December 14th~Spiritual Fitness

1 Timothy 3:1-6:10

We read more of Paul’s letter to Timothy, his young protégé. His purpose in writing to him was so that he would “know how people must conduct themselves in the household of
God...” (3:14, 15). Thus, he addressed such topics as installing Elders and Deacons, providing for widows, and protecting against false teachers and the temptation of worldly riches.

Instructing the church at such a young age might have rubbed some people wrong, but Paul encouraged Timothy not to “let anyone think less” of him because of his age. “Be an example to all believers,” he wrote, “in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity” (4:12). To achieve these things, Paul challenged him to “spend time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is more important...” (4:7, 8).

When I was in seventh grade, I was introduced to weight lifting. While I had very little training, by the end of the year, I noticed something that surprised me — muscles. I remember being so impressed by my physical improvements that I asked my parents for a dumbbell set, so that I could lift at home. I became aware that the more time and effort I invested, the stronger and more physically fit I became.

Daily Reflection

As Christians, we transition through similar stages in our spiritual lives. After our “rebirth” at salvation, we are immediately thrust into spiritual infancy (no matter our physical age), that place in which we are immature, dependent, and have much to learn. While every newborn Christian starts there, it is vital that you do not get stuck there. It is God’s desire that you progress and grow into maturity.

Spiritual maturity does not happen overnight; it occurs gradually. While salvation is a one-time occurrence and solely a work of God, spiritual growth is an ongoing event in which you cooperate with God. He has already done His part, by giving you everything that you need to progress spiritually. However, He has left the rate at which you grow to you. Thus, spiritual growth is a joint effort. God supplies the tools, while you supply the labor.

You can decide to make use of these tools and get into “shape,” or you can refuse to put in the time and effort and never progress at all. It is your choice; and, if you choose to work hard, God has promised to make you adequate for every good work (2 Timothy 3:17). Thus, you must decide to discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness, to roll up your sleeves and get to work. The Lord will do the rest.

Have you ever noticed that every believer is at a different stage in his or her spiritual maturity? Why do you think this happens?

Unfortunately, many Christians are satisfied with or are forever stuck in the rut of spiritual infancy, never knowing or caring that God expects more. I believe one of the reasons this occurs is because we are never taught to feed ourselves. Thus, many believers never contribute to their own spiritual growth. How much time and effort are you willing to invest in order to progress and grow?

BiAY.org | Day 348 — 17 Days to Go

December 13th~War of the Worlds

James 4:1-5:20
1

Timothy 1:1-2:15

We finished the book of James and opened a letter to Timothy. Timothy was Paul’s protégé, a young man very much like him, who had a deep love for the Church and its success. Thus, Paul sent Timothy as his representative to bring stability and order to various churches. Paul wrote this first letter from Macedonia. He had stationed Timothy in Ephesus (1:3). However, before we move on to read the instructions that Paul had for his mentoree, let’s consider the second half of the book of James.

Once again, every line of James’ letter is full of godly wisdom, giving counsel on topics ranging from the cause of quarreling and passing judgment on others to wealth and self-confidence to suffering and prayer. The stand-out verse to me was this one, “Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again, that if your aim is to enjoy the world, you can’t be a friend of God” (4:4).

James sets the love that we have for God and the love that we have for this world in opposition to each other; and, he reminds us that we cannot love both. By the “world,” James is not referring to creation or to people; he is referring to the religious system behind the world order, which is under Satan’s influence. Therefore, to love the world, or the things of the world, is to love the Devil’s religious system.

However, one might say, “I don’t love the Devil or worship the Devil, so how can you say that I love the Devil’s religious system?” Satan is deceiving and smart. While many think that the Devil’s religious system is called Satanism, or the Occult, it is not. He is much more cunning than that. In the big scheme of things, very few people directly worship the Devil; however, the vast majority of the world worships the Devil indirectly by worshipping themselves.

Simply put, Satan’s religion is humanism, the worship of man or self.

Daily Reflection

Every person, including you, is caught between these two loves – the love of God and the love of the world – and every day, you make decisions that move you one step in either direction. Have you sensed this friction between love of God and love of the world or self? Explain.

You must be intentional to deepen your love for God or you will fall more in love with yourself and the things of this world. There is no such thing as neutral; for if you do nothing to deepen your love for God, your fleshly tendencies will move you in the opposite direction.

