Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “Support Brings A Productive Life” – Sunday, 20 July 2014 - Scripture: Titus 3 1-2 He Put Our Lives Together3 1-2 Remind the people to respect the government and be law-abiding, always ready to lend a helping hand. No insults, no fights. God’s people should be bighearted and courteous.
3-8 It wasn’t so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God’s gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there’s more life to come—an eternity of life! You can count on this.
8-11 I want you to put your foot down. Take a firm stand on these matters so that those who have put their trust in God will concentrate on the essentials that are good for everyone. Stay away from mindless, pointless quarreling over genealogies and fine print in the law code. That gets you nowhere. Warn a quarrelsome person once or twice, but then be done with him. It’s obvious that such a person is out of line, rebellious against God. By persisting in divisiveness he cuts himself off.
12-13 As soon as I send either Artemas or Tychicus to you, come immediately and meet me in Nicopolis. I’ve decided to spend the winter there. Give Zenas the lawyer and Apollos a hearty send-off. Take good care of them.
14 Our people have to learn to be diligent in their work so that all necessities are met (especially among the needy) and they don’t end up with nothing to show for their lives.
15 All here want to be remembered to you. Say hello to our friends in the faith. Grace to all of you.
“Support Brings A Productive Life” by Norayr Hahan
Like most boys at my young age I was interested in a new bicycle. Since stores were not in business to give away their merchandise I earned money by delivering newspapers up and down my street. Heavy, bulky newspapers, rain or shine, snow or mud. The day came when I earned enough money to buy what I wanted.
At a young age we learn important lessons about working hard in order to get what we want. For most people, this is natural. It’s a good work ethic. But it is also dangerous. The danger lies in the fact that we can become so focused on working hard to fulfill our own wants and desires that we forget about others. Yet, one of the reasons we are blessed is so we can be a blessing to others. In Ephesians 4:28 Paul writes that everyone must be “doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.”
Hard work is good. We must not be unproductive. Still, we must also remember that part of our reason for doing something useful is to “share with those in need.”
Hymn for Today:
“Father, Speak Your Word Again” by Ken Bible; Words copyright 1993 by Pilot Point Music, Box 419527; Kansas City, Missouri, United States 64141. All rights reserved.1. Father, speak Your Word again.
Come and share Your will and way.
Show Yourself as now we seek,
Read in faith, and wait and pray;
Read in faith, and wait and pray.
2. Father, how we need your truth,
Truth to fix our minds above;
Words of promise, peace, rebuke?
All are words of life and love;
All are words of life and love.
3. Come now, Father, shape our ways.
We will use the light you give,
In Your Spirit serve and grow,
Learn how love would have us live;
Learn how love would have us live.
Thought for Today:
“Earn all you can, Save all you can, Give all you can”(John Wesley)
Prayer Needs:
Developing Christian leaders in Nigeria!
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