Notice on a slight format change:

Except for July 2012, these are mostly a collection of current devotional notes.

July 2012 is a re-write of old quiet times. My second child was born Nov 11, 1987 with multiple birth defects. I've been re-reading my QT notes from that time in my life, and have included them here. They cover the time before the birth and the few years immediately after the birth. They are tagged "historical." I added new insights and labeled them: ((TODAY, dd mmm yy)).

Friday, March 13, 2020

QT 13 Mar 2020, 1 Tim 1:18-20, Serving as a soldier


1 Timothy 1:18–20 (ESV) — 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, 19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, 20 among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

NOTE: Warfare is not easy. The conditions are not good. It is dirty. It is exhausting. It takes strength and determination. And usually, it is long -- it does not always end quickly. Timothy's warfare was probably better classified as a medic. He wasn't shooting down his opponent or engaging in debates (in 2 Tim 2:23-25 he is told to avoid). He was building up the Body of Christ; putting salve on the wounded; and healing the hurting. He also needed to keep a good conscience -- he needed to do things for the right reasons. Why do we  serve? Do we serve in the things we enjoy? Do we serve because it makes us feel important? Those are all the wrong reasons. We serve Jesus in whatever way he calls us.

PRAYER: Father, help us to see ourselves as your servants and not you as ours. We need to get rid of our pride. We need to listen to your voice. We need to stop making excuses. Give us grace I pray.

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