S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge - Day #27 - June 27, 2023 "A Child of God Becomes A Man of God"

S. 2 Timothy 3:14-17 (NIV) 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

O. Paul encourages Timothy to continue in what he learned from Paul and also in the his own study of God’s word. A Jewish boy formally began studying the Old Testament when he was 5 years old. Timothy had also been taught by his grandmother and mother. The power of God’s word is that it can take a child of God and transform him into a man of God - well prepared and equipped.

A. I am thankful for my very positive up-bringing and training in God’s word by my parents. I’m also thankful for positive mentors in the study of God’s Word. My deisre is to help others receive excellent training and mentoring that they might grow into well equipped servants (men) of God.

P. Thank you Lord Jesus for the power of your infallable word. Holy Spirit give me wisdom to lead others into the study and application of your word. In Jesus’ name.

S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge - Day #26 - June 26, 2023 "Investing in Reliable People?"

S. 2 Timothy 2:2 (NIV) 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.

O. I see 3 key words in this passage that pop out at me. The first word is ENTRUST. It is the Greek word paratithami. It means to set before one (like setting food on the table). It’s a thing to be religiously kept and taught to others. The next word is RELIABLE. It means trusting, faithful; worthy of trust that can be relied upon. The third word is QUALIFIED. This menas to reach for, attain, and sufficient in ability..

Putting this together, Paul encourages Timothy to find people who are faithful and trustworthy. These people Timothy is to entrust God’s Word. Timothy is to place before them the very things he was taught by Paul so that they could grow and attain a sufficient level of teaching others.

I have two observations on this. The first is obvious, I think. As Christian leaders (pastors, teachers, etc.) I need to invest my time with people who have proven themselves. God’s word is too precious to entrust to those that are not faithful. So as a leader, I need to look for faithful people and invest time in them and with them. Jesus had his inner circle. He had over 70 disciples and 12 apostles, but he spent much of his time with the inner circle of Peter, James and John.

The second observation I say with tenderness and love. Have you proven yourself to be faithful to receive further or additional training so that you can attain a sufficient level to teach others? If you have, it will be noticeable. But if you haven’t, it’s quite possible that you might drop the ball (of God’s word) if a leader entrusts it to you too early. Christian leaders have a good idea of faithful qualities to look for: Does the person attend church regularly? Do they position themselves to be taught by their pastor? Do they have an active prayer life? How do you know? Just ask them to pray. People who have the habit of prayer are noticed when they pray. What does their Bible look like? Do they have one? Is it marked up? Do they talk about what they just read? Faithful people have these qualities and these are the ones Paul instructs Timothy to take to higher levels (entrust).

A. I desire somuch to help others grow in their faith so they also might teach others. This is God’s multiplying plan. However,If I entrust others who are not reliable (they have not proved to be faithful), not much will happen. Therefore, I will be faithful to entrust those that are faithful and I know they in turn will be teaching others. I will start with a few, like Jesus and his inner circle of Peter, James and John and work outward.

P. Thank you Father for bringing to me those who are faithful. Give me wisdom to teach and entrust those who are proven faithful so they can do the same. I pray this in Jesus’ name.

S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge - Day 25 - June 25, 2023 "Passing on a Legacy of Faith"

S. 2 Timothy 1:5 (NIV) 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

O. Paul’s remebrance of Timothy is of Timothy’s sincere faith. His faith was pure. It was genuine. It was the result of a faith legacy passed down to Timothy from his grandmother and his mother. These godly women invested in Timothy’s spiritual life. They gave him a legacy - which would influence arguably the greatest apostle of all.

Parents and grandparents have a unique opportunity to teach and pass down a legacy of the Christian faith to their kids and grandkids.

A. I am blessed that my mom and dad taught me about Jesus and that I have had the opportunity to pass this Christian heritage to my sons and now grandchildren. I’m also very aware that God has given me the opportunity to invest in and impart a legacy of faith to the current teenagers at Better Life Church and our student ministry, Elevate.

P. Thank you Father for parents that passed on a spiritual (Christian) heritage to me. Thank you for giving me a platform as a parent, grandparent and pastor to pass this legacy on to my kids, grandkids and the current teens in our church. Holy Spirit, fill me and guide me to greater fruit bearing opportunities. In Jesus’ name.