From Lew's Desk
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Greetings
Signs of the times surround us. They are seen and heard everywhere. What can we understand from from them? Lew Peterson |
| Love of God or a Displaced Love? |
| We choose the love of God above many alternatives. |
 Paul's letter to his son in the faith, Timothy, rings clearly in our ears (2 Tim.3:1-5) "but know this, in the last days perilous times will come; for men will become:* Lovers of themselves * Unforgiving * Lovers of money * Slanderers * Boasters * Without self control * Proud * Brutal * Blasphemers * Despisers of good * Disobedient to parents * Traitors * Unthankful * Headstrong * Unholy * Haughty * Unloving * Lovers of pleasure more them lovers of God! What should our response be? "Recognize they have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof; and from such turn away." Yes, turn away! Could Paul have been looking forward to our day? Do we live in a time and season where we are seeing and hearing such things? Is his caution to Timothy a reality in our day? If so, how are we to deal with such things? How are we to respond to these "signs"? I believe we must carefully listen to Paul's admonition to Timothy, recorded in 2 Timothy 3:10-11. 1. "You have carefully followed my doctrine." What I, Paul, believe and teach you have listened to and embraced, now be careful not to set them aside but pattern your life according to what you have heard and seen in my life as an example. 2. You know my love for God, my faithfulness to His word, my dedication to teach what I believe and have seen in Him. 3. You have seen my life style, my purpose, faith and longsuffering, my passion to do His will as well as my love for His people and His church. Paul's exhortation to Timothy must become the pattern for the church in our day to the "now generation"! We need the faith, courage and power that filled the heart and soul of the man who met the Lord on the road to Damascus, the man who had been one of the foremost persecutors of the church of Jesus in his day. We need an army of "Pauls" in our day. Please hear my heart. We live in a season of compromise. It is so easy to be caught up in the attitude of our generation: anything goes; if it feels good do it; it's all about me; and on it goes. My intention is not to be negative, harsh or hard but to learn from the man of God, who experienced what happens when we have a fresh encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ and permit Him to restore our passion for Him. Paul gave himself to the service of the Lord of Lords no matter what the cost. He became an example, a teacher and an apostle to the multitudes in his day. Moved upon by the Holy Spirit, he wrote the word we read in the book of Timothy to challenge and encourage him to give his all for the cause of Christ his redeemer. Paul's message to Timothy must become the passion of the Church of Jesus Christ in our day. We see all around us what our generation has become. We could easily become discouraged and find ourselves in despair. But I believe this is a season for men and women of courage to come out of their places of hiding and become, as it were, a modern day "Paul". An encouragement and an example showing our generation that the answer is in the Christ we serve. A "Timothy" needs a "Paul", but also, a "Paul" needs a "Timothy". With "Pauls" and "Timothys" working together in this generation focused on God's true everlasting love and having true love for Him and His kingdom, the work of the Lord could be completed within the lifetime of this generation. Let us be sure our love-service for Him grows stronger and stronger with each passing day. Let us never divert from the truth that GOD is LOVE! |