My Daily Pause

The Finding of the Saviour in the Temple – 1860 – William Holman Hunt (1827–1910)

Study.

He did it through study.

After being discovered in the temple studying and talking with the teachers, (Luke 2:46-49) he went home submissive to his earthly parents and…

… Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. – Luke 2:52

The implication is that Jesus, in becoming a man, had to go through all of the growth and phases of becoming an adult. He studied with the teachers and earned their respect as he learned. He grew into manhood just as any child would, by following his father’s lead.

Jesus, the ultimate example and master teacher, even showed us the way to grow in stature in God’s eyes. His expectation for us is to be perfect (Matthew 5:48) and he showed us the path to get there.

Just because people are not perfect and will never be sinless does not excuse us from trying. Depending on your Bible version, 2 Timothy 2:15 says to study (KJV), or to be diligent (NKJV), or do your best (ESV), to be approved by God.

As we work our way down the path toward perfection, we can be encouraged in knowing that Jesus went down the same path, and did the same work!

Godly People will find favor from God and man

Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will find favor and good success
in the sight of God and man. – Proverbs 3:3-4 ESV

Godly people should be living with an attitude of mercy and truth (Proverbs 3:3 KJV). It’s not genuine until it is rooted deep in our heart and reflected the actions that others can see.

Godly people not only try to love the sinner, they try to help them see the truth of their sinful ways

Godly people not only try help the unfortunate ones with their physical needs, they try to help them with their spiritual needs.

Godly people not only work quietly serving him, they make sure God’s light is very visible.

Godly people not only want to please God, they try to influence others to please him.

God need his children to do the work during this earthly lifetime. The “finding of favor in the sight of God and man” (Proverbs 3:4) sounds a lot like Luke 2:52 where Jesus growth caused him to increase in statue in the eyes of God and men. We can see then, that not only is it Godly to be influential – it is Christlike.

What are some ways you can become more Christlike in the eyes of your peers today?

Influence Through Consistency

Ecclesiastes 5:1 KJV says to “Keep thy foot” when you go into the house of God. It’s a shame that later versions changed that. Keep thy foot is an expression of maintaining yourself in your usual pattern of life. In the context of Ecclesiastes 5:1-7, Solomon’s instruction was to be godly all the time. Not just when you enter worship.

In fact the heading on my Bible in that spot say Fear God. That’s as good of a summary as can be given of the paragraph.

As we plan our day, remembering how we carried ourselves into worship and looking for ways to apply the lessons we learned is a great way to “Keep our feet” before others. We are after all, to be the salt of the earth by flavoring the world with our influence. (Matthew 5:13)

And to freshen up … going back often to God in prayer and reading from his word is a great way to keeping that godly attitude all week.

Daily Bible reading for July 8

Ecclesiastes 5:1-7
Joshua 6
Jeremiah 1:11-19
Matthew 17

During a recent morning blog writing session, I had set the empty coffee cup that I was using that morning beside the one that I didn’t take to the sink the day before. They weren’t identical, but I couldn’t remember which one I was using. When I picked them both up to take them to the kitchen, I knew right away which one was that morning’s cup.

The persistence of the heat in that cup is a great illustration of how our influence on other people can leave an impact for a long time. Even after we have passed from this life, the example that we set for others will remain. What type of example are we providing for our families, our neighbors, our co-workers and others with whom we have contact?

Jesus compared us to salt and light to illustrate the kind of influence we are to have on others. Those who hide themselves from this duty have no value to the kingdom. (Matthew 5:13-16)

Paul wrote in Romans 12:1-2 how the Christians there were to present their bodies as living sacrifices and were not to be conformed to this world, but rather they were to be transformed in order to prove the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. Should we as Christians today not be held to this same standard?

In regard to the duration of our influence, we merely need to look at the impact that the Bible has had on individuals since the time of its compilation. Those who wrote down God’s word are still helping to lead many to Christ even though they have long been gone from this world.

How will we be remembered? Will those at our funeral say “You could really see Christ in this one’s life,” or will it be a surprised “This person was a Christian?”

How are you representing Christ?

Daily Bible reading for June 22

Proverbs 23-24
Deuteronomy 23:15-25:19
Amos 9
Matthew 5:1-16

Life isn’t a static condition.

• Without physical exercise, the body decays.
• Without mental exercise, the mind fails to learn more and doesn’t retain what it does know.
• Without social exercise, our influence and respect from others suffers.

Paul liked to use the metaphor of the “Christian walk” the way he does in 1 Thessalonians 4:1. This helps reinforce the idea of Christianity being an active and progress oriented lifestyle.

We are to take what we have learned and try to gain momentum with it. The more we get out there showing off God’s love and power, the better we get at it, and the more influence we’ll have. This becomes a life that pleases God. (1 Thessalonians 4:1-12)

With that momentum we can do a number of things:

• We easily avoid misusing our bodies. (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4) This is a difficult habit to break for many.
• We can live peacefully and avoid being busybodies. (1 Thessalonians 4:11a) This is a difficult habit to break for many.
• We can become productive and avoid being a burden to others. (1 Thessalonians 4:11b-12) This is a difficult habit to break for many.

These are some of the cornerstones of an influential lifestyle – A lifestyle that helps us become the salt and light that Jesus was talking about in Matthew 5:13-15

Daily Bible reading for May 17

Psalm 136
Numbers 18-19
Isaiah 56-57
1 Thessalonians 4:1-12