1 Timothy 4 - Reading the Scriptures

1 Timothy 4 NIV

So, you say you believe? What is it that you believe? I do not dare consider how many who say they are Christians are actually following the deceiving spirits that St. Paul advises Timothy to watch out for in today's reading.

 

We can have all the "spiritual" feelings that we want; we can follow all the traditions that are thrown at us; but, without Christ crucified, we cannot be saved. To say "I believe" does not necessarily mean that you know Christ. You say that, "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder." (James 2:19) A lot of people say they believe. The question we should ask ourselves is not so much do we believe; but, do we know the one who died for us? Have we taken the time to get to really know the one who died for us? Or, is saying, "I believe," good enough?

 

Paul wrote to Timothy, "Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching." (vs 13) In the pages of the Holy Scripture you will find the knowledge of who God is. In those pages, that have been left unopened for so long, you will find a greater understanding of what God has done for you in Christ Jesus. You will not glean a closer relationship with Jesus by accepting the teaching on the History Channel or by the many self-proclaimed prophets on the television who promise you riches by sending them your riches. In order to know who this Jesus really is; in order to know Jesus, God has provided you His word. If someone says to you, Jesus said this or that; Jesus wants this or that from you; unless it is can be supported by the Holy Scriptures, do not believe it. If you want to know Jesus, who is the living Word, hear and study the word of God.

 

And, please, be aware: Spirituality and Christianity are not necessarily the same things!

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Acts 13:13-52 Old Testament; Our History

Acts 13:13-52 NIV
Every Sunday, the Sunday School Youth assist in leading the prayers of the church. Before we do this, I usually pause during the service to see what they learned during Sunday School. (I don't do children's sermons well - so I don't do them.) This past Sunday, I was just a little surprised when I asked them what they had learned and the response was that they had learning about Absalom. They actually knew the whole story including how he had turned on his father, David. I wondered how many of our adult members knew the story of Absalom. (I didn't ask for a show of hands.) Knowing our history is very important to help us know who we are and where we are going. That history can be found in the pages of Holy Scripture which definitely includes the Old Testament.

Each Sunday we begin the readings from scripture with the old testament. I have been questioned (a few times) about doing things the same old way every single Sunday and have been told that following this order of service tends to be boring. As we read Acts 13 we can see that this order is not exactly something new that the Lutheran church or any other has just made up out of thin air. There is a purpose to it all.

When Paul proclaimed the Good News in the synagogues, he began by reminding the people of their history. He began by reminding them why they need the Good News of Jesus Christ in the first place. We need to be reminded of all that God has done and will do for His people. We need to be reminded of the reasons God sent His Son to be our salvation. We need to remember our history, for it is indeed our history - the history of the church - and so we begin with an old testament reading every Sunday.

God's Peace - Pastor Judy