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Pursue Love and Gentleness
Andrea Lende • March 25, 2021
I Timothy 6:11
Pursue Love and Gentleness
You can also listen to the devotion and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/Pursue-Love-and-Gentleness-etgcsa
I Timothy 6:11
“But as for you, O man of God, flee from all these things; aim at and pursue righteousness (right standing with God and true goodness), godliness (which is the loving fear of God and being Christlike), faith, love, steadfastness (patience), and gentleness of heart.”
Paul was giving Timothy advice as Timothy was beginning his ministry.
His advice is still so applicable for us today.
Paul had been telling Timothy to flee from the idea of seeking riches ahead of the kingdom of God.
He said that craving money had led others away from the faith.
Not only that, but it had given them emotional anxiety.
One of God’s most precious gifts to us is the gift of peace.
Keeping up with the material things that our neighbors, friends, and families may have is emotionally and physically exhausting.
It can even keep us up at night.
But when I focus on serving the Lord, those material things diminish in their importance.
As I look to improve my relationship with God, I no longer strive to acquire more material belongings in the way that I previously had.
Suddenly, my furniture is comfortable and suitable for our use.
I understand its purpose.
Furniture provides a place for us to sit and enjoy one another, relax and rejuvenate, as well as recreate.
Likewise, suddenly my kitchen table becomes a thing of beauty because I know its purpose.
It is where our family congregates, breaks bread with one another, takes much needed breaks, and is a place we laugh and love.
When I focus on the Lord’s business, I quit over-thinking mine.
Paul told Timothy to pursue the Lord and be obedient to Him.
He told him to pursue being Christlike.
Pursue faith and love.
Pursue patience and a gentle heart.
While this may all seem a bit overwhelming, perhaps we could take on pursuing just one aspect of Timothy’s urging each day.
Paul then goes on to say, “Fight the good fight of faith”.
Interesting he used the word fight.
It does seem like a fight.
A fight within our own selves.
However, it is a fight we can win with the help of the Lord.
Today I choose to pursue the Lord and being more like His Son as He gives me aid.
May you find that Lord will help you pursue faith, love, patience, and gentleness as you seek Him.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for reminding me to prioritize You above all else. Thank You for reminding me to seek You over the things of this world. Help me seek being more like You and Your Son. Help me lean into faith instead of the insecurities and anxieties I feel. Help me choose to love instead of following my emotions. Help me be patient on You and myself as You transform my spirit. Help me put on gentleness instead of maintaining a hard heart. Keep my heart soft to You, Lord. Strengthen me and help me persevere through the difficult things so I can learn to withstand all the advances from the enemy. Help me be obedient to You in all things. Help me bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: I AM always at work in you bringing forth all good things in your heart and mind.
Response: Thank You, Almighty God and Father.
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.