I THESSALONIANS THROUGH II TIMOTHY

I so enjoyed yesterday honoring our firefighters, police officers, emts, soldiers, and veterans.  We had a special medallion minted just for them.  It is a challenge coin to carry with them and it turned out beautifully done.  I think all of them appreciated the gift and the meal that followed.  They are a special breed of fine men and women.  Thank you heroes! In reading today, I came across these thoughts: 1) THREE THINGS PAUL REMEMBERED- He tells the Thessalonians in 1:3 that he remembers their: Work of Faith, Labour of Love, and Patience of Hope.  I always take note when Scripture lists things and these three were good things for Paul to remember of them. I hope that these things are also in my life as well.  How great it would be to be thus remembered. 2) WITHDRAWAL THYSELF- As Christians we are told to love our brethren and to use hospitality as well, so when we read that we are to withdrawal ourselves from others, it seems strange, but it serves a purpose.  Paul tells in II Thess. 3:6 "Now we command you brethren, in the name of our LORD Jesus Christ, (could this be stated any stronger?)  that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us."  They are told to withdraw from anyone who does not follow Paul's example.  This is walking "disorderly".  vs. 7 says:  "For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us:  for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;"   To not follow spiritual authority is to walk disorderly!  In verse 14 we read:  "And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed."  (He is not an enemy, but "admonish him as a brother" (vs. 15)  AND... in I Tim. 6:5, Paul says of those who "teach otherwise" (vs. 3) "Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness:  from such withdraw thyself."  So, the clear teaching of God's Word is that there are times when we are to withdraw ourselves.  This is so needed in the Church to understand when to embrace the brethren, and when to avoid some brethren.  Let the wise.... learn! 3) FAITHFUL- Paul says in I Tim. 1:12 "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry."  As I read that, it dawned on me that the LORD wasn't looking at the faithfulness of a seventeen year old when He called me into the ministry, but He was looking at my whole life, knowing my future, and having seen my whole life.... He counted me faithful!  STILL, it is not my faithfulness that gets the job done.  My faithfulness ONLY allows God to work through me, but does not do the work.  Only God does the work and gets all of the glory.  I Thess. 5:24 says:  "Faithful is he (Christ) that calleth you, who also will do it."  It is HIS faithfulness that gets the work done, and let there be no confusion in that regard!  To His glory & praise! 4) NAMING THEM- II Timothy is the last epistle written by Paul, and it is interesting that he not only names many faithful co-workers as he commonly does, but he also names many who troubled him.  Interesting..... he calls them out by their names so that everyone will know who the trouble makers have been.  Wow.... I did not learn that in Bible College, and have never done that before.  I have had throughout many years of ministry some I could name, but never have.  (let God deal with them)  BUT, Paul does!  Notice:  II Tim. 1:15 "be turned away from me:  of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes."   Notice:  II Tim. 2:17  "And their word will eat as does a canker:  of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus:"  Notice:  II Tim. 3:8 "Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these resist the truth:"  Notice:  II Tim. 4:10  "For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world,"  Notice:  II Tim.4:14  "Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil:  the LORD reward him according to his works:"   I'm not suggesting anything...... I'm just pointing out what I saw today. Well, that was not the note I would have liked to end on, but I'm out of time.  I hope your day is a blessed one and that you walk with God today.  May God's blessings be upon you and your home.   Pastor Mike Mutchler