Doing Things that are Wrong

Scripture: But God’s truth stands firm like a great rock, and nothing can shake it. It is a foundation stone with these words written on it: "The Lord knows those who are really his," and "A person who calls himself a Christian should not be doing things that are wrong." 2 Timothy 2:19

Observation: Paul's teaching to Timothy is very simple ... Timothy is to do God's work, and do it well, steering clear of things that distract from the work or are contrary to the gospel of Jesus. Paul ties the ideas of both teaching the proper message about Jesus, and working hard to perform that teaching while living well in the church community, directly to the judgment of God. Those who work well will be honored, and those who mislead and work poorly will be judged in the context that perhaps they never truly believed.

These instructions cannot be presented more simply that this statement ... Christians should not be doing things that are wrong.

Application: I do things wrong EVERY day. Sometimes, very clear and bad things that I know are wrong. I lie, I lust, I hate ... and in doing so, my true faith must be scrutinized by God. If I can be SO disobedient to Jesus, is he really my Lord?

Yes he is, but I have terrible self control of my mind (also a warning in Proverbs today). This is a fruit of the spirit I lack, and I desperately need it.

Prayer: Lord God, father, please fill me with the Holy Spirit more and more every day. I surrender to your will, and truly wish to surrender every aspect of my daily living to the guidance of the Spirit. I know in my pride I have resisted in the past, and this hurts me often now. However, I also know you have been patient with me, providing more and more of your Spirit and your word measure by measure. I wish to be filled. May my willpower not be mine, for I am weak. May I instead have only your Spirit-lead control governing my self, my thoughts, and my actions. Amen, and amen.