Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living - The Global of the Nazarene's Foundry Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Saturday, 9 June 2018 "Repentance Leads to Truth" by Carol Rittenhouse - 2 Timothy 2:14-26.

Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living - The Global of the Nazarene's Foundry Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Saturday, 9 June 2018 "Repentance Leads to Truth" by Carol Rittenhouse - 2 Timothy 2:14-26.
2 Timothy 2:14 Keep reminding people of this, and charge them solemnly before the Lord not to engage in word-battles. They accomplish nothing useful and are a catastrophe for the hearers! 15 Do all you can to present yourself to God as someone worthy of his approval, as a worker with no need to be ashamed, because he deals straightforwardly with the Word of the Truth. 16 But keep away from godless babbling, for those who engage in it will only become more ungodly, 17 and their teaching will eat away at people like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are among these; 18 they have missed the mark, as far as the truth is concerned, by saying that our resurrection has already taken place; and they are overturning some people’s faith. 19 Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, stamped with these words:
“The Lord knows his own,”[2 Timothy 2:19 Numbers 16:5; Nahum 1:7]
and,
“Let everyone who claims he belongs to the Lord
stand apart from wrongdoing.”[2 Timothy 2:19 Numbers 16:26.]
20 In a large house there are dishes and pots not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. That is, some are meant for honorable use and some for dishonorable. 21 If a person keeps himself free of defilement by the latter, he will be a vessel set aside for honorable use by the master of the house and ready for every kind of good work. 22 So, flee the passions of youth; and, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart, pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love and peace. 23 But stay away from stupid and ignorant controversies — you know that they lead to fights, 24 and a slave of the Lord shouldn’t fight. On the contrary, he should be kind to everyone, a good teacher, and not resentful when mistreated. 25 Also he should be gentle as he corrects his opponents. For God may perhaps grant them the opportunity to turn from their sins, acquire full knowledge of the truth, 26 come to their senses and escape the trap of the Adversary, after having been captured alive by him to do his will. (Complete Jewish Bible).
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What a timely verse of Scripture for today. We live in a world of opponents—in sports, in politics, in the workplace, and in the classroom. Opposition is part of life, but how we deal with our opponents is the focus of our passage today. There are two parts to our key verse. The first part is our job: gently instruct. The second part is God’s job: leading them to a knowledge of repentance. It has become very common for believers to jump into the fray of public discussion—sometimes using very crass, judgmental language and opinions, all the while using the justification that they are “just defending their position.” At times it has been disheartening to see that there is not much difference between the way people outside the Body of Christ treat opponents. The Spirit through Paul’s words calls us to choose a road less and less travelled. We are to approach opponents with gentleness, but not to just be ""nice. The goal of our gentleness is that the Holy Spirit can do the work of repentance. Harsh words, threats, and judgment serve as obstacles while gentleness, humility, and extending grace serve as conduits to accomplishing God’s kingdom work.
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Hymn for Today: "O For a Faith that Will Not Shrink" by William H. Bathurst. 
1. O for a faith that will not shrink,
Though pressed by many a foe,
That will not tremble on the brink
Of any earthly woe,
2. That will not murmur nor complain
Beneath the chast'ning rod,
But in the hour of grief or pain
Will lean upon its God.
3. A faith that shines more bright and clear
When tempests rage without,
That, when in danger, knows no fear,
In darkness feels no doubt,
4. That bears unmoved the world’s dread frown,
Nor heeds its scornful smile,
That seas of trouble cannot drown,
Nor Satan’s arts beguile,
5. A faith that keeps the narrow way
Till life’s last hour is fled
And with a pure and heav'nly ray
Lights up a dying bed.
6. Lord, give us such a faith as this,
And then, whate’er may come,
We’ll taste e’en here the hallowed bliss
Of an eternal home.

Thought for Today: then, if my people, who bear my name, will humble themselves, pray, seek my face and turn from their evil ways, I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14(Complete Jewish Bible)).

