How Great I Art?

" But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the power of God that is called Great." And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic." (Acts 8:9-11, ESV)

Simon was a man after my own heart. It is so easy to get caught up in this world trying to impress people, trying to show the world how great I am. The world is about personal success. The American Dream is about achieving fame and fortune on your own.

I want people to like me. I want people to see how gifted I am. But the reality is my real purpose is to show people how great God is, and how he has gifted all of us to glorify Him. It is easy to get in the way of that purpose.

Lord, Help me to move out of the way. Let your Glory fall on you alone. May my days and nights be spent on giving you the glory and thanking you for your blessings. Lord, I deserve only death, but through your gracious gift I receive life eternal. Let any Glory that comes my way be deflected to you. Let any greatness that comes my way be only a gift from you. May all see you in my life no matter the circumstances.

How Great Thou Art

O Lord my God,When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars,I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout The universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

The Apostle Peter and the Masters

"And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all." (Acts 3:12-16, ESV)

Yesterday, as we had family and friends over for Easter dinner, we watch the Masters golf tournament. The room, like most rooms in America, was rooting for Tiger, or perhaps just expecting Tiger to win. But the opposite happened. Zach Johnson, a guy that nobody knew, and had won only 1 tournament before, outplayed the field and even the mighty Tiger Woods.

We were all stunned by his performance, expecting him to fade like everyone else had. We expected him to crumble under the pressure. Then we watch him interviewed after completing the last 18 holes and as he watched Tiger come after his score. Teary eyed, he kept mentioning how Jesus helped him through this day. He kept thanking and praising Jesus. We hadn't won the tournament yet, but he still was emotionally overwhelmed with praise and thanks for Jesus.

The room turned from rooting for Tiger to rooting for this humble Zach Johnson. Then it remember me of Peter, who had just healed the cripple beggar, didn't take any of the glory or credit, but gave the rightfuly glory to his Lord.

Lord, help me to remember to give you the glory. Help me to be a witness and to be bold in the works that you do through me.

Who is it for?

"Then the word of the Lord of hosts came to me: Say to all the people of the land and the priests: When you fasted and lamented in the fifth month and in the seventh, for these seventy years, was it for me that you fasted? And when you eat and when you drink, do you not eat and drink only for yourselves?" (Zechariah 7:4-6, NRSV)


What a great question. How easily I forget that everything is done for the Lord--even eating and drinking. I think food and taste is their for my pleasure only, but really it is to glorify God. I don't just eat to nourish my body, but I eat to nourish my body so I may glorify the Lord by doing what he has commanded me to do. Even the manner in which I eat should glorify him. Everything is for him--even eating and drinking. It is hard to give up control.

Ornaments on God's Tree

Christmas is a time for christmas trees and traditionaly ornaments. Each family has their own special ornaments. My special ornament is the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz. My grammy made it for me when I was a small child. It is getting delicate now- but it still goes on our tree despite my wife's protest. It has always been the first ornament that goes on the tree and it goes dead center so everyone can see the beauty of the tin man--he's shiny!

"Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, gravity, and sound speech that cannot be censured; then any opponent will be put to shame, having nothing evil to say of us. Tell slaves to be submissive to their masters and to give satisfaction in every respect; they are not to talk back, not to pilfer, but to show complete and perfect fidelity, so that in everything they may be an ornament to the doctrine of God our Savior. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." (Titus 2:6-13, NRSV)

Our action, our behaviors are to be an ornament to the doctrine--the truth of Jesus in this world. We are to be shiny ornaments--like the Tin Man--hanging on God's tree to reflect his glory.

Lord this season help me to shine like the Tin Man and may God's glory reveal himself through me so that people may know the blessed hope of Jesus Christ. Let me be a ornament on God's tree.

The Grace of Slowness

"The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9, NRSV)

In times of pain it is easy to call upon the Lord. It is easy to ask him to deliver us from this world. We wait anxiously for his return, particularly in advent. However, the Lord's seemingly slowness is really just grace--because he does not want any to perish. He wants all to have a chance to repent and know him.

Lord, may I learn to be slow to anger, to slow grace to the world.

