Friday September 3, 2021

Friday – September 3rd – 1 Timothy 2:8-10     -----    

2:8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;
9 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, 
10 but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. 
 
 
The Daily Walk Bible inspirational thought for today:
     BY CHASTENING, THE LORD SEPARATES THE SIN HE HATES FROM THE SINNER HE LOVES.*
 
    Welcome to our celebration of Friday for this week. And with it, for many people, quitting time today with signal the beginning of a longer three-day weekend. Our inspirational thought today is just that for me – inspirational. What a great comfort to know that the nature of the God who created us and the God we serve still loves me no matter my sins, faults, or shortcomings. At the same time, I need to have little doubt in my mind that God hates the sins I commit yet still loving me. Sin can only fracture our relationship with God and sin will destroy our relationship with other people. It is easy to see why God hates sin, and a blessing to know that he still loves the sinner. And if that is how God interacts with sin and sinner then maybe that should be our pattern of behavior as well. Oh, by the way this statement is not intended to give us permission to sin but to remind us of the casualties caused by our sin.
 
    In our pick verses today Paul transitions into teachings that address some issues that were brought to him about the believers in Ephesus. As we read these writings in the twenty-first century, we could easily struggle with the language used to address first century culture and values. A wise biblical reader will discern intent ahead of content when it comes to specific problems within this church community. Paul’s instructions in these three verses concern how people should conduct themselves in public worship, but the principles also have a wider application to the behavior of believers in their everyday life. Holiness in our living and modesty in our dress are especially appropriate for Christians of any age or time. For us today we must blur the gender specific points made by Paul and understand that in our culture these warnings apply to all people. The bottom line is that Paul was addressing people in the Ephesian church that in their worship and in their life, they were intentionally making a point to draw attention to themselves.  Paul is making the point that their lives, their actions, and their worship conduct should point exclusively to Jesus. Paul’s first century remedy is that our emphasis should be on good works which spring from a sincere faith. God looks not on the outward adornment, but on the hidden heart of a person.

Blessings
  Pastor Jim
Saturday – September 4th – 1 Timothy 2:11-15

*Tyndale. The Daily Walk Bible NLT (Daily Walk: Full Size) (Kindle Location 47868). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

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