From Limping to Leaping

Every Sunday morning I go through the same routine.  I wake up, walk the dogs, feed the dogs, and then sit down with a cup of coffee and go over the sermon I am about to preach.  This morning as I sat down with my coffee and began going over the sermon I noticed something in the text that stirred my thinking.  "In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for disposal of refuse"  (2 Timothy 2:20 TNIV).  That final phrase is so much more specific than the more common "some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble" (NIV).  This image of an ancient toliet makes the next verse really stand out: "Any who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work" (2 Timothy 2:21)

As we have studied thorughout this series, it really is possible to become like Christ!  We are not just sinful wretches that will always be sinful wretches.  We may come to Christ on a stretcher, but he tells us to "take up our mat and walk."  There are things we can do to grow in holiness and righteouness.  I'm now wondering if the vessels mentioned in 2 Timothy are more than just symbols.  What if this life is simply preparation for the next life?  How differently would we live if we knew that our position in the Master's house depends upon the training and discipline we receive in this life? 

Our theme verse for "God's Gym" comes from 1 Timothy 4:7, "Train yourself to be Godly."  As we end the series look at the next verse, "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come" (1 Timothy 4:8).  The work we put into training our selves to be godly will not end at the grave but will become treasures to take with us into the next life. 

To keep growing deeper in the life of Chrsit I've listed the resources below that I mentioned in class.