Reading
SAA Notes
Verse 2 is Paul’s recipe for spiritual reproduction – teach reliable disciples so that they, in turn, can teach a new generation of reliable disciples, who in their turn can repeat the teaching. Pray for each other that we might be such disciples.
SJA Notes
* Dear Lord, please write Your word on the tablet of our hearts today.
“And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness.”
This is the strongest of words to us.
How hard it is when we are working for the Lord, pouring ourselves out – And someone starts to attack us, ascribing false motivations.
We are in the right!
What does God’s word have for us, but a hard word.
Be kind to everyone, not just those who are easy to be kind toward.
Patiently endure evil, don’t succumb to it.
Correct opponents with gentleness, not fire.
Let us heed Paul’s exhortation today, and pray that the Lord will give us understanding in everything.
* God Above,
It is often hard for us to behave as You ask us to, in the righteousness of Christ, reflecting Your holiness to those around.
It can be difficult to keep our temper, to keep our eyes from sin, our thoughts, our words and deeds.
Please Lord, please fix our eyes on You.
Mark us as a gentle people, kind and able to patiently endure evil.
As we wrestle to put Your word into practice in our lives, please give us understanding in everything.
Amen.