In his letters to Timothy (1 Tim: 6:11; 2 Tim. 2:22), Paul entreats him to run from evil things and youthful lusts and pursue righteousness and a godly life. Since the word “pursue” can be translated “run,” the admonition could read “run away from sin and run to God.” These are words of action, even aggression.
Paul is saying "run away from temptation as fast as you can." But I am afraid too many Christians are not this aggressive against sinful temptations. Too many Christians are more cavalier—playing with temptation, they think, “How close can I get without actually sinning?” They do not realize, by asking the question, they have already sinned!
Imploring him to run to righteousness, Paul is not simply telling Timothy to think about these godly things or just long for these things. No, he tells him to get up and go after them aggressively. Paul’s admonition to Timothy is no less ours today. We must go after God with everything that is in us. We must pursue Him aggressively.
Time for some soul-searching here… do you make time to pray, read, study and meditate on His word? Are you so desperate to please Him that you will do whatever it takes even if it means spending less time watching TV, reading books or hanging out with friends? Are you too easily satisfied with your church's Sunday morning morsels? In other words, are you aggressive in your personal pursuit of God? Aggressive pursuit of God will bring a radical change to your life. And even more important than how it may change you, it will even change how God responds to you (Heb. 11:6). Now that's something worth running after!
This message could be preached till the Lord returns without it ever losing it's need to be presented! It's like staying fit. Everyone needs reminding that we need to go to the gym, and everyone that goes needs someone pushing them to get the work in that counts. We slack for a day, two days, a holiday weekend, and we're back in a rut of physical endulgement. Thank goodness for the watchmen on the walls constantly crying out, and pushing us! I would be a sloppy overweight fleshly man without it! Thanks Greg!
ReplyDelete-David S.
You wrote: “Paul is saying "run away from temptation as fast as you can." But I am afraid too many Christians are not this aggressive against sinful temptations. Too many Christians are more cavalier—playing with temptation, they think, “How close can I get without actually sinning?” They do not realize, by asking the question, they have already sinned!”
ReplyDeleteAn interesting question is: What is the definition of sin.
It is written in Torah, Devarim 13:1-6, that it is forbidden to add or remove mitzwot (commandments) from Torah. Included is the mitzwah that one shouldn’t eat pork and that one should celebrate Shabat. It is written that one who adds mitzwot or removes mitzwot is a prophet (i.e. a prophet not from the Creator) that one shouldn’t listen to.
First century Ribi Yehoshua ha-Mashiakh (the Messiah) from Nazareth held Torah – the instruction manual of the Creator – as an authority.
If you want to follow him you must do likewise.
Learn what Ribi Yehoshua from Nazareth (the Messiah) taught here: Netzarim
Anders Branderud
Dear Anders
ReplyDeleteThe prophet Jeremiah prophesied concerning God's New Covenant, in which God's Law is to be internalized." In the New Covenant, sin is not just breaking of an external law, but an attitude of the heart. Now, 'every' day is a sabbath as we enter in to the finished work of Christ; every day we celebrate His Rest and for having given us rest. And regarding the levitical diet requirements, these were superceded by our freedom in Christ when Paul says God gives us all things to enjoy: "For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejcted, if it is received with gratitude." 1 Timothy 4:4
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ReplyDeleteAnders, again...
ReplyDeleteI have read the following on the site you referred me to:
"The only path that leads with certainty to the real Almighty of the real world is the path defined by documented history, fact, logic and science (e.g. physics and cosmology). This remains true regardless whether one is a Jew beginning in Judaism, a Christian beginning in Christianity or a Muslim beginning in Islam. Documented history, fact, logic and science inexorably constrain every intelligent, rational and logical person to the same facts about historically-documentation."
As a bible-believing, born-again Christian, I do not believe there is any "path" to the Almighty, Jehovah God other than Jesus Christ, who said "I am the way... no one comes to the Father but by Me."
Certainly you knew this by reading any of my website or blog. I wonder what drew you to my blog?
December 15, 2009 12:54 PM