And God Spoke These Words: Fifth Commandment

"Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you." (Exodus 20:12, NRSV)

The previous commands are concern with Honoring God. This commandment shifts away from God to honoring parents. Although the implication is that by honoring your parents you honor God. The literally and understood meaning is not hat you obey everything that you parents tell you to do--because surely they are fallen just as everybody is. However, you honor them in their old age (you take care of them).

Parents have the awesome responsiblity of representing God to their children. Parents have the responsible to teach and disciple their children in the faith. Children are then given the responsiblity to take care of, honor their parents, when their parents retire, or in their old age. What does that look like in our society? Does that mean shipping parents off to nursing homes? Does that mean providing for their care? What does in mean to take care of--to honor them? One of the questions people fail to answer when their consider what to do with their parents when the get older and need to be taken care of is to ask the question is--do I want to be treated the same way when I get old that I am treating or caring for my parents?

Then there is a promise--a promise of long life. However the promise is not an individual promise of long life--but a corporate promise of residing in God's promised land for a long time. If we as a community honor our parents, God will continue to provide mercy on our community. We get to keep receiving God's gracious gifts. The question is what is God's gracious gift? Mainly mercy and grace! (not material!)

Wiping Away the Tears

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:13-17 (NRSV)

I find great comfort in this passage. Despite our failings, despite the hardships of this word. God will wipe away the tears. I love holding my children and helping them wipe away the tears and comforting them from the pain of this world. It hurts me as my children are in painful or when the suffer through the consequences of this broken world. All I want to do is hold them and wipe away the tears. It is good to know when it is all said and done, my tears will be wiped away by the embrace of the Heavenly Father.

And God Spoke These Words: Fourth Commandment

"Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it." (Exodus 20:8-11, NRSV)

Keep the Sabbath--literally a day of stoppage. It is day that we are to separate out from the rest of the days so we can strengthen our focus on God. Every day should be focused on God--but the Sabbath should be a particularly heighten focused on God (and not us). We are to stop the normal things that we do every other day of the week. It is meant as a day of rest from our normal labors, but that doesn't mean it was meant to be lstrict and legalistic stoppage of all work. The Hebrews knew they still had to feed their flocks and such. It is not meant to be a lazy day to hang around and watch football or even be with the family (although those activities could be okay). It is meant to focus even moreso our activities on God.

We are to rest for the normal stresses of the world and relax in the glory of God. The keeping of the sabbath is also the sign that the Lord has made a covenant with us. When we observed the Sabbath, we show the world that we are set-apart (holy) and that the Lord is working in us and has made a covenant with us to bless his world.

And God Spoke These Words: Third Commandment

"You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name." (Exodus 20:7, NRSV)

What does it mean to misuse the name of the Lord? Most people today, would say that we don't use the name when we swear--meaning we shouldn't use language that refers to Lord, God, Jesus, irrevelantly. While I think this is true--it trivializes this commandment. The direct reference would be using the name of God by swearing an oath in court or to someone. Such as, "Believe in my words, I swear to God, that I tell the truth, and if I am not--may he kill me or punish me." So the basic prohibition in the third commandment is against perjury. Jesus emphasizings this point when he says don't take oaths in God's name, but let your words be the bond (Matt 5:33-37; 23:16-22). Think about the consequences of prophet invoking God's name in his own words. That prophet better be right. Think of the importance and signficance of a preacher proclaiming the word of God. They better be right. It is serious business when you invoke the name of the Lord.

Why is the name of God (Yahweh) so important? God name's signified his essence, and God should not be mocked. We should not use the name of God lightly but respectfully, and fearfully. Yahweh name means "he is" and everything else is not.

Lord, may I approach your name and presence with respect, fear, and awe. I think you that you are present whether I bid you to be or not. Guide my thoughts and words and may the be focused on glorifing you.

And God Spoke These Words: Second Commandment

"You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them;" (Exodus 20:4-5a, NRSV)

In the first commandment, Yahweh makes it very clear, that he alone is the only God and Lord. He alone is the object and focus of worship. So what is an idol? It is anything that is the focus of our worship. We are natural-born worshippers. Humans have this genetic compulsion and need to worship something. The question becomes what are we worshipping?

