Sometimes the smallest Word lodges itself and looms large in my heart…
“…having the form of godliness but denying its power…”
I tend to skip over this verse because, well you know, it’s about “those other people.”
“For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.” 2 Timothy 3:2-6
(tap tap…) “unthankful, headstrong, lovers of pleasure”
How could those things be lumped in with “brutal” and “blasphemers”?
And He speaks so clearly–“Anyone who loves (fill in the blank) more than Me is not worthy of Me.”
I am unthankful when I complain about MY needs not being met. I am headstrong when I want MY way. I am a lover of pleasure when I choose ME over Him. Ick.
Oh yes, I can “look” godly. But do I live godly?
I am a “lover of self” each day that I don’t crucify my flesh. I am “one of those people” when I don’t deny myself, take up my cross and follow Him.
And it comes again–the beautiful irony of God’s Word:
If loving myself “denies the power of godliness” in my life, then dying to self brings it to life! POWER. The very thing I think I can achieve when I live in the flesh is the thing I lose.
“..unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” John 12:24
What if we really died to live?
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Daily. Thank you, Lord, for knowing I’m so forgetful that I need to start again every morning, and thank You that Your mercies are new!
7 comments
Oy, yes. I feel the tap,tap, as well.
Wow..okay-so how did you know that when I opened the dishwasher this morning and mumbled about their not being a cereal spoon because people had taken them to work for their lunch and left them there(I know..such problems in life)and then continued to gripe because one teen tells me..”Don’t take one from the good silverware”..and I’m like “I can if I want”..yes..I AM THE MOM!! Still learning after all this time!! My husband quietly watched me mumbling quietly and said “Are you really going to get mad over a spoon”? Sometimes it’s just the little things and they just are not worth it..Thanks for this today! Have a Blessed weekend!!
so convicting it hurts. Have to constantly ask myself, ” have I complained either verbally or just mentally more than I have thanked?” Thank you for posting this! Hugs, jen in al
Wow, I sure needed to read this today! Thank you for taking the time to write it.
Kelly,
What a great post. This was so convicting! I am unthankful when I think I am not being appreciated or like I do it all with no help. Dying to self daily, daily , minute by minute in my case:). I thank the Lord for his mercy.
The verses you posted, especially “having a form of godliness but denying its power” have been illuminated to me most brightly recently as well. It is most incredible to notice the common themes, struggles, and lessons about which God has been speaking to people the world over. We live so far from each other yet are both (as many others are) contemplating the same verses. Thank you for sharing your heart and thoughts.
FANTASTIC! Definately cut straight to the soul on that one. Thank You for being transparent in admission to guilt it helps others to accept their guilt as well. This post is really edifying to the reader.