1 Timothy
“I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed me for with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” 1:12-14
I have personally found myself in a fair share of arguments over creationism, and I never tried as hard as to drown the other person in my beliefs because I felt that it would be rude and insensitive, and bottom line that I might lose them. Just the other day I was having a talk with my mother and sister, and If you do not know this about my family i’ll let you in on it.. My mother is a Catholic, she’s wonderful and when I was first finding Jesus she was extremely motivating, although she did not on her own personally introduce me to Jesus. My sister on the other hand isn’t what I would call an atheist, but she’s complicated. She says that she believes in a God, but not the bible (she calls it a bunch of crap) and believes that God is not all knowing, and not all powerful, but instead that he is just really really smart, and I do not think she believes in Jesus as the Son of God. Well the other day we were having this talk, more like an argument, and I can just remember thinking to myself and telling her repeatedly that there was no way that she was going to sway what I believe in, and there was no way that she was going to come to understand what I believe in because what I believe in is strictly from the bible.
I was not angry, maybe a little fussy, but that was the extent of it. The truth is that as much as we would all love to speak scripture out at peoples faces and have them have this crazy revelation and life changing moment, the chances of that happening are rather low.. How can we expect the unknowing and the one who does not understand to just suddenly understand? Now I think you know where I am going with this. We have to, including me, show people what we follow and believe in through our characteristics. That is the one and greatest chance that we have at any success. Show em Jesus!
2 Timothy
“Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” 2:10
“Preach the word; be ready in season and our of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but have itching ears they all accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” 4:2-5
Whenever I read 2 Timothy I get taken back to my junior year of high school. I used to wake up early in the morning, which sounds unbelievable because I love sleep so much, and read this book before school. It almost holds nostalgic memories within the pages for me. I loved it then, and I love it now, and when in high school 2 Timothy was the armor of God that I used to put on every day before I went out into the world.
Titus
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem is from all lawlessness and to purify for himself people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no on disregard you.” 2:11-15
Philemon
I do not know if this book is the shortest in the bible, but it seems to be. It is a letter from Paul to Philemon of encouragement, appreciation, and furthered hope; because he is imprisoned. Whenever I read things like this I always imagine and put myself in one of the mens places, and gosh they were all so strong.
We have such great generations before us that just paved the way for Christians and believers in this generation, all that I hope is that our generation could do and be the same for the future generations.