The Equation

1 Timothy 1

People have forgotten this equation and have concentrated on selfish gain with everything being about themselves instead of being about God and about others.

But because of God’s immense and immeasurable mercy and grace, people are not condemned or sentenced to damnation. Instead they are given another chance. Just like the apostle Paul. And he sets himself as an example for this particular topic or aspect of ministry.

If you want to show authentic love you first need to have a pure heart. Don’t worry, God already sees our pure heart when we ask for His forgiveness every time we do wrong. Second, we need a clear conscience. This is somehow tied up with having a pure heart. Once Jesus Christ forgives our sins, He also takes away the guilt. Third, we need to have genuine faith. This means putting our total trust in God. It is believing that He will do what He says He will do.

Remember:

Pure heart + clear conscience + genuine faith

= LOVE (for God and others)

Unity and humility

Have you ever bought something that was an imitation—it looked like the real thing but lacked the quality of the original? Chances are the imitations wore out or broke before too long. There is nothing like the real thing, whether it be a cherished painting, a treasured piece of jewelry, or a precious relationship. Nothing quite meets our expectations except the real thing. But there are times in life when we are supposed to try to imitate someone—times when we want to model ourselves after an ideal or a role model. We don’t expect to be as good or perfect as the ’original,’ but it is in our best interests to try. Why? Because we have a perfect model for all we do in Jesus Christ!

Philippians 2:5-11 is one of the greatest passages ever written about Jesus Christ. It paints the perfect picture of humility—the humility of Jesus Christ. No one has ever come close to humbling himself like Jesus Christ did, and no one ever will. Yet, if the problems of the church and of the world are to ever be solved, we must humble ourselves just as Christ did. The church is too often divided. The only answer is the declaration of this passage: letting the humility of Jesus Christ flow in and out of our minds. The unity of a church depends upon every Christian walking in the humility of Jesus Christ.

Have a Blessed 2009!

As we usher in the new year, let us ponder on what the apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians:

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended: but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14)

Have a Blessed 2009 filled with God’s love and purpose!