the Messiah. First John the Baptist appeared, but he claimed not to be the Messiah.

 

Then this other man showed up. He was a common carpenter, but people were beginning to follow him like a great teacher. In fact, one day my brother James and I were fishing when he called us to follow him. We left our boat immediately. I don’t know how our Father got along, but we had to follow this man Jesus.

 

We were with Jesus day and night for the next three years, and during those years I witnessed some of the most amazing things. He healed the sick, made the lame to walk, cleansed the leper, fed thousands in one sitting and turned water into wine. He even raised the dead and forgave sins. Only God can do that.

 

I have wonderful memories of him. On one occasion he took Peter, James and I to the top of a mountain. We saw the brightest light I’ve ever seen. Then a voice that filled my soul said, “This is my son whom I love. With him I am well pleased”.

 

We were in Jerusalem for Passover when everything started to unravel. He took Peter, James and I out to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. The next thing we knew, Jesus was being dragged away by soldiers. He was tortured, beaten, mocked and spit upon. There was a travesty of a trial and finally he was hung on a cross. I felt so powerless and so ashamed. I loved him so much, but fear paralyzed me.

 

The day after the Sabbath all of us were sitting around in a safe house feeling sorry for ourselves when some of the women came running into the room breathless with an unbelievable story. The tomb where Jesus had been buried was empty. We were stunned. Soon though Mary came, and with tears in her eyes, told us that Jesus was alive; that she had seen him, talked with him and touched him.

 

Indeed, Jesus stayed with us for another 40 days before we watched him ascend into heaven. I’ll never forget it. My life will never be the same because of him. That is why I wrote these letters: “to make my joy complete”.

 

You see, Jesus was the Son of God and he was the incarnation of God Himself sent here to bring salvation to all who would believe and follow. And in a way, those of us who believe and follow him are his hands and feet. Maybe even in a small way, we are Jesus to those with whom we share his love. That is why I share with you and why you need to share with others. So that your joy may be complete also.

 

Won’t you join me?

 

 

The Sky is Falling

Acts 24:10-16

 

 

^“I do admit this to you: I worship the God of our ancestors by following that Way which they say is false. But I also believe in everything written in the Law of Moses and the books of the prophets.”      Acts 24:14 GNT

 

In the children’s story Chicken Little, the lead character of the same name, went around telling everyone that “the sky is falling” because an acorn had fallen on his head. He truly believed this was the case and acted accordingly, but of course he was seriously wrong.

 

Like Chicken Little, Paul had an event happen in his life that got his attention. On his way to Damascus, Jesus struck him blind with a bright light. As a result, Paul went around telling everyone about Jesus. And now, defending himself before Governor Felix, Paul claims to believe in the same God and the same Old Testament as those men who were accusing him of wrongdoing.

 

If Paul truly believed the same as his accusers, why is there such a dramatic difference in their lives?

 

God is at work in each of our lives to draw us to Him, to mold us into His image and to serve Him. How has He got your attention? What version of an acorn or a bright light has He used to accomplish this? How has God spoken into your life? And most importantly, how have you responded?

 

You may have heard the saying, “A man is only as good as his word”. The same is true of God, and God is always faithful to His word. That is why Paul trusted Him before Governor Felix. That is why we can trust Him.

 

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”        Jeremiah 29:11

 

God is faithful and because of that, His Word can be trusted. It was true thousands of years ago. It is true today for you and for me.

 

So, how indeed have you responded to the acorns and bright lights in your life? Do you run around saying “the sky is falling”? Or do you trust in the Living God of the Old Testament like Paul did?

 

 

Reaching for the Invisible God

Psalm 13

 

 

For over 30 years I loved watching Robin Williams. I loved him in “Mork and Mindy”, “Good Morning Viet Nam”, “Mrs. Doubtfire”, “Good Will Hunting”, “Awakening”… I could go on.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okkhgZim5Ig

When news of his death was announced, tears came to my eyes. He was a year younger than me. He had it all - success, fame, fortune - everything that the world has to offer. But it wasn’t enough, so he committed suicide.

 

How much longer will you forget me, Lord? Forever?
    How much longer will you hide yourself from me?
How long must I endure trouble?
    How long will sorrow fill my heart day and night?
    How long will my enemies triumph over me?           Psalm 13:1-2 GNT

 

Robin no doubt felt much like David did. You may have felt this way yourself. Was it because of a broken relationship? A lost job? The unexpected death of a loved one? Health problems? Depression? Struggling with an addiction? Sometimes, even when everything is going right, God just feels far away. Where is he?

 

Phillip Yancey wrote in Reaching for the Invisible God, “Doubt always coexists with faith, for in the presence of certainty who would need faith at all”. Who indeed? In one way or another, we are all reaching for the invisible God. Robin Williams was. David did. You and I are. But will we find Him?

 

Life happens, and when it does we need to keep moving forward towards God even when we feel like He is not there; even when we feel completely alone. And if we do, then we can pray like David did:

 

I rely on your constant love;
    I will be glad, because you will rescue me.
I will sing to you, O Lord,
    because you have been good to me.     Psalm 13:5-6 GNT

 

Amen.