Looking Back: Oct 6, 2014

HOPE:
Faithful is the saying:
For if we died with him, we shall also live with him:
if we endure, we shall also reign with him:
if we shall deny him, he also will deny us:
if we are faithless, he abideth faithful; for he cannot deny himself.
– 2 Timothy 2:11-13 ASV

FAITH:
Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.
An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.
– 2 Timothy 2:3-6 ESV

LOVE:
So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And 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, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
– 2 Timothy 2:22-26 ESV

PERSONAL COMMENTARY
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Our HOPE is in the promise that He has made to us that if we accept Him,  He will not forsake us.  So we know that if we believe, and if we hold fast to our beliefs, even our stumbles will be forgiven,  for this is the glory and wonder of His Amazing Grace.

But if we truly believe,  we are not to use His grace as an excuse to continue in our old,  sinful lives – we are to grow in our FAITH, not wavering in our trials and tribulations,  because can a faith that is not tested be trusted? We are to remain faithful and grow each day, not neglecting to spend time in His Word, in prayer,  and in fellowship with each other sharing encouragement,  seeking to draw ever closer to Him and to His will for our lives.

Our LOVE for God and for others is proven in our kindness and patience and gentleness,  even with those that are in opposition to the truth – and we love like this because this is the example that Christ gave us,  to LOVE or enemies,  and to forgive them for they know not what they do. Because it is our HOPE for their lives that God will draw them near to Him, grant them His Grace and mercy,  and that they will repent and escape the clutches of evil