“Call on the Lord from a pure heart”
Paul’s final letter, the one he wrote to Timothy, is probably the most personally challenging one for believers – and that surely includes us today! He is warning and advising Timothy about some
“who have swerved from the truth …” (2:18);
this problem has plagued believers ever since – it is the reason why so many different churches exist. Those who ‘swerved’ were “upsetting the faith of some” – sadly, it continues today.
We can stop our faith from swerving by diligently reading God’s word and prayerfully comparing scripture with scripture, then we will see with increasing clarity how it all fits together into a harmonious message and becomes the foundation for us as we
“pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart” (verse 22).
The challenge that faced Timothy was to teach and guide others to do this. How wonderfully satisfying when we, in all humility and thankfulness, are able to accomplish this. Paul told Timothy, at the start of his first letter to him;
“The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1:5).
What wonderful advice he gives him, advice that we ourselves should follow, that
“the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth” (2:24,25).
There is only one truth, the original gospel and good news that spread through the Roman Empire – and ultimately to the whole world. This is discussed – and practised as far as is humanly possible – by all
“who call on the Lord from a pure heart” (verse 22)
as they
“flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace” (same verse).
This is the original gospel, it is “the faith”. Paul taught and kept to the end!
Paul stresses “the faith” – and we note he uses this phrase fourteen times in his letters to Timothy. Almost the final words he wrote as he neared the end of his life are in chapter 4. What sincerity was in his heart as he told believers,
“the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing” (verses 6-8).
May the “pure heart” we are developing, lead us to “call on the Lord” every day – and so be worthy, but only by his grace, of “the crown of righteousness” that is also “laid up” for us when Jesus returns – and we see the wonder of being “blessed” to “inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5) – how soon now?
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Preceding
the Bible – God’s guide for life #3 Fast food or staple diet
the Bible – God’s guide for life #4 Not to get the best from our diet– or from ourselves
Looking on what is going on and not being of it
A Word and helping sites to give answers
Looking for a biblically sound church
The Big conversation – Antagonists
Being in isolation #7 Mission work
Memorizing wonderfully 2 Biblical Reasons to Memorize Scripture
Memorizing wonderfully 53 Acts 8:18 He offered them money
Memorizing wonderfully 55 Exchanging the truth of God for a lie
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Additional reading
- Secularism in France becoming dangerous for freedom of religion
- Souls and Religions with Nirvana and light
- Meet the atheist … who believes in God
- How to look for and how to handle the Truth
- Where to learn the truth
- Getting to know the Truth
- If we view the whole world through a lens that is bright
- Truth never plays false roles of any kind, which is why people are so surprised when meeting it
- The naked truth is always better than the best dressed lie
- The truth is very plain to see and God can be clearly seen
- Unarmed truth and unconditional love
- Lovers of God, seekers and lovers of truth
- It is a free will choice
- Called Christian
- United people under Christ
- Gates to different belief systems in this world
- Belonging to or being judged by
- Depression, Anxiety, Pressure and megachurches
- Be an Encourager
- Van Til interacting with Bavinck and Calvin on Natural Theology
- Matthew 10:16-23 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Sent Forth as Sheep among Wolves
- Faith
- Looking for the perceptible or the latent or what needed for us
- All about love, not needing disasters
- You Are The Truth
- As Christ’s slaves doing the Will of God in gratitude
- Not fear or dread or blind compulsion
- Bible, helmet of health, salvation and sword of the spirit
- Determined To Stick With Truth.
[…] Today’s thought “Call on the Lord from a pure heart” (May 26) […]
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