James contends that those who have surrendered to worldliness demonstrate a resistance to God (no evidence of salvation). The one who has been redeemed by Christ will show signs of resistance to the world. Since these two loves are in opposition to each other, the Christian, who is indwelled with the Holy Spirit, will desire the things of God; and, in time, the temptations of this world will slowly lose their effectiveness to distract his attention. Which direction are you moving, towards God or away from Him?

No doubt, this world has everything humans would want; but for followers of Christ, it has nothing that we need. Why would we cling to a system that will one day fail and fall, when we have a true, everlasting treasure in Jesus Christ?

BiAY.org | Day 347 — 18 Days to Go

December 12th~Faith and Works

James 1:1-3:18

We began the book of James, which is a lot like drinking from a fire hydrant. Every sentence of his letter is loaded with wise counsel, like the Proverbs. We could spend several months unpacking it all; and, yet, I have the task of summarizing it in a day. Therefore, I am going to focus on what I believe is the heart of the book, that faith without works is dead (2:14-26).

Now, I realize that stating that principle may cause confusion. Does James mean to say that we are saved by our works? Is he insinuating somehow that without works we can lose our salvation? Paul wrote that we are saved by faith alone. Is James now saying that we must have faith plus works? As you can see, we must be careful here not to wander off into error.

The key to understanding the entire passage is in the first verse. “Dear brothers and sisters, what’s the use of saying you have faith if you don’t prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can’t save anyone” (v.14). James does not say that these people have genuine saving faith, but, rather, he says that they claim to have faith. Anyone can simply claim to have faith but that does not mean that they truly have faith. So then, how are we supposed to be able to tell if someone has saving faith? Their actions.

James is not suggesting that works are a means to earn salvation; rather, he is saying that works are a means of evidence for one’s salvation. For one to say that he has faith (or that he is a Christian) and, yet, to have no evidence in his life of his salvation, is a sign that his “faith” is not saving faith. To claim justification (right standing with God) apart from sanctification (conforming to the image of Christ) is a nullification of the claim. Salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone, but that faith will not remain alone; it will produce good works.

Daily Reflection

What Christ has done in your life internally (making you a new creature) should be evident in your life externally. To say that you love people and yet demonstrate no compassion for those in need is to live in a way that contradicts your claim (v.15, 16). Do you know anyone who claims to be a Christian but whose life gives no evidence of his claim? Could others say the same about you?

Now, take what you know in the plain teaching of Scripture and make sense of James’ examples of Abraham and Rahab (v.21-26). “So you see, we are made right with God by what we do, not by faith alone. Just as the body is dead without a spirit, so faith is dead without good deeds” (v.24, 26). What is James saying here?

Could a person be in Christ, having rightstanding with God and eternal life secured in Him, and still not exhibit visible evidence in his life of this transformation? Explain your answer.

“Don’t hide your light under a basket! Put it on a stand and let your good deeds shine out for all to see...” (Matthew 5:15, 16).

BiAY.org | Day 346 — 19 Days to Go

December 11~Personal Perfection

Philippians 2:12-4:23

We completed Paul’s letter to the Philippians, which was an expression of gratitude for their support of his ministry (4:15). However, as he wrote this letter of thanksgiving, Paul challenged the Philippians to live a Christ-centered life. Paul’s challenges fell into two categories, that of salvation and sanctification.

First, in regards to salvation, “We put no confidence in human effort,” he said. “Instead, we boast about what Christ has done for us” (3:3). Sinners cannot save themselves from sin with sin-ridden activity, no matter how sincere it is. Thus, Paul wrote that all of the trophies that he could boast should be thrown in the trash. He considered them worthless (v.8). If we count anything in our lives, other than Christ, as a gain towards our right standing before God, we are clinging to meaningless trophies.

Second, Paul addressed the topic of personal perfection (3:1-4:1). Becoming perfect does not mean that we somehow become sinless or never make mistakes. The word is better defined as “complete or mature.” Sanctification is God’s work of conforming us to the image of His Son, that we may be on the outside what we are on the inside, a work that will not be finished until we are in heaven (1:6; 4:21). Thus, Paul wrote, “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things... No, I am not all that I should be” (v.12, 13). “I look forward to what lies ahead and “strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize...” (v.13, 14). Paul was not passive about his sanctification; he was active. He pursued it and pressed for it.

