Tag: God

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1 Timothy 4:10 – Why We Train

A picture of a man digging a deep hole. (Grok)

That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.

Summary: This passage is a hum-dinger. Paul’s words leave us with a paradox wrapped up in a controversy.   

This verse, like so many others in this letter to Timothy, is difficult. It can be analyzed from several different angles, but for the sake of this meditation, we are going to use a very simple analysis. Paul’s sentence can be divided into two parts. One is paradoxical, and the other is controversial. 

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1 Timothy 2:3b – Simple Pleasures

The carpenter's hand rests on a new table (Grok)

… and pleases God our Savior …

Summary: Pleasing God often sounds like a daunting task, yet our God is pleased when we simply trust him with our prayers. 

If you were God, what would please you? 

I suppose that is a rather silly question, but asking it helps us put ourselves in God’s position. If we were God, would we want our creation to please us, or would we have to compromise and “settle for” whatever our creation decided to do? 

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1 Timothy 1:7 – Part I: What is the Law?

Picture is of a woodland trail with a sign beside it saying "Stay Out! Evil Ahead!" (Grok)

They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

Summary: The topic of the law opens the door to many related questions. The first one we will deal with has to do with the nature of the law itself.   

In our last meditation, we discussed the meaning of the verb “judge.” The Bible instructs us to make good judgments about the things we say and do, but warns us against making moral judgments about other people. 

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Philippians 4:20a – Glory and Honor

Conversion of St Paul on the Road to Damascus. Acts 9. From Gustave Dore Bible 1865-1866. Wood Engraving.

To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. 

Summary: Our God and Father is worthy of all honor and glory — always.   

It has been a long journey through Paul’s letter to the Philippians! Each meditation has explored only one facet of the passage or word it focuses on. God’s Word is amazing in its depth and breadth of meaning (Isaiah 55:9). I am reminded of John’s words at the end of his Gospel:

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