Today I focused on Titus 2:1-2:10. In these verses Paul is urging Titus to encourage the older members of the church to be good examples of Christ and to teach the younger ones to be the same. Paul specifically encourages Titus to go above and beyond what is expected of him to have no room for anyone to talk bad about him.
Our lives should be above reproach. Its not easy but it is important. If we as Christians. Could attempt to live our lives in a way that is blameless it would definitely make God look better.
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5.23.2011
5.22.2011
Day 4
Today I'm looking back over Titus 1:13-1:16. In these verses Paul is urging Titus to correct the people who have heard false teaching and fallen astray and not in a gentle manner but sternly.
This says to me that correction can be stern and sometimes needs to be. My trouble with that is knowing If what I believe is better than what someone else believes.
Paul also mentions that people who's hearts are pure will have pure actions. And that people with corrupt hearts will live in a detestable way that is displeasing to God.
I can see this verse in a few ways. I'm going to try to focus on the way I think it is meant. To me this means that we can be pure of heart. Our actions will show it if we are or not. I know there are people of pure heart outside of church or religion. This leads me into thinking about the verse that says that no good thing can come unless it comes from God. So the question this brings to me is are people with pure hearted actions following God even if they don't realize they are? And then the next question is do they get to go to heaven too? Because they are following God they just don't know it's God.
I can't give answer to either but I sort of lean towards yes on both. I may be completely wrong but I it feels right.
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5.21.2011
Day 3
Today my focus is on Titus 1:10-1:12. In these verses Paul is warning of false teachers.
I think today fits into this because in my experience there are church leaders out there who have stopped relying on Gods wisdom and power and are trying to do the next big thing. The more people in the church means they were right. I don't think it's about numbers but the actions of the ones in the church.
I believe every person should study for themselves to check and see if their leaders teachings are matching up with what the person believes. Don't follow anyone blindly.
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I think today fits into this because in my experience there are church leaders out there who have stopped relying on Gods wisdom and power and are trying to do the next big thing. The more people in the church means they were right. I don't think it's about numbers but the actions of the ones in the church.
I believe every person should study for themselves to check and see if their leaders teachings are matching up with what the person believes. Don't follow anyone blindly.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
5.20.2011
Day 2
Today's study is focused on Titus 1:5-1:9. In this section Paul is laying out the guidelines to be an elder in the church of Crete. Going through these guidelines it seems almost impossible to follow, but what most people expect their church leaders to be today. In the commentary I was reading it said that it isn't known if this is a universal compliance, or a specific set of rules for Crete. The commentary said that Crete had very low moral standards as a culture.
My thinking is that most of American culture today has met that standard of very low morals. So I truly think that these verses could be said about our churches today. A church leader must meet these guidelines in order to properly teach people about God in a low moral culture. Our churches are falling apart because our leaders and their families are not holding themselves to these guidelines in a culture that is quickly spiraling downwards.
I'm no different. I don't hold myself to this moral standard. I'm no church leader but have thought in the past I should be one. What is my calling in life? If God wants me to be a leader in His church, then I really have to look at my life and see what I need to change. I really wish today's church leaders could match up to these standards. It would mean a lot less people looking at us and thinking God is a lie because of how we act.
My thinking is that most of American culture today has met that standard of very low morals. So I truly think that these verses could be said about our churches today. A church leader must meet these guidelines in order to properly teach people about God in a low moral culture. Our churches are falling apart because our leaders and their families are not holding themselves to these guidelines in a culture that is quickly spiraling downwards.
I'm no different. I don't hold myself to this moral standard. I'm no church leader but have thought in the past I should be one. What is my calling in life? If God wants me to be a leader in His church, then I really have to look at my life and see what I need to change. I really wish today's church leaders could match up to these standards. It would mean a lot less people looking at us and thinking God is a lie because of how we act.
5.19.2011
90 days
I have continually said I planned on getting back on track with my relationship with God. I have continually slacked off about it. So I have challenged myself to 90 days. This is nothing special. It's just me agreeing to do a quiet time every day for the next 90 days. I plan to blog about what I read about each day and my thoughts on what I read.
Today I was looking at the index of my Bible and trying to think what to start with. I thought I would start small and picked Titus. Although one of the smallest books of the Bible I think I may have hit onto something that is by no means small. I read the entire book today and what I read made me want to go in depth with this book. I'll take as long a it takes for me to mine these verses for their wisdom.
My immediate thoughts are that Paul is showing what the church should be modeled after and I'm not sure that today's church matches up at all. And I feel maybe that's why so many people claim to be Christian but don't really know what that means. Maybe I'll understand better myself as I study further.
