Welcome to Day 25 of The Challenge! Our verse to memorize is II Timothy 2:25:
~
"In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves;
if God peradventure will give them repentance
to the acknowledging of the truth;"
~
This entire chapter is devoted to the training of disciples. In verse 25, Paul is getting to the specifics of how we are to disciple. We are told that we must be meek or humble when we are instructing "those that oppose themselves." These people are actually in opposition to God, and thus the verse continues: “if God peradventure would give them repentance.” It is not us that gives a person repentance, but rather God. Repentance will lead to an acknowledgement of the truth.
For twelve years I directed a facility working with troubled youth. One mentor was a young man who particularly stands out in my memory as being very effective with the troubled young people that he worked with. I began to observe why he would be so effective and soon I discovered the reason. He never told the person what he thought about what they were doing. Instead, he shared what the Scripture taught in relation to their wrong actions. The person could not argue with him, but would rather find himself arguing with God. God would then give this troubled fellow repentance and he would acknowledge truth.
~ Bob Norvell
Welcome to Day 18 of The Challenge! Our verse to memorize is II Timothy 2:18: ~ "Who concerning the ...
Welcome to the final day of The Challenge! Our verse today is II Timothy 2:26: ~ "And that they...
Here is the second of twelve verses to be memorized by April 23rd as part of The Challenge II! ~ “Fo...
January 26th, 2009 at 7:57 am
Thank you, Mr. Norvell, for the testimoney that you shared about using Scripture, rather than personal opinion, to teach and admonish others! That is so very true, and is definitely a much better way to help others and bring their problems to a Christ-like solution! Thanks again for your encouraging reminder!!
January 26th, 2009 at 9:45 am
Thank you Sarah for your encourgement.
So many times today answers are given to questions that only the scripture can answer. The Word is the only answer for all questions. Unless the Bible is our source of for answers we are building on sand.
Thank you for living the Journey
Bob Norvell
January 27th, 2009 at 12:29 am
Thank you for sharing again, Mr. Norvell! I really enjoyed the testimony of the effective mentor. It made my heart, as it were, burn within me when I read it. Wow! It is certainly an example to follow and an important aspect of counseling.
I also appreciated your reminder that it is GOD, not me, that will bring a person to repentance. It is so easy for me to forget that.
Thank you again. It was a blessing and a challenge to hear you speak on my Journey in ‘07! May the Lord richly bless you as you continue to impact the lives of those around you for eternity!
January 27th, 2009 at 7:03 am
That is a simple and powerful testimony. It is a full time job to keep my own heart right, but not a stressful one. I feel stress when I try to do God’s job for him – silly me! It reminds me so much of that Psalm 119 project, listing my responsibilities and God’s side by side and seeing how I always worry about God’s and try to ignore mine. May we all rest and abide satisfied in Christ and take care to be doers of His word.