1 Tim. 2:1-7 - This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

At a family meal when I was younger, my siblings and I began sharing various memories each of us had (which weren’t many back then). At some point we were asked what our earliest memory was. I shared what I thought was a recurring dream about being at a beach as a toddler when a cold wave washed over me… [READ MORE]

1 Tim. 1:18 - This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare…

There is something powerful and energizing when someone embarks on a new task or season of life, especially if the transition is marked by some kind of ceremony that establishes the significance of the new role being accepted…

[READ MORE]

1 Tim. 1:14 - “But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.”

“An artist once submitted a painting of Niagara Falls to an exhibition but neglected to give it a title. The gallery came up with the whimsical words, ‘More to Follow.’ Niagara Falls, which has been spilling over billions of gallons per year for thousands of years and has more than met the needs of those below, is a fit emblem for the floods of God’s grace. There always is more to follow, or as James so beautifully says…

[Read More]

1 Tim. 1:5 - “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart, and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”

Have you ever been in a car with poorly aligned tires? There is the shudder of the wheels fighting against themselves, the pull of the wheel to one side or the other. It creates additional friction on the tires, which prematurely wears them out. Fuel economy is decreased as the engine has to work harder to make the wheels spin. All of this can be fixed by having a trained individual align the tires to work together as they pull in the same direction…

Phil. 2:29-30 - “So receive [Epaphroditus] in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.”

This passage has been one of my favorites for years. It is so convicting and challenging! In it, Paul praised the willingness of Epaphroditus to risk his personal health and well-being in order to lovingly minister to him…