Modern people don't really understand the Ancient Near Eastern Idol worship. We believe that this commandment means we cannot have any image or pictures that depict God or heaven realms. That is not the literally or intended meaning of this commandment. Because God even requests that we create an ark and a tabernacle to localise his presence for the people. However, it was never to be understood that we worship the ark or the Tabernacle, but we worship Yahweh alone, who cannot be contained.

ANE Idol worship was the norm for the Israelites and their surrounding cultures, it was easy for them to revert back to this mode of thinking. However, Yahweh radically imposes a covenant and a will upon than that is quite different than the norm of their surrounding society. Yahweh shows them that he wants them to be set apart from the world--Holy.

It is easy to lose focus that God is the provider and the sustainer of all life. It is easy to lose focus and forget that God is presence. It is easy to worship at the alter of normalcy, money, and the desires of my self. Lord help me to remember that you are Emmanuel (God with Us), and that you have a will for us and a desire for me to be set apart. Help me not to be normal, but radically different for you.

And God Spoke these Words: The First Commandment

" Then God spoke all these words: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:1-3, NRSV)

No other gods. Idiomatically the Hebrew is saying, “you shall have no other gods against me/or in distinction to me.” The point being is that the commandment is not saying there are other gods but presupposes a radical, exclusive monotheism. Yahweh is the only divine God. Even the term gods doesn’t exclusively refer to the God, but supernatural beings including angels.

Yahweh is the only God. He alone is creator, sustainer, and redeemer of all creation. He alone is life and everything else is nothing. His very name defines who he is and implies that everything else is not.

In this first commandment Yahweh is reminding us of his character and the proper order of all creation.

It is so easy for me to lose sight of the magnitude and greatness of Yahweh. He is so overwhelming that it becomes impossible to comprehend, yet he reminds us of the little things He does that we can relate to such as rescuing the Israelites out of Egypt. Yes, that was a little thing for this mighty and awesome God. Big thing for us, little for Him.

Value Dependent Calling

"He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!" (Luke 12:22-24, NRSV)

It is easy to lose sight of our value—especially as we are so careless with what we value. We value possessions, positions, places, yet the Lord values us. The Lord has chosen us for a reason. He has created us for a purpose. We are to reflect his Glory like the birds in the air, but we are also to reflect the image of God and to proclaim Him to the world. We are chosen to be a blessing to the world. We are to be a blessing like no other. Our value to God is not dependent on who we are but what we are created to be and do. Our value is immeasurable because He has called us for His purpose.

If we weren’t valuable—why would he die for us?

Growing Closer to Jesus thru Judgment

"For what have I to do with judging those outside? Is it not those who are inside that you are to judge? God will judge those outside. “Drive out the wicked person from among you.”" (1 Corinthians 5:12-13, NRSV)

"you are to hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord." (1 Corinthians 5:5, NRSV)

Judging is such a negative word these days. But what would we do without judgment. What would we do if everybody could do what they think is right in their own eyes? What if we lived a in culture where people were not allowed to judge at all. We couldn’t judge a person’s behavior, a people’s behavior. We just had to tolerate. Well, we know that is just absurd.

Judging has it’s place in the world. Paul here frustrated with the church in Corinth demands that they stating judging within their ranks in order that people that have fallen into sin may be transformed. We are to judge carefully and with respect to our own sinfulness to help others and ourselves be saved.

Judgment is part and parcel with Jesus’ message of salvation.

It is hard for me to think of judging as a part of the journey of one’s salvation. However, if deadly behavior isn’t pointed out, how is the person going to know what they are doing is wrong or separates them from the living God. If there are no consequences, how do we learn and grow.

Perhaps I need more people in my life judging me to help me grow closer to Jesus.

Identity Thief: Knowledge from the Spirit

"But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God’s except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God." (1 Corinthians 2:9-12, NRSV)
Our relationship to God can be tricky. But the mechanics of it are really quite simply. It is about God. We are not able to know God unless God reveals himself to us. God doesn’t just reveal himself to us in the visible form of God in the Son, Jesus, but he reveals himself in our hearts with His Spirit. We cannot know God unless God has given us His Spirit to know him. We cannot know God unless God reveals himself to us

So what does that mean? Does it mean that my salvation is not dependent on me? Yes, salvation and knowing God is dependent on God alone. The Father gives us His Spirit to confess that Jesus is Lord so we may glorify the Father.

