(God's Word translation) 1Timothy 1:18 Timothy, my child, I’m giving you this order about the prophecies that are still coming to you: Use these prophecies in faith and with a clear conscience to fight this noble war. 19 Some have refused to let their faith guide their conscience and their faith has been destroyed like a wrecked ship. 20 Among these people are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan in order to teach them not to dishonor God.
There is much to consider in these verses. Last week I asked us to consider what we see as we project our minds into the future. In a very simplistic form that is all prophecies or revelation is. It is a time when God speaks to us with harmonious clarity and we get it. He has always stated that "there is nothing new under the sun" as well as the fact that "all things are common to man". For instance Solomon, the wisest of all men stated in Ecclesiastes 3 the following:
"Meaningless! Meaningless!” “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless!”
Could this be what Paul was warning Timothy about? It sound like Solomon had not allowed his faith to guide his concsience, maybe? Was he fighting the noble war..or amidst the trama of a shipwreck?
There will always be times when we have it going on; we are in harmony with "The Almighty God of the Universe" together we know we are "fighting the good fight" and victorious. However in the near future we find ourselves amidst the same storm we were fighting and rescuing other poor unfortunate souls only to be hanging on for dear life ourselves.
I find comfort in these words from our wise and yet oh-so- human ancestor Solomon :
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace."
Paul finished this thought by telling Timothy he was warning him of the looming shipwrecks for him to be aware of what needs to take place - not to point a finger and say "look at them!"
Therefore, I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and ball who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying— a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
I pray that we all give thanks for all people, for leaders and authority figures. I pray that we lift up the struggles that all men have and be pray for them before they enter into battles with the supplications that they not be tossed about as a ship on the sea. Let us pray for that we lead lives that are not argumentative, quarlelsom or nitpicky, but peaceable as much as it depends on us. I pray that we set our minds on things that are Holy, Lovely and Pure..becasue He is holy and righteous.
May He be glorified in all we say, do and desire,
With Love,
Candace
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