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Today I was looking at the index of my Bible and trying to think what to start with. I thought I would start small and picked Titus. Although one of the smallest books of the Bible I think I may have hit onto something that is by no means small. I read the entire book today and what I read made me want to go in depth with this book. I'll take as long a it takes for me to mine these verses for their wisdom.
My immediate thoughts are that Paul is showing what the church should be modeled after and I'm not sure that today's church matches up at all. And I feel maybe that's why so many people claim to be Christian but don't really know what that means. Maybe I'll understand better myself as I study further.
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5.18.2011
Take up your cross
Jesus said to take up your cross and to follow him. What does that mean. I have a few thoughts. First off I think that cross was a symbol of the biggest burden Christ ever had to bear. He was up there and every sin that any person who claims His name from start to finish were lain upon His shoulders. And He never did anything to deserve that. I have my own sins that I refuse to carry most of the time. I don't even own up to most of them either. So what does it mean to take up my cross?
I think for me it's owning up to the fact I do wrong when I do it. I need to learn how to recognize when I am doing wrong and stop myself. If I can own my own actions and not pass the blame then I'll be on the right track.
What about the following Him part? How am I supposed to do that. He lived His life as a living sacrifice to His father. I don't really listen to what He tells me to do at all. I havn't even prayed in a really long time much less open my Bible to hear Him speak. So how can I begin to know what path I should be on when I stopped listening and praying a long time ago. I am the worlds worst procrastinator. I always put off doing what is right just one more day. I can't promise this time will be any different because I never intend it to be that way. But I am truly desiring to have a better walk with my God. Thats my hope.
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I think for me it's owning up to the fact I do wrong when I do it. I need to learn how to recognize when I am doing wrong and stop myself. If I can own my own actions and not pass the blame then I'll be on the right track.
What about the following Him part? How am I supposed to do that. He lived His life as a living sacrifice to His father. I don't really listen to what He tells me to do at all. I havn't even prayed in a really long time much less open my Bible to hear Him speak. So how can I begin to know what path I should be on when I stopped listening and praying a long time ago. I am the worlds worst procrastinator. I always put off doing what is right just one more day. I can't promise this time will be any different because I never intend it to be that way. But I am truly desiring to have a better walk with my God. Thats my hope.
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3.29.2011
Paved with Good Intentions
I have had many things I intended to get done by now. I look back on my life and see a lot of wasted opportunity. I am lazy. I take the easy way out. I have big words and I know how to use them to best suit me. I really need to change my life, but I've said that before. I need to motivate myself.
I am sick of my job. I need something more for me. I need something I love. I don't know what I love. I think I do. But I'm not sure. I've been "looking" for a new job for a whole year and a half now. I havn't really done anything. I have looked at openings, and looked at layouts for resume's, but I havn't actually applied or filled out my resume. I live my life in a series of good intentions. I say I want to do something and I mean it. I plan on doing it. But I get lazy and stop trying. I tell everyone else around me I'm still trying, but (insert excuse here) gets in the way.
I have things to be happy about. I love my girlfriend, and she loves me. She is amazing and my most important thing. I am not in debt at all. I am frugal enough to save some money and even have a retirement plan. I am in pretty good health, even if I am overweight. I have so many things to keep me occupied. I own a lot of stuff. I'm far from unhappy. I just know I'm stuck. I feel like I'm running to stay in place.
Maybe simple is better. Maybe we have put so much crap into our lives that we get bogged down and we can't find our way out. I know I yearn for simple. I want to enjoy the days I am given and enjoy the people around me. But that's not so easy either. I'm bound to society and the ways of society. I am chained by mediocrity and self doubt. Who am I if I'm not what everyone expects me to be? Can I break these chains?
I am sick of my job. I need something more for me. I need something I love. I don't know what I love. I think I do. But I'm not sure. I've been "looking" for a new job for a whole year and a half now. I havn't really done anything. I have looked at openings, and looked at layouts for resume's, but I havn't actually applied or filled out my resume. I live my life in a series of good intentions. I say I want to do something and I mean it. I plan on doing it. But I get lazy and stop trying. I tell everyone else around me I'm still trying, but (insert excuse here) gets in the way.
I have things to be happy about. I love my girlfriend, and she loves me. She is amazing and my most important thing. I am not in debt at all. I am frugal enough to save some money and even have a retirement plan. I am in pretty good health, even if I am overweight. I have so many things to keep me occupied. I own a lot of stuff. I'm far from unhappy. I just know I'm stuck. I feel like I'm running to stay in place.
Maybe simple is better. Maybe we have put so much crap into our lives that we get bogged down and we can't find our way out. I know I yearn for simple. I want to enjoy the days I am given and enjoy the people around me. But that's not so easy either. I'm bound to society and the ways of society. I am chained by mediocrity and self doubt. Who am I if I'm not what everyone expects me to be? Can I break these chains?
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