SPIRITUAL
DIARY FOR 2-19-02
My
Worship Time Focus: Paul’s former life
Bible
Reading & Meditation Reference: 1Timothy 1:13a
Message
of the verse: In the first half of
this verse Paul uses a number of words to describe his former way of life, the
life he lived before he meet Jesus Christ.
He was a blasphemer, which was in violation of the first half of the Ten
Commandments. He certainly did not
believe in the deity of Jesus Christ and this is a blasphemy. The next word he uses is persecutor, and Paul
was that, for he persecuted the Church of Jesus Christ and had some of it’s
members killed. This can be seen in the
early part of the book of Acts. The last
words he uses to describe his former life are, “ an insolent man.” This can be translated in the Greek as “violent aggressor.” Paul was indeed violent in his conduct
against the early Church, for he had a zeal to destroy it because he thought he
was doing God a service by persecuting the Church.
Spiritual
meaning for my life today: Unsaved
people are spiritually dead, and when a person is spiritually dead they cannot
do things that spiritually alive people do.
A dead person cannot get up and walk, or speak to anyone because they
are dead. Paul was doing the “dead”
things that he described in verse 13-a because he was dead. The point is that when I come into contact
with lost people I do not need to judge them because of their dead works, but
love them as lost sinners who need to hear about the Savior.
The Word of God was challenging to
me today.
My
Steps of Faith Today: I think that this verse is teaching me not to be
judgmental so much, but to have more love and concern for the lost world of
people out there. It takes more than
God’s love to save a sinner, it takes His mercy and grace also. This is something to remember when dealing
with the lost.
Memory verse for the week: 1John 4:18: There is no fear in love; but
perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in
love.
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