Lessons from a legend

Today: 1 Timothy

Imagine having a one-on-one basketball coaching session with Michael Jordan. What would it be like to take voice lessons from Whitney Houston? Or a have a private cooking class with Martha Stewart?

Intimidating? Maybe. Inspiring? Probably. Life-changing? Definitely.

I wonder if Timothy thought that way about the letters he received from his mentor, the apostle Paul? Did he realize that he was receiving lessons from a legend? Or were they just letters from a friend, leader and mentor?

I don't know....what do you and I think when people speak God's messages to us? Hmm...

Here are a few of the highlights from the legend's (Paul's) lessons for Timothy:

And don't let anyone put you down because you're young.

Teach believers with your life:

by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity.

Stay at your post reading Scripture, giving counsel, teaching.

And that special gift of ministry you were given

when the leaders of the church laid hands on you and prayed—

keep that dusted off and in use.

Cultivate these things. Immerse yourself in them.

The people will all see you mature right before their eyes!

Keep a firm grasp on both your character and your teaching.

Don't be diverted. Just keep at it.

Both you and those who hear you will experience salvation...

And oh, my dear Timothy, guard the treasure you were given!

Guard it with your life.

Avoid the talk-show religion and the practiced confusion of the so-called experts.

People caught up in a lot of talk can miss the whole point of faith.

Tomorrow: 2 Timothy

Word to live by

Today: Romans 11-13

My intro. text today is really short because tonight's passage includes some pretty incredible Word to live by. So think about it. Live it. Here are a few of life's best instructions from the book of Romans:

Take your everyday, ordinary life—

your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—

and place it before God

as an offering.

Embracing what God does

for you

is the best thing you can do

for him.

Don't become so well-adjusted

to your culture

that you fit into it without even thinking.

Instead, fix your attention on God.

You'll be changed from the inside out.

Readily recognize what he wants from you,

and quickly respond to it.

Unlike the culture around you,

always dragging you down

to its level of immaturity,

God brings the best out of you,

develops well-formed maturity in you.

Love from the center of who you are;

don't fake it.

Run for dear life from evil;

hold on for dear life to good.

Be good friends who love deeply;

practice playing second fiddle.
Don't burn out;

keep yourselves fueled and aflame.

Be alert servants of the Master,

cheerfully expectant.

Don't quit in hard times;

pray all the harder.

Help needy Christians;

be inventive in hospitality.
Bless your enemies;

no cursing under your breath.

Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy;

share tears when they're down.

Get along with each other;

don't be stuck-up.

Make friends with nobodies;

don't be the great somebody.
Don't hit back;

discover beauty in everyone.

If you've got it in you,

get along with everybody.

Don't insist on getting even;

that's not for you to do.

"I'll do the judging," says God.

"I'll take care of it."