A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.
Search Daily Encouragement
(Click refresh or reload for current message)
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
"Approved, Unashamed,
Correctly Handling"
Message summary: May all we who love the Lord do our best to present ourselves to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, who correctly handles the word of truth.
Listen to our message on your audio player.
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).Someday to have my name confessed;
And hear my Master say at last,
“You stand approved, you did your best!”*ą
I find it helpful to slightly modify the pronouns in this verse to make it very personal: “I will seek to do my best to present myself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, who correctly handles the word of truth”.
This verse is from a portion of Scripture written by Paul known as the Pastoral Epistles (along with 1 Timothy and Titus). Some may see this as an excuse for not personally applying this verse by reasoning, “I'm not a pastor so this doesn't apply to me".
However I believe each of us are to seek after God’s highest standard for our lives. These words apply to every Christian worker, godly parent, Bible teacher, youth worker, Bible student, to all who teach and seek to live by the tenets of Scripture.
We are all called to be ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). May these three characteristics be true for each of us:
1) Approved by God
2) Not ashamed (see Romans 1:16)
3) Correctly handling the word of truth (the Bible)
Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father,
there is no
higher calling
in our life’s
journey than
to be an
ambassador for
Christ. When
we lovingly
cradle infants
in the church
nursery, or
teach
youngsters
Bible stories
and spiritual
truths,
whether we
provide
spiritual
guidance to
teens during
their often
tumultuous
years, when we
lead support
groups, or
whatever
setting in
which we seek
to spread the
gospel
message, we
long for Your
approval and
blessing.
We’re tempted
to listen to
popular
teachers,
authors, and
spiritual fads
of the day and
align our
teaching and
standards in
accordance to
their
influence, but
help us to
ever be wary
of those who
stray from the
written Word.
Above all and
in all, we
desire Your
approval that
comes from our
own in depth
study of the
Scriptures,
and that which
the Holy
Spirit speaks
to us about
rightly
dividing the
Word of Truth
in balance of
the entirety
of
Scripture. We
pray
especially for
pastors of our
church, for
professors at
Christian
colleges,
seminaries and
universities,
and for
principals and
teachers of
our Christian
schools, that
they would
resist the
temptation to
be popular,
politically
correct, or
academically
acceptable but
rather embrace
the desire to
be approved by
You, our
Master Teacher
by correctly
handling the
word of truth.
In the name of
Jesus we pray.
Amen.
Pastor
Steven Cole
writes about
the approval
every workman
should strive
for:
“A young man
once studied
violin under a
world-renowned
master. When
his first big
recital came,
the crowd
cheered after
each number,
but the young
performer
seemed
dissatisfied.
Even after the
final number,
despite the
applause, the
musician
seemed
unhappy. As he
took his bows,
he was
watching an
elderly man in
the balcony.
Finally, the
elderly man
smiled and
nodded in
approval.
Immediately,
the young man
beamed with
joy. He was
not looking
for the
approval of
the crowd. He
was waiting
for the
approval of
his master.
Christians
should be
living for
God’s
approval. We
will be
approved unto
Him as we use
the Bible to
grow in
godliness. Are
you growing as
a craftsman
who uses God’s
Word of truth
accurately and
skillfully to
grow in
godliness? The
misuse of the
Bible will
lead you to
ruin. The
proper use
will lead you
to godliness.”
*ą From the
hymn "God's
Best" by A.B.
Simpson
*˛
See here for online
commentary
of this verse
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"May The
Mind of Christ
My Savior"
Listen
on YouTube
Jake Armerding
A very solid
message
clearly sung
with guitar
accompaniment.
"I Am
Resolved"
Listen
on YouTube
Dailey &
Vincent
Personal note: This morning we are heading out for bike rides on two of our favorite rail trails. The Swatara Creek Trail this afternoon and the Buffalo Valley Rail Trail tomorrow in north-central PA. We do not expect to post a message tomorrow (Wednesday, October 30).
In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world.
To
donate
directly
online click
here.
(This will
open to a page
that
designates the
offering to:
Stephen and
Brooksyne
Weber -
700001-237376
serving in
specialized
chaplaincy
(Daily
Encouragement
is our
endorsed
special
chaplaincy
ministry).
Stephen & Brooksyne
Daily Encouragement on:
Wordpress
iHeart
radioPermissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version and a variety of other versions.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
© Copyright 2024 Stephen C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA