I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (2 Timothy 4:1–4)
It was true then and it is true today. Even after being a Christian for fifty plus years, I know the pull of the world, the flesh, and the devil to pull me into spiritual complacency. I’m lazy at heart and am thankful that God keeps me wanting truth. Otherwise, I might listen to people who tell me whatever will make me comfortable and content to do whatever I want instead of listening to the Lord.
If I started to do such things, God would be quick to question me:
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! (2 Corinthians 13:5)
I realize that genuine believers can fall into negligence and compromise, avoiding the Bible, staying away from church or Bible study, even from other Christians who might question any lapses. I also realize that because I am His child, God will not allow this without holding me accountable. If I pull back, He disciplines and even nags at me to repent and be reconciled to Him.
And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:5–11)
One important thing that helps me stay on track is prayer — my own and the prayers of others. I’m aware of those prayers and even notice times when it seems that no one is praying. God does tell all of us:
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)
If I am praying, I cannot stay sliding down into a sinful state. Confession just pops up whenever I talk to God. It needs to be there for myself, but also for anyone who needs repentance. Sometimes I might need to talk to them about it, but with love and caution, particularly if their sin is against me:
If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. (Matthew 18:15–17)
The last thing I want to do is treat another Christian as if they are not a believer. However, the plus side of this would be an emphasis on the gospel and God’s forgiveness. I’m thinking again of the NA meeting we attended as guests (see yesterday’s post) and how the love and forgiveness in the group brought some strugglers to tears as they realized they were not being condemned — loving correction is not condemnation. It is restoration and at times, everyone needs a good dose of that.
PRAY: Lord, continue to work in my life and in the lives of those at that meeting who are on the verge of saying yes to You as Lord. Help them to repent and truly trust You with all their hearts.
PONDER: How important it is to keep praying for those whose journey is still not quite to the Cross, that You will take them there and grant them life everlasting.
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