Tuesday, February 7

2 Timothy 2:3-7

Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.  No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs – he wants to please his commanding officer.  Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules.  The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.  Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

Reflection

One of the ways we mature into a self-feeding, self-leading and self-multiplying believer is to move forward through all the challenges and difficulties.  In this passage Paul is encouraging Timothy not to attempt to avoid every difficulty but to endure those challenges as a follower of Jesus Christ.  Paul is encouraging Timothy to endure and to persevere.  Paul gives the examples of a good soldier, an athlete competing for a reward and a farmer who works his field to produce a crop.  These examples indicate that if we want to grow and mature in the faith we can’t give up.  We need to keep going forward.

How have you worked through difficulties and problems?  How have those experiences helped you to mature in the faith?  How can you help other believers persevere when they face challenges?

Monday, February 6

2 Timothy 2:1-2

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.

Reflection

Paul is urging Timothy to be strong and grow in his faith in Jesus Christ.  Paul wants Timothy to become stronger.  He doesn’t want him to stay the way he is.  Paul also encourages Timothy, as a leader in the church, to pass on what he learns to others so that they will grow and mature in the faith and become strong leaders as well.

How have you matured in the Christian faith?  How have you helped other believers grow and develop in the faith?

February 5-11

Where We Want to Go is Self-feeding, Self-leading and Self-Multiplying

2 Timothy 2:1-7, 14-15

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.  Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.  No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs – he wants to please his commanding officer.  Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules.  The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.  Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all of this.

Keep reminding them of these things.  Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.  Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

Hebrews 5:12-14

In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again.  You need milk, not solid food!  Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.  But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Last week we investigated where new believers begin when they start their journey toward Jesus.  This week we are going to look at where we want those new believers to go.  We will investigate the qualities we want them to develop in their lives.  Those qualities include these three things: self-feeding, self-leading and self-multiplying.  New believers should be directed and encouraged to grow in maturity so that they take responsibility for their spiritual growth instead of always looking for other people to do for them what they should be doing for themselves. 

This week our devotions will be focused on how new Christians, as well as all Christians, should attempt to become mature in the faith.

Saturday, February 4

Acts 8:24

Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”

Reflection

How did Simon respond to Peter’s rebuke after Simon had tried to buy with money the power of imparting the Holy Spirit?  Simon followed the direction of Peter and he repented of his wrong thinking and misunderstanding.  He even asks Peter and John to pray for him so that he will not fall victim to the results of his wrong choices up to that point.  What we can see here is that Simon was willing to take correction and receive new direction so that he could continue to grow in the Lord.

Have you seen new Christians respond with a humble heart and repent of sin or incorrect ideas concerning the faith?  When we truly repent it is always a sign of a humble heart.

Friday, February 3

Acts 8:20-23

Peter answered, “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!  You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God.  Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord.  Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.  For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”

Reflection

When Simon misunderstood how the Holy Spirit was imparted to others Peter immediately set out to correct his wrong thinking.  We might experience Peter’s rebuke of Simon as being overly harsh.  However, Peter couldn’t afford to allow Simon to continue in the direction he was going because that would take him away from Jesus instead of toward the Lord.  Peter had to show Simon that he needed to put aside his cultural understandings and perspective and transform his thinking through the power of the Holy Spirit that is made available in Jesus.  Notice that Peter is not just writing off Simon but he is imploring him to repent and turn from his wrong ideas.

Have you ever had to inform someone whom you are mentoring in the faith that they are heading in the wrong direction and they need to change their mindset? 

Thursday, February 2

Acts 8:18-19

When Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

Reflection

When Simon saw what happened when Peter and John laid hands on the people and prayed for them he wanted that same ability.  He wanted to be able to impart the Holy Spirit upon the people for which he prayed.  Simon misunderstood what was happening.  This wasn’t magic it was the power of God.  However, for a person who practiced magic and who lived in a culture where most anything could be obtained by offering to buy it, he thought he could receive the power he saw demonstrated through Peter and John by offering to pay for it.  Simon made a serious miscalculation but it is understandable why he did so.

Have you ever seen a new Christian misunderstand something in the faith?  Did you ever misunderstand something in the faith when you were a new believer?

Wednesday, February 1

Acts 8:14-17

When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.  When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.  Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Reflection

When the leaders of the church in Jerusalem heard about Philip’s success in spreading the gospel in Samaria representatives were sent to observe and assist Philip in his ministry.  When Peter and John arrived in Samaria they discovered that the people had turned to Jesus and had been baptized but they had not yet received the Holy Spirit.  Peter and John placed their hands on the Samarians who believed and prayed for them and they received the Holy Spirit.  This was another step for these people to move out of the culture that had so thoroughly captivated them and surrender more fully to the presence of Jesus in their lives through the Holy Spirit.

When you are involved with a new believer what signs do you see that they are growing in and moving toward the love and grace of Jesus?