We can’t know anyone unless they allow themselves to be known. We can get information about people and details about them, but to know them they must reveal themselves to us. We can’t steal the knowledge of a person, nor can we apprehend the ability to know God unless God allows us to know Him.

Perishing Thought

"But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”" (Mark 4:38, NRSV)

Questions are fantastic. You can learn a lot from questions even when they are the wrong questions or have the wrong premise.

The disciples wake Jesus up and wonder if they care if they are perishing? Since the creation of the world that has been God’s concern, that we are perishing. The purpose that He entered into this world is so that we won’t perish. That is why Jesus is there with the disciples so they and the rest of the world won’t perish, but live with him forever.

Joy vs. "Like"

"constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. . . . dare to speak the word with greater boldness and without fear. . . . Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel," (Philippians 1:4, 14, 27)

Joy. I often lack joy—the joy of knowing the good news; the joy of being in the good news; the joy of sharing the good news. It is not about the reward of seeing people respond to the good news. The joy is being in the good news.

Why do we in our culture fear sharing, particularly verbalizing the good news? It should be joy. Yet, we feel it as a burden. We don’t want to offend. We don’t want to be disliked. We rather have people “like” us then to bask in the joy and glory of the good news.

Imagine if God was more interested in people “liking” him than loving him—or being just. Imagine Jesus more interested in being like than willing to die on the cross.

Absolute Truth of Scriptures

"I (Jesus) have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world." (John 17:14, NRSV)

"Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." (John 17:17, NRSV)

"“I (Jesus) ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word," (John 17:20, NRSV)

Truth can be a slippery thing in today’s world. People don’t like it when we assert something is absolute or certain or as truth. Ironically, have you ever listen to how many people use the word, “absolutely.” Even people that are relativism use the word, “absolutely” in their conversations. I challenge you to listen for that word. It is astonishing how much you will hear it in everyday conversations.

I think most people use that word because they feel they need to overemphasize their position, or they really don’t have a good defense. There seems to be an insecurity with people in regards to the commonness of the usage of “absolutely.” I have tried to limit my use of the word. Not that I don’t believe in absolutes or truth, but when I use the word, I want people to take notice and realize that I really believe what I am saying and I don’t take casually the absoluteness of the Truth.

In Jesus’ pray for this disciples and the church just before his arrest, he talks again about the given of the word. Jesus has given us the good word—the word that is Truth. The word is not casual or common, the word is from God and this word is like no other word—it is life-changing. In the beginning of his gospel, John points out that Jesus is the Word, and the Word is God. Here, John continues along this theme but also develops they idea, the Jesus has given us himself and his message—his word, so we may proclaim Him, the Word to the world.

Jesus declares the Word as Truth—previously John identifies Jesus as the Word, and Jesus identifies himself as the Truth. Beyond just the obvious declaration that the absolute Truth is personified, Jesus states that it is the message that he is given the Apostles to proclaim is the Truth.

The scriptures (the Bible) that we have today are the Truth, not because we declare them, but because they are the testimony and word that Jesus handed down to the Apostles. The scriptures get their authority not from the church, but from Jesus—the Truth, who hands the responsibility and word (message) to his Apostles.

Simply put Jesus is the Truth. Jesus is the Word. Jesus passes the Word which is truth to his Apostles. His Apostles proclaim the Word is Truth to the World. Eventually they write down the Word (the message) which was given to them by Jesus in the Scriptures. Therefore the Scripture that we have being inspired by the Holy Spirit—is the Word and the Truth. I that I declare to you is Absolute.

The In-Between Places

"Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is He whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ." (Colossians 1:27b-28, NRSV)

"Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters," (Colossians 3:23, NRSV)

The task of discipleship—Paul takes serious is role as a shepherd. He goes into communities to proclaim Christ, build relationships, build up leaders, and then He continues to shepherd them with letters when he is away (even when he is in jail).

