Luke 18
Irony of judge not giving justice(though she was a woman, barely a person, widow). Widow puts the weakest and least influential people on equal footing with the recognized power figures in society. Widows were at the absolute bottom of authority and influence. Not listened to at all. After a lifetime of being ignored, it's hard to "pray consistently and never quit." In prayer before God, we we are all equal. "How much of that persistent faith will the Son of Man find on earth when he returns?" Will we be like the widow? Or the others?
Tax Man and the Pharisee. "God, give mercy. Forgive me, a sinner...if you're content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself."
"Children are the kingdom's pride and joy... Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you will never get into it."
"What must I do to deserve (inherit) eternal life?"
"Why are you calling me good?"
"Sell everything you own and give it away to the poor. Then come follow me." "He was holding on tightly to a lot of things and not about to let them go." What am I holding onto that keeps me from growing closer in my walk with Christ? What "things", both tangible and intangible, get in my way?
"No chance of entering God's kingdom if you think you can pull it off by yourself (earn your way). Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it."
Peter...checks to see if the disciples had done what was necessary...
Blind man by the side of the road. "What do you want from me?" Jesus asked. "Master, I want to see again." What is it that you want from Jesus? Do you have an answer for his question? "The healing was instant. He looked up, seeing-and then followed Jesus, glorifying God." His response to his healing was worship.
1 Timothy 1-3
Development of leaders who will lead after Paul. Ephesus had been a model church, but by the time Timothy is sent there, Ephesus had become a mess. The religion of culture had invaded the pure gospel of Jesus Christ and threatened to destroy it.
"The whole point of what we're urging is simply love--love uncontaminated by self-interest and counterfeit faith, a life open to God. Those who fail to keep this point soon wander off into cul-de-sacs of gossip...The way you say it an to whom you say it are as important as what you say. The Law code isn't primarily for people who live responsibly, but for the irresponsible, who defy authority, riding roughshod over God, life, sex, truth, whatever!"
"Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners." All those sinners who make you want to pull your hair out have a Savior. Jesus is the one who saves us from our sins. It's not our job to save ourselves or others. Jesus came to rescue, to save, to raise sinners from the dead, to restore them (and us). We all begin (again and again) in the place of needing God's help.
Does the shame of the sin you are presently dealing with cause you to shrink away from church, from other Christians, from Christ himself? Why? What's keeping you from coming to Christ, bringing the mess to him so that he can graciously deal with it? It is called the throne of grace, not the throne of judgment.
First thing you should do: pray. In every way you know how, for everyone you know. Rulers, governments. Especially with Tuesday coming up. And Wednesday.
Prayer ought to be the first thing we do, not the last. A changed world begins with us...and a changed us begins when we pray.
Jesus wants not only us but everyone saved, everyone to know the truth. Eventually the news will get out.
"Since prayer is at the bottom of all this, what I want mostly is for men (and women) to pray-not shaking angry fists at enemies but raising holy hands to God."
If childbearing reversed Eve's "bad" action, why do we still subjugate women? Do we not take
1 Tim 2: 14-15 literally?
Leaders in the church should be well thought of, commited to spouse, cool, collected, accessible, hospitable, knowledgeable about what they're talking about, not over fond of wine, not pushy but gentle, not thin-skinned, not money-hungry, must handle own affairs well, not a new believer (as if "old" believers necessarily have submitted to formation in Christ?!).
Servants in the church: serious, not deceitful, not too free with the bottle, not in it for what they can get out of it, reverent before the mystery of faith, not using position to try to run things, committed to spouse, attentive to own children, diligent in looking after own affairs.
Character descriptions, not job descriptions. "Lived truth." The way you live qualifies or disqualifies you for leadership.
Women are expected to exhibit same characteristics.
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