Saturday July 25, 2020

1 Timothy 6:11-16

But you person of God, flee from all of this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the of many witnesses. In the sight of God who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time—-God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To Him be honor and might forever. Amen.

If God exists, then everything in life ought to be about knowing Him.

I have spent many hours in my life with people who were nearing the end of theirs. I learned much in those moments. What is important? What really matters? What makes a difference? What was worth it?

One elderly woman in ICU seemed to worry most about the cost of the room per day, her words, “this is going to break us”. She had plenty of money, the cost was not a problem. She died a few days later.

Another man dying of cancer could not stop dwelling on politics in America even though he knew he did not have long to live. He was so anxious about an upcoming presidential election he seemed incapable about talking or thinking about anything else.

In both cases, even at death’s door, neither one could escape dwelling on what they had spent their lives dwelling on, spent their lives pursuing. They had missed the point. It is about everlasting life, seeing God face to face one day and living a life God can bless today.

In today’s Bible verses we are told to pursue faith, godliness, love, gentleness, endurance; the attributes of someone who is in relationship with Jesus Christ and who understands its treasures in heaven that count. And even better, if my goal is to be godly, I can do that, if my goal is to be gentle, I can do that, if my goal is to love, I can do that. And what I do is what I become, what I pursue is who I am.

In other words, there might be many limitations on what I can choose to pursue, on what I might obtain on what I might accomplish. But there are no limitations if I am aiming at a godly life, loving others, extending gentleness, walking by faith and not by sight. It is a choice God gives each of us to make every day.

At the end of John Wesley’s life there was no mention of money, or politics. His words were “Best of all, God is with us”. What he had pursued in life consumed his death, what he had chased after is who he had become.

If God is, then all of life ought to be pursuing a vital relationship with Him, God who is King of King and Lord of Lords.

God, today I choose you. I choose to pursue that which marks people who belong to you. I count no greater privilege than knowing you are with me and one day I will be with you. Give me grace to pursue that which matters and not to be seduced by that which doesn’t, to pursue a life of faith, a story of godliness, a journey of love, gentleness in my relationships, and endurance that carries me through every day. In Jesus name. Amen.