Act Like It

Do you really want to admit that you are getting older. When you're a young child, it is exciting to hold up your fingers and say "I'm this many!" But as age catches up with you, the thrill abates. Do you boast "Woohoo! Another senior discount kicks in with this birthday!"?

God has set us apart for Him. He sent His son to die on the cross so that we could be made holy. We need to live in such a way that we demonstrate that we have been made holy. Our lives should be a witness to what God has done for us. If you've got catty remarks about the woman who spent the whole meeting texting, bite your tongue. Stop it with the drunken selfies that you're posting on Instagram. By the blood of Christ, you've been set apart and made holy. Act like it'

Don't Deny It

You know the type. They brag about how they know God, but when you watch them, they sure don't act it. Maybe they've got a fish on the back of their car and you see them driving aggressively down your street. Maybe they're your daughter's Sunday school teacher and you see them drunk at the ballgame. Maybe she's the one who sits next to you in women's Bible study and she's had a long day, her kids have been disobedient and her husband is away on a business trip and she got angry at you for seemingly no reason.

It could be anyone. It could be you. Strive to know God. But, remember at all times, He is watching. Let your actions display your love for God, not deny it.

Instead

Instead can be such a powerful word. Contrasting bad choices and good choices. Contrasting wrong and right.

We've seen some things in the previous verses that an elder should be but most recently we've seen some things an elder definitely should not be. Here we see a few traits that an elder should have. We can't all be elders, but these are characteristics worthy for us all to pursue.

Are you hospitable? Do you welcome people into your home? Do people feel at home and comfortable when they are with you? This is to be admired.

Are you devoted to what is good? Or are you consumed by the next project that needs to get done around the house? Do people know you by what show you're currently binge watching? Be devoted to what is good. Let it be evident in your life.

Are you sensible or are you known for making outlandish choices? Do you do things and instantly regret it or do you you look back on your day and smile because of a job well done? Do your feet ache at the end of the day because you've dashing about in your fashionable heels or de you feel like you can go another mile in your sensible shoes? Common sense seems uncommon these days, but it should be common to you.

Are you upright or are you down and dirty? Are you righteous or are you known as a sinner? We all know that we are sinners. But we also know that if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Don't be down and dirty, dear reader, be clean!

Are you devout? It should be obvious where your loyalties lie. You cannot serve both God and money. Your pursuit of holiness should show in your life. Let there not be any hint of unfaithfulness in you.

Self-controlled. Sometimes self-control is hard to maintain. But self-control comes from God. That may seem paradoxical, but it's not. The closer we come to God, the more Christlike we become, the less influence other things have in our lives. The more we see Jesus, the less we see distractions. The more we become focussed on our Father, the easier it is to maintain our peace when temptation comes our way. Seek ye first the kingdom of God... and self-control will follow.

God wants all of this for you. Seek Him and He will provide.

To Further The Faith

How is your faith in Christ? Is it strong? Is it growing? Do you seek to share it with those around you?

If you have faith in Christ, you should want it to be growing. You should be doing things to cause it to grow. You should be reading His Word. You should be meditating on it. You should be praying. You should be loving others. You should be serving Christ.

A faith like that should love in such a way that you want to see others grow closer to God. Are you in fellowship with other believers? Are you in close relationship with others that they know of your faith and how it guides you through life? Are you close enough to others that you know their struggles and do you desire to see them get through them? Do you care enough of others that you know of their hopes and dreams? Are you praying for them? What are you doing to help them accomplish them?

This takes vulnerability. This takes being open and close to fellow believers. To further the faith of God's chosen ones,you must have faith and you must know God's chosen ones.

Pray that God would use you to help grow the faith of those that you know.

Grace Be With You

Paul closes this letter with an admonition he has used elsewhere. Grace be with you. It is also my wish for those I love and for you my dear reader. May God's unmerited favor be with you. May it walk with you. May it come after you and be extended to others as you encounter them. May it come behind you and soothe you and heal you as you deal with the challenges of life. May you know that God has given it to you as a gift and it is truly yours.

Comfort

Paul had a few like-minded friends who brought him comfort. They encouraged him. They comforted him. They gave him solace. They brought him relief. They alleviated him of his burdens. They provided him consolation.

Do you have friends like this?

Are you a friend like this?

Bring comfort to those who need it.

Sweet and Salty

Let your speech always... Not just some of the time, but always. Not just with some people you speak with but with everyone 

Be gracious... Affording joy, pleasure, sweetness, and favor to those to whom you are speaking.

Seasoned with salt... Not bland, but bringing out and enhancing the flavor of what you are saying. Not words that will blow away and be forgotten, but words that will last.

So that you may know how you should answer everyone... Know that people will question you and your faith. Know that people may attack you verbally. Also know that people will have questions and come to you. You need to be prepared. Speaking the truth in love, speaking graciously words full of lasting flavor, will help you to respond.

Our words affect those who hear them. Let us make sure to speak words that guide those around us to the Truth.