SPIRITUAL
DIARY FOR 7-27-02
My
Worship Time Focus: The metaphor of the
farmer
Bible
Reading & Meditation Reference: 2Timothy 2:6,7
Message
of the verse: “6 The hard-working
farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops.7 Consider what
I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.”
“5 What then is Apollos? And what is
Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to
each one. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7 So
then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who
causes the growth. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will
receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God's fellow
workers; you are God's field, God's building.”
Paul is writing to Timothy using the
metaphor of a farmer as he did in the above passage of 1Cor. 3:5-9. He use as an illustration there of a farmer
and of his crops and fields. Paul would
do as the Lord Jesus Christ did while on the earth, by using things that people
understood to give insight to heavenly truths.
The farmer
has to be a hard worker if he wants to be successful, he is not on the time
clock to get him to do his work, but has to do it on his on initiative in order
to get the job done. Paul goes on to say
that the farmer is the first one to his share of the crop. He is saying in this that the pastor deserves
his pay from those in his congregation, and it also could mean that as the
pastor or teacher studies to present a sermon or lesson, he will get more out
of it and get it first because of his study.
In verse
seven Paul uses the word “consider,” and this word in the Greek “denotes clear
perception, full understanding, and careful consideration. The form of the verb suggests a strong
admonition by Paul, not mere advice, to give deep thought to what he was
writing.” Note from Macarthur study
Bible.
Spiritual
meaning for my life today: I like
what the word “consider” means in this passage, and I also understand what it
means to live my life off of the time clock.
One of the things that I disliked so much about my job was the control
that it had over my time. My job
controlled my life and it left little time for anything else. I believe that the Lord has given me this
gift of retirement to do things for the cause of Christ. I need to consider things from His Word and
do some of the things that He would desire me to do.
The Word of God was inspiring to me today. The Word was
light and refreshing to me today also.
My
Steps of Faith Today: To
continue to pray for the Eberts and also to continue to pray with Sandy, and to
continue to pray about our trip and possible buying of the mobile home in Fla.
Memory
verses for the week: 1Timothy 6:6-9
Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and
it is certain we can carry nothing out.
And having food and clothing, se shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into
temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men
in destruction and perdition.
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