Please pray: That many people in Cameroon will come to know Yeshua as their Messiah and receive the fullness of the Ruach HaKodesh.
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Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living - The Global of the Nazarene's Foundry Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Friday, 8 June 2018 "Repent: Turn to God" by Carol Rittenhouse - Acts 26:12-23.
Acts 26:12 “On one such occasion, I was traveling to Dammesek with the full authority and power of the head cohanim. 13 I was on the road, and it was noon, your Majesty, when I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my traveling companions. 14 We all fell to the ground; and then I heard a voice saying to me, in Hebrew, ‘Sha’ul! Sha’ul! Why do you keep persecuting me? It’s hard on you to be kicking against the ox-goads!’ 15 I said, ‘Who are you, sir?’ and the Lord answered, ‘I am Yeshua, and you are persecuting me! 16 But get up, and stand on your feet! I have appeared to you to appoint you to serve and bear witness to what you have already seen of me, and to what you will see when I appear to you in the future. 17 I will deliver you from the People and from the Goyim. I am sending you 18 to open their eyes; so that they will turn from darkness to light, from the power of the Adversary to God, and thus receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who have been separated for holiness by putting their trust in me.’
19 “So, King Agrippa, I did not disobey the vision from heaven! 20 On the contrary, I announced first in Dammesek, then in Yerushalayim and throughout Y’hudah, and also to the Goyim, that they should turn from their sins to God and then do deeds consistent with that repentance. 21 It was because of these things that Jews seized me in the Temple and tried to kill me. 22 However, I have had God’s help; so to this day, I stand testifying to both small and great, saying nothing but what both the prophets and Moshe said would happen — 23 that the Messiah would die, and that he, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to both the People and the Goyim.”. (Complete Jewish Bible).
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The first step in repentance is turning to God. Through God’s amazing prevenient grace, we are called to repentance, but the act itself is on us. Of course we are enabled by the power of the Holy Spirit to recognize God’s call in the first place! Once we decide to turn to God, the Spirit of God empowers us to live a life of obedience. So you have repented? Praise God! Now, what are you doing? You desire to live in obedience? Wonderful! So, how are you living that out? There is a divine synergism between belief and action. They feed off of each other. Our faith enables our deeds (through the power of the Holy Spirit). And our deeds help strengthen our faith. They work together. Some may say, "Well, I do not like to live out loud. My faith is private. Scipture says, however, that our faith compels us to share what God has done. Our deeds need not be in loudly announced in view of the whole world. Our deeds may be subtle and specific. Either way our deeds should always point others to God drawing them toward repentance as well.
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Hymn for Today: "My Anchor Holds" by W.C. Martin.
1. Tho’ the angry surges roll
On my tempest-driven soul,
I am peaceful, for I know,
Wildly though the winds may blow,
I’ve an anchor safe and sure,
That can evermore endure.
Refrain: And it holds, my anchor holds:
Blow your wildest, then, O gale,
On my bark so small and frail;
By His grace I shall not fail,
For my anchor holds, my anchor holds.
2. Mighty tides about me sweep,
Perils lurk within the deep,
Angry clouds o’ershade the sky,
And the tempest rises high;
Still I stand the tempest’s shock,
For my anchor grips the rock.
Refrain: And it holds, my anchor holds:
Blow your wildest, then, O gale,
On my bark so small and frail;
By His grace I shall not fail,
For my anchor holds, my anchor holds.
3. I can feel the anchor fast
As I meet each sudden blast,
And the cable, though unseen,
Bears the heavy strain between;
Thro’ the storm I safely ride,
Till the turning of the tide.
Refrain: And it holds, my anchor holds:
Blow your wildest, then, O gale,
On my bark so small and frail;
By His grace I shall not fail,
For my anchor holds, my anchor holds.
4. Troubles almost ’whelm the soul;
Griefs like billows o’er me roll;
Tempters seek to lure astray;
Storms obscure the light of day:
But in Christ I can be bold,
I’ve an anchor that shall hold.
Refrain: And it holds, my anchor holds:
Blow your wildest, then, O gale,
On my bark so small and frail;
By His grace I shall not fail,
For my anchor holds, my anchor holds.
Thought for Today: If we acknowledge our sins, then, since he is trustworthy and just, he will forgive them and purify us from all wrongdoing. (1 John 1:9) (Complete Jewish Bible)).
Please pray: For the development of Christian leaders in Burundi.
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