Three married children, who made their vows before God and many witnesses, means our family is now eternally intertwined with three others exponentially. His and hers, mine and yours, ours and theirs can become quite confusing, especially since we now have two sons who use the same given name. (It happened in my family too when my brother married, although it just forced my parents to both finally use my middle name to avoid confusion.) To our grandchildren, we have one Uncle Jacob and one Uncle Jakey, affectionately known as Jakey Bear thanks to my niece, Anna.
When Iām talking to one of my children directly, I rarely use names, but when our conversations include the extended families, my daughter and I decided to simplify matters and say your people, my people, his people, or her people. Inviting your family means you, your spouse and children. Inviting you and your people means we include his and her side. Christmas is family. Events like baby dedications include our people, and some of our people arenāt actually related by blood, only by heart.
As this has been a relatively recent turn of phrase, Iāve been noticing the wording in other contexts, like when you buy a new car and begin to see your make and model everywhere. In fact, I noticed it while proofreading my previous blog post in one of my closing scriptures, and Godās Spirit immediately took me for a mental jog. I contemplated tacking these thoughts onto the previous blog but this is just too good to shortchange. Go with me for a moment to the apostle Paul, under house arrest in Rome shortly before his death, forming his last words to Timothy, his son in the faith.
āBut you, Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is.
You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance.
But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught.
You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you.
You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.ā
āā2 Timothyā¬ ā3ā¬:ā10ā¬, ā14ā¬-ā15ā¬ āNLTā¬ā¬
https://bible.com/bible/116/2ti.3.10-15.NLT
Paul was not Timothyās biological father, but Timothy was Paulās family and he recognized that Timothy also had people. Timothy was a young pastor so he shepherded a flock, but he had other people too. You know me, Paul says. You know who I am and Whose I am. Now itās your turn, my son, to live what you believe. You know you can trust me, your mother, and your grandmother, but ultimately, your faith in Jesus is your own, so own it.
āI solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God.
Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not.
Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.
But you should keep a clear mind in every situation.
Donāt be afraid of suffering for the Lord.
Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.ā
āā2 Timothyā¬ ā4ā¬:ā1ā¬-ā2ā¬, ā5ā¬ āNLTā¬ā¬
https://bible.com/bible/116/2ti.4.1-5.NLT
āI urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus.ā Paul came to faith in Jesus after Jesusās death, resurrection, and ascension. He encountered the risen Christ in a blinding light on the road to Damascus where he intended to arrest more Christians. āWhy are you persecuting Me?ā the Voice asked. āWho are You, Lord?ā Paul pleaded. āI am Jesus, the one You are persecuting.ā Paul clearly knew that Jesus was not physically present on the earth, yet he chose to admonish Timothy āin the presence of God and Jesus Christ.ā
Part of instructing our people means teaching them to be aware of Godās eternal presence. In my own life, knowing that God is always with me, always listening, always watching, aware of my thoughts and my words before I speak them comforts me even as it convicts me. My faith is not some abstract feel-good concept. I walk in close communion with Father, Son, and Spirit, conversing constantly, keenly aware of anything that interrupts this fellowship, and always seeking what draws me closer to Holy God. In this relationship, as in my marriage, I hold myself accountable, answerable here to a perfect other who enables my obedience and also forgives generously when I fail.
āThe unspiritual self, just as it is by nature, canāt receive the gifts of Godās Spirit.
Thereās no capacity for them. They seem like so much silliness.
Spirit can be known only by spiritāGodās Spirit and our spirits in open communion.
Spiritually alive, we have access to everything Godās Spirit is doing, and canāt be judged by unspiritual critics.
Isaiahās question, āIs there anyone around who knows Godās Spirit, anyone who knows what he is doing?ā has been answered: Christ knows, and we have Christās Spirit.ā
āā1 Corinthiansā¬ ā2ā¬:ā14ā¬-ā16ā¬ āMSGā¬ā¬
https://bible.com/bible/97/1co.2.14-16.MSG
Paul encourages Timothy to remember and emulate those who taught him the true faith and he also warns him against being deceived by others. He does not outright call them unbelievers, but he agrees with James and with Jesus in pointing to their actions as indicators of their true identity.
āSo you see, faith by itself isnāt enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
Now someone may argue, āSome people have faith; others have good deeds.ā
But I say, āHow can you show me your faith if you donāt have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.ā
You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you!
Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish!
Canāt you see that faith without good deeds is useless?
So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.
Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.ā
āāJamesā¬ ā2ā¬:ā17ā¬-ā20ā¬, ā24ā¬, ā26ā¬ āNLTā¬ā¬
https://bible.com/bible/116/jas.2.17-26.NLT
āāBeware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.
You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act.
Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.
A good tree canāt produce bad fruit, and a bad tree canāt produce good fruit.
Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.ā
āāMatthewā¬ ā7ā¬:ā15ā¬-ā18ā¬, ā20ā¬ āNLTā¬ā¬
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.7.15-20.NLT
āAnyone who wants to live all out for Christ is in for a lot of trouble; thereās no getting around it.
Unscrupulous con men will continue to exploit the faith.
Theyāre as deceived as the people they lead astray.
As long as they are out there, things can only get worse.ā
āā2 Timothyā¬ ā3ā¬:ā10ā¬-ā13ā¬ āMSGā¬ā¬
https://bible.com/bible/97/2ti.3.10-13.MSG
āThey will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!ā
āā2 Timothyā¬ ā3ā¬:ā5ā¬ āNLTā¬ā¬
https://bible.com/bible/116/2ti.3.5.NLT
āholding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith]. Avoid such people and keep far away from them.ā
āā2 Timothyā¬ ā3ā¬:ā5ā¬ āAMPā¬ā¬
https://bible.com/bible/1588/2ti.3.5.AMP
One hundred and ten year old Joshua gave a similar challenge to Israel before his death. He reminded them of all that God had brought them through and to, then he pointed to their choice, saying, āyou canāt have it both ways.ā
Decide.
Take your stand.
āSo have respect for the Lord.
Serve him.
Be completely faithful to him.
Throw away the gods your people worshiped east of the Euphrates River and in Egypt.
Serve the Lord.
But suppose you donāt want to serve him.
Then choose for yourselves right now whom you will serve.
You can choose the gods your people served east of the Euphrates River. Or you can serve the gods of the Amorites. After all, you are living in their land.
But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.ā
Then the people said to Joshua, āWe will serve the Lord our God. We will obey him.āā
āāJoshuaā¬ ā24ā¬:ā14ā¬-ā15ā¬, ā24ā¬ āNIRVā¬ā¬
https://bible.com/bible/110/jos.24.14-24.NIRV
Do your people know where you stand?
Decide.
Ultimately, your faith in Jesus is your own, so own it.
āI solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God.
Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not.
Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.
But you should keep a clear mind in every situation.
Donāt be afraid of suffering for the Lord.
Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.ā
āā2 Timothyā¬ ā4ā¬:ā1ā¬-ā2ā¬, ā5ā¬ āNLTā¬ā¬
https://bible.com/bible/116/2ti.4.1-5.NLT
The Jesus Way by Phil Wickham
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