Paul states his tasks as (1) proclaiming, (2) warning, (3) teaching—but the goal is to present everyone mature in Christ. This means that it is a process. Maturity just doesn’t happen—it takes someone to point you the way to maturity. It takes effort and time by the shepherd to lead someone to maturity.

We miss that in the church today. Most churches view discipleship or church participation as individualistic. It is up to the individual to find what they need or maturity. We are told to go to Sunday school, Sunday service, read the bible pray—well, who is making sure that we do those things, who is present us. And conversely—who are we presenting. Discipleship is about community.

Discipleship (leading someone to maturity) doesn’t happen in Sunday school, bible study, prayer, or service, it happens in the spaces in-between those things. All those things are helpful and important and certainly a part of discipleship, but true maturity comes in the in-between spaces. The life on life encounters with a mentor (shepherd, discipler).

Then Paul tells us to put ourselves into the task as if we are doing it for the Lord. Dive in wholehearted into the task that God has given us. The task of making disciples, the task of presenting people mature in Christ.

Santification: The Will of God

"For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you." (1 Thessalonians 4:3-6, ESV)

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-22, ESV)

I have a little mantra that I give to my flock over and over again about the will of God. The universal will of God for everyone is quite simple. Love God! Love Neighbor! Tell people about Jesus! Okay, that really is an over-simplification, but I think it communicates the point clearly.

The most important thing we need to do in our life is to Love God, glorify him in all things. The Westminster Shorter Catechism stands it wonderfully in the first question, “What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” This is end game: the glory of God. So therefore in order to glorify God we love each other and our neighbors. We show God’s love in this world. We allow Holy Spirit of God to work through us to demonstrate this love. And the best way to love this world is to share the good news that Jesus Christ, who was crucified, is risen. We need to tell people about Jesus so they to might understand the purpose of life is to glorify God.

It is a cute little mantra and I think helps people understand some difficult concepts and moves them away from the distracting and sometimes paralyzing question of “what is God’s will for my life?” The answer, of course, is to glorify God.

I love what Paul says in his letter to the Thessalonians as we expounds more fully on the will of God for them. Paul writes an encouraging letter to the community of faith—basically thanking them for keeping the faith and being an example of love to the community. He further encourages them and points out the God is not done with them yet. That God’s will is to continue to perfect them (sanctification) in this life so that they can further glorify him. God will continue to work in them to move them away from evil and the lusts of this world. Then Paul states clearly do not quench the Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that is wanting and doing this work in us—let us not get in the way of God’s will of sanctification for us.

Let us not get in the way of God’s will for us. Let us not get in the way of God’s work. Instead let us join in it by rejoicing always and praying without ceasing.

Pay Close Attention

Reflections on 1 Timothy 4:12-16 (NRSV)

12 Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

I have used this verse often with the youth of the church, but this phrase from Paul to Timothy is used in the context that Timothy is given pastoral responsbilities over people. Timothy was young, but he was a man that was gifted and ordained by God to serve the people. His calling was to set an example for the all believers in his speech and his conduct—His WORDS and DEEDS. I have heard several times in the past 7 months references regarding my youth—I receive those comments, but hope my life is an example to believers (not a life of perfection, but a life of repentance).

13 Until I arrive, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhorting, to teaching.

I love this command to Timothy. Read the scriptures first and foremost. Read them publicly. The proclamation and reading of the scriptures God will use. People need to read the word in order to believe it. Then we are to exhort, urge them, encourage them to believe and follow the Good News—it is a matter of urgency. Lord, help me to be a pastor and friend that reads the scripture aloud and proclaiming the urgency of following Jesus.

14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.

We are given gifts and are affirmed of those gifts by the leaders of the Church. Lord, help me not to ignore or downplay my gifts, but develop them and use the for your glory.

15 Put these things into practice, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress.

Lord, help me devote myself to the gifts that you have given. May I use them for your Kingdom and your glory. May people see my development not to glorify me or for my praise but for yours and that my life may be an example to follow.

16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.

This passage took me back the most. It gives me permission to pay attention to myself—to care for myself. I need to be diligent to my life and the teaching that comes from me—and then the reward is not just for me, but for those that hear me. I have been entrusted with the message of salvation. Lord, may I be diligent and pay close attention to my life and teachings so that people may fall deeper in love with you.