Blog Archives
Friends
“May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me—may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day!—and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus.” –2 Timothy 1:16-18
“Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.” –2 Timothy 4:11
“Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers.” –2 Timothy 4:19-21
What fun would it be just to dwell on rejection? A neat thing about Christianity is the fellowship we have with one another. The fact that we hold this fundamental thing in common — the kingdom of God – unites us like nothing else can. It’s wonderful to be able to go to other countries and spend time with people you’ve never met, yet experience the bond of love that unites us all in the body of Christ. Other believers can encourage, aid, and equip us in our service for God.
It would be a serious mistake to adopt a “just me and Jesus” mentality. If we try to be Lone Ranger Christians, we neglect the body of Christ and therefore Christ himself. Moreover, we neglect our own spiritual health. Thank God for the friends that he brings into our lives!
Team sanctification
Colossians 1:28-2:4
28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. 2:1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.
Sanctification is a group effort. It takes a lot of work, and the energy for this work comes from Jesus Christ (1:29). Without the wisdom, strength, love, and understanding of Christ, it’s a lost cause. But with these, we can work to build up the church by our involvement in one another’s lives. Just as Paul and the apostles warned (admonished) and taught the churches through the proclamation of the gospel (1:28), so our church leaders admonish and teach us. We are called to “be knit together in love” (2:2) so that we may be encouraged to understand and know Christ, our priceless treasure. We need to watch one another’s doctrine closely so that no one is deluded “with plausible arguments” (2:4). False teaching rarely announces its presence; rather, it is much more subtle. It requires discernment to pick out. This is one of many reasons why we need the church—to call each other out on our wayward doctrine that will lead us to an unfruitful life.
I’m grateful for the many times in which pastors and friends have corrected my wrong patterns of thinking. Our theology drives our delight in God and our attitude toward life. I know I have a long way to go, but I’m thankful that even now, God is using me to help others just as he has used others in my own life.
