Transformer - 11/08/2020
Perpetuating the Message
Near the end of his life, the apostle Paul from prison wrote to Timothy to tell him some encouraging words as well as give him some commands. One of those commands was for Timothy to take what he had heard Paul preach in the presence of others and “entrust it to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2). Paul intended for the message of the gospel to be perpetuated.
In the advertising world it is commonly stated that the best form of advertising is through personal recommendations. One of the things implied in this statement is that one person will be “educating” another on the value of the product and trying to motivate them to buy the product. Using this method, the product will be constantly reaching new consumers. As long as there are new consumers, the product will never cease to be produced.
The same is true with the message of Jesus. If there are people who are “faithful” to the message and they are teaching others, then the message will never cease to exist; it will be perpetual.
What these “faithful” people were to teach was the things which Timothy had heard from Paul. If they accurately taught the next generation and that generation taught the next generation, then the same message would have been taught for centuries. However, if they changed the message then at that point it would cease to exist. If the message, in its original content, is never taught then it would be lost forever.
However, because the message was written down and has been preserved through history, the message has not been lost; it is still being perpetuated. We can read today what Paul wrote to Timothy, as well as other individuals and congregations, and we can have the same “insight into the mystery of Christ” (Ephesians 3:4) as Paul. From this standpoint, the message can still be perpetuated.
But what about our own generation? Are we looking to perpetuate the message or are we wanting to change the message so that it is more “modern”? Do we want to change the message because we think it is no longer applicable to our generation?
If we want to perpetuate the message, then we will be seeking the exactness of the message. We will be teaching it to others.
It seems everyone who has been taught this important message would want to teach it to others. They would want to teach what Paul taught Timothy. They would want to see other people have the advantage of knowing this message. They would want to perpetuate the message and be helping others to be living God’s way. - cgm
“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of God stands forever” - Isaiah 40:8
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away” - Luke 21:33
“But the word of the Lord endures forever, and this is the word which was preached to you” - 1 Peter 1:25
Thinking on the Word…
Determining Religious Beliefs and Practices
How should one determine, what will be their religious beliefs and practices? Where should one get the information for such a decision?
There are basically three options: (1) What I think; (2) What “my church” teaches; or (3) What the Bible records. Every generation in history has faced these three options.
If my beliefs and practices are based upon what I think, then I will never be wrong. If I decide to change them that will be okay. The same is true if “my church” is making the decisions as to what my beliefs and practices should be. Likewise, if they change, then the church will always be right.
However, if I use the Bible, by its very nature the contents cannot be changed. All generations have had the same information.
All of us have a standard by which we practice our religious beliefs. Everyone will determine what that standard will be. If the standard has consequences, then the standard matters. If there are no consequences, then any standard is a good one.
The most important “consequence” deals with whether or not our religious beliefs and practices will be judged by someone or something. If they will be, then who or what will evaluate my religious beliefs and practices as to whether or not they are correct? Me? My church? Or the Bible?
If this consequence is real, then what do individuals know about this consequence? Nothing! And “my church”? Nothing also!
The Bible claims there will be a judging (John 12:48). Our decision is whether or not we think this information is correct and if so are going to trust it. The choice is ours.
I have determined the Bible is correct and therefore it will be the foundation for my decision. I hope it will be yours also! – cgm
Words of Wisdom
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls.” - Proverbs 11:30
The outcome of a righteous lifestyle is that one will have a “tree” of life. He will have a good life. He is going to have something of substance to reflect back on in his old age.
The phrase does not need to imply eternal life, as in thinking about the “tree of life” in the Garden of Eden. However, it could include that idea. Possibly the best explanation for the phrase is in keeping with the metaphor of “fruit.” The product of living a righteous life.
The second part of the proverb there seems to be this emphasis upon saving people from their sins or maybe what Solomon is talking about when he uses the term “wins” is to influence.
If we think about the word “wins” from this perspective it would seem that Solomon wants us to realize that “wise” people are able to influence other people. The “fruit of the righteous” is a product that the wise can use to influence other people.
If our lives are not “righteous,” we will not be able to influence others. They will only see that we are being hypocritical in our effort to influence them. Ever heard, “I cannot hear what you are saying because of what I see you doing?” My actions must support what I am telling other people to do. “I must walk the talk!”
On the other hand, let us not come to the conclusion that all we have to do to influence people is to live a righteous life. If this principle is true, then Jesus would not have had to do any teaching. He just needed to live His life and people would have been influenced to do good. There would have been no need for special sessions with the apostles.
May the fruit of our life help us to win people to the idea of serving God and being righteous people themselves. - cgm