Daily Reflection

Sanctification is a work of God in you (1:6), but, it is also a process in which you join Him in the work. You play an active role. Sanctification can be described as a seed that Christ has planted in your heart; though you must water it, give it sunlight, and tend to the soil, it is God who ultimately causes the growth. Likewise, though the seed is in you, if you do nothing to encourage its progress, the seed will lay dormant and never grow as it should. That is why every believer is at a different stage of personal growth or sanctification.

What are some ways that you can encourage your “seed” of sanctification to grow?

Paul wrote, “Forget the past” (v.13). Satan will constantly attempt to shame you with your past, your life before Christ, the mistakes or failures after Christ, or the weaknesses and sin traps you readily fall into. Do not pay attention to him. He is simply trying to distract you from the work that God is doing in your life. Also, forgetting the past includes looking beyond your successes, your achievements, your trophies. Satan will use them to cater to your ego and puff you up with pride or self-confidence. You must follow Paul’s example and consider them worthless compared to Christ.

Paul also wrote to “look forward to what lies ahead... “Strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize...” You must never be complacent with where you are in your walk with God. Never stop pressing the accelerator and just coast. You are like a car on an incline; you are either progressing up the hill or rolling backwards. In your spiritual life, there is no such thing as neutral. Strain to reach the end and receive the prize!

BiAY.org | Day 345 — 20 Days to Go

December 10~Life and Death

Philemon 1:1-25

Philippians 1:1-2:11

We continued to follow Paul’s letter-writing campaign, by reading his short message to Philemon and the beginning of his letter to the Philippians. His message to Philemon was simple — “show kindness to Onesimus” (v.10). Evidently, Onesimus was Philemon’s slave, who had run away to find Paul in Rome. While in Rome, he became a follower of Christ and was encouraged by Paul and others to return to his master. Paul’s letter was written to soften the blow of his return, as he would face the anger and possible resentment of Philemon.

Paul’s letter to the Philippians was meant to encourage them regarding his situation in prison. He explained that his circumstances “had happened to spread the Good News” (v.12). In that, Paul said, he rejoiced (v.18). Next, Paul described the two options that he saw for his future – discharge or death – both of which he believed would turn out for his deliverance (v.19). He recognized that he would be “free” one way or the other. Either the Romans would find him innocent and he would be freed from his chains, or the Romans would find him guilty, though he was innocent, and execute him, thus setting him free from his earthly chains to go to heaven.

Notice that Paul wrestled with life and death, not knowing which one to choose. In his mind, both were preferable, for “to me,” he wrote, “living is for Christ and dying is even better” (v.21). Paul’s view of life and death is instructive here. For most people, to live is gain and to die is loss. In other words, life is good and death is bad; but, for Paul, it was quite different. While life was good, death was much better (v.23). He did not fear death but welcomed it.

In Paul’s mind, to remain on earth was to live for Christ, to honor Him by his words and deeds, to make Him known and to share Him with everyone; but to die or to depart from this world was to live with Christ, in His presence, by His side, with a host of believers in the halls of heaven. Today, we tend to hold onto this earthly life in such a way that reveals our misunderstanding of what is to come. We act as if we were leaving behind something better for something worse, when, in reality, we are leaving behind something “good” for something much better.

Daily Reflection

This life, as “good” as it might be, pales in comparison to the life that is to come. How so?

With so much to look forward to, do you have to fear death? If you have put your trust in God, then “death has no sting” (1 Corinthians 15:55), rather it is the door through which you must pass to enter into the second, more desirable life that awaits you.

Notice that while Paul knew that he was to remain a little while longer, he was comforted by the fact that it meant more “fruitful service” for him (v.22). He knew that his time on earth was limited and that while he was here, he was not to waste it; he was supposed to labor or work.

You work all the time but for what, a paycheck, groceries, gas? Is that fruitful labor? No, Paul is referring to labor that bears eternal fruit not temporary reward. Do you recognize that your time is limited? Do you understand that you are not to be wasting your time? Does your work produce fruit that is eternal? Are you just making a living or are you making a difference?

BiAY.org | Day 344 — 21 Days to Go

December 9th~Mind Renewal

Colossians 1:24-4:18

We finished Paul’s letter to the Colossians. His focus was primarily on how to live the new life we have in Christ. He illustrated his challenge with the Old Testament ritual of circumcision. “When you came to Christ,” he wrote, ”you were ‘circumcised,’ but not by a physical procedure. It was a spiritual procedure, the cutting away of your sinful nature... You were dead because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive in Christ. He forgave all your sins” (2:11, 13).

