Monday musings
Lifestyle is the issue. That's a current focus in our preaching and teaching. Belief determines behavior; therefore, make sure the bedrock of your life is solid biblical truth. Having done that, behavior will look something like this:
"The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will." (2 Timothy 2.24-26)
The goal is for the student to eventually become the teacher, both in word and lifestyle. As such, the mature teacher is not quarrelsome and argumentative, but kind and gentle in approach. There are those captivated by the enemy - who can become abusive and confrontational - who can easily trip up a less-than-mature believer. A kind, gentle, and reconciliatory stance can be effective in rescuing them from the errors of their thinking and action.
A mature teacher always remains a student, because "able to teach" - in the original language - means both a teacher and teachable (able to be taught). We cease to be an effective teacher when we cease to be a lifelong learner.
We live in a skeptical world. Far too many fads and philosophies have come and gone, and done little more than leave people poorer and disillusioned. Against that backdrop, the reality of our faith is judged by our actions and lifestyle - as rightly it should. Consistency of belief and behavior combine to present a compelling witness that merits a second look by a cynical world.
Lifestyle really is the issue. But, lifestyle is little more than a house built upon the sand (Matthew 7.26) unless it's foundation is solid biblical truth. What do you believe, and how is it behaving today? Perhaps there is no more important question to consider today than this one.
©Steve Taylor, 2013
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/
"The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will." (2 Timothy 2.24-26)
The goal is for the student to eventually become the teacher, both in word and lifestyle. As such, the mature teacher is not quarrelsome and argumentative, but kind and gentle in approach. There are those captivated by the enemy - who can become abusive and confrontational - who can easily trip up a less-than-mature believer. A kind, gentle, and reconciliatory stance can be effective in rescuing them from the errors of their thinking and action.
A mature teacher always remains a student, because "able to teach" - in the original language - means both a teacher and teachable (able to be taught). We cease to be an effective teacher when we cease to be a lifelong learner.
We live in a skeptical world. Far too many fads and philosophies have come and gone, and done little more than leave people poorer and disillusioned. Against that backdrop, the reality of our faith is judged by our actions and lifestyle - as rightly it should. Consistency of belief and behavior combine to present a compelling witness that merits a second look by a cynical world.
Lifestyle really is the issue. But, lifestyle is little more than a house built upon the sand (Matthew 7.26) unless it's foundation is solid biblical truth. What do you believe, and how is it behaving today? Perhaps there is no more important question to consider today than this one.
©Steve Taylor, 2013
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/
posted by steve @ 8:54 AM
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