The control-center of our lives is our spirit. Our spirit directly influences our mind, and our mind controls our will, our words, our emotions, and even our body. Therefore, we could say that the spirit of a man is the master of the man. Whatever or whomever controls the spirit of a man, controls the man. Praise God that He chose to “rescue us from the one who rules in the kingdom of darkness and has brought us into the kingdom of His dear Son” (1:13, 14). The Holy Spirit has taken residence within us. He now influences our lives, as we surrender to Him.

Though our spiritual nature has been regenerated, our flesh has not; our mind, will, emotions, and body are still rebellious to God. None of these things will be made perfect until we are in heaven; so then, there is a constant struggle between the Holy Spirit and our unholy, sinful flesh. They both vie for control of what we think, what we do, and what we say. We will endure this struggle for the rest of our earthly lives.

Though our spirit (heart) has been changed, it takes a lifetime to sanctify (purify) our mind. Since birth, our mind has been under the influence of sin, and though we are saved from the penalty of sin, we still deal with the presence of sin, which is demonstrated in our self-centered, worldly thinking. Thus, Paul exhorted us “not to conform to the world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds” (Romans 12:2, NASB). As John MacArthur said, “God is in the business of mind renewal.”

Daily Reflection

While Satan must concede your spirit to God, he battles fiercely for your mind, to keep you from living life the way God expects. Thus, God’s Word exhorts you to “love the Lord with all of your mind” (Mark 12:30), to “take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5), and to think on those things which are “true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and of good repute (Philippians 4:8). Even in today’s passage, Paul wrote, “Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth” (3:2).

It is clear that after salvation, the primary battle for believers is in the mind. That’s why Paul warned us to put on the helmet of salvation, to protect our mind from the schemes of the Devil. What do you think is the best way for you to renew your mind? What would God say?

Paul wrote, “Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise” (3:16). If you do not renew your mind through regular meditation on the Scriptures, then your mind is unprotected and vulnerable to the lies, deceptions, and warped philosophies of this world. Scripture is the mind of Christ. To think like Him, you must think like the Word of God.

BiAY.org | Day 343 — 22 Days to Go

December 8th~Armed for Battle

Ephesians 5:15-6:23

Colossians 1:1-23

We finished Paul’s letter to the Ephesians and opened his letter to the Colossians. While much of what we read in Colossians was introductory, we did encounter one of the most profound pas- sages in all the Bible, detailing the doctrines of Christ (1:15-22). For example, Paul wrote, “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before God made anything at all and is supreme over all creation... For God in all His fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and by Him God reconciled everything to Himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of His blood on the cross. This includes you...” These truths are incredible and would take weeks to unpack. The mysteries of Christ are marvelous to consider!

However, the Lord reminded me today of the source of our earthly troubles. We live in an evil world that is under evil management; and the frustrations that we face in the physical realm are often caused by forces in the spiritual realm. We cannot battle spiritual problems with physical solutions; instead, we must face spiritual foes with spiritual weapons. Enemies with spiritual power cannot be thwarted by human strength or wisdom; we must utilize a power greater than ourselves.

Paul said it this way, “Be strong with the Lord’s mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against the strategies and tricks of the Devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world...” (Ephesians 6:10-12).

We are all familiar with the armor of God, but consider today what each piece of armor represents and why it is important. We must be girded with truth, because the enemy will fill our head with lies. We must robe ourselves with the righteousness of Christ, because Satan will accuse us of all our unrighteous deeds. We must be anchored in peace, because he will invent many distractions and discouragements.

We must guard ourselves with faith in God, for the Devil will cause us to doubt God’s existence, His goodness, His plan, and His provision. We must cling to our salvation, our freedom from sin and death, because Satan will tempt us in every way possible, doing whatever necessary to keep us inactive or ineffective. We must hold fast the words of God, which the enemy fears and respects. Finally, we must always be alert in prayer, straining out the myriad of voices around us and striving, instead, to listen to the voice and wisdom of God.

Daily Reflection

What are some of the ways that we try to battle spiritual opponents with physical weapons? Why are these methods ineffective?

Putting on the armor of God is easier said than done. What does this look like in reality? What is the process? What daily steps should you take?

BiAY.org | Day 342 — 23 Days to Go