No Shame About What God Has Said
We are winding down with our devotionals from Pastor Wayne Cockrell! Make no mistake-these devotionals are meaty morsels written to fortify you for your day's journey! Be encouraged, Church Family!
SCRIPTURE: “Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to [a]strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and [b]idle babblings, for they will [c]increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.” 2 Timothy 2:14 – 18
One of the spiritual challenges to our spiritual growth in Christ is to not in any way be ashamed of what we believe. The beginning of our faith must be settled upon the fact that the Bible is the Word of God to us and the very way we can understand Him. When we consider verses that speak to the reality of our faith like (Hebrews 11:1; 6), we are reminded that our faith is not only that we believe in God, but we believe in our God who is personally interactive with us. He has spoken one time for all time. God’s Word to us is essential to the lives we live. In the context of the verses for our devotion we see the priority of the Word and the essential need for studying to know it and to know our LORD through it, because there is much false teaching, ideologies and propaganda that has not only gone out into the world, but has infiltrated the visible community of the Christian Church. God’s true children must be very serious about knowing exactly what God has to say, because God has already said it.
God says that we must become DILIGENT in our study (2 Timothy 2:15a). The word diligent means to make every effort or be very serious in our efforts, since we do believe it is God’s Word. How can we give anything less when the goal of studying is to live lives that we can be approved unto God? The diligence that is required from us involves the practice that we read it, study it, remember it and meditate upon it so that the application of it to our lives will be approved unto God who is our first and highest audience.
God also says that we must become DISCIPLINED in our study (2 Timothy 2:15b). The New English Translation says, “…present yourselves before God as a proven worker….” WE are to be workmen, those who work at knowing and living in the way that is well pleasing to God. God wants us to become skilled craftsmen in our understanding and application of His Word and that requires that our study becomes a disciplined and consistent practice in our lives. In simple language the goal is to get good with the use of the Word. When you consider the fakes, distractions, counterfeits, and opinions expressed in 2 Timothy 2:14; 16-18, it has resulted in some who have occupied themselves with these things to the extent of straying from the truth. How many times have you been tested and tempted to follow the wrong teachings that are well-crafted lies that only your skill with the Word has kept you from potential straying in your faith walk with God?
God also says that we must become right DIVIDERS in our study (2 Timothy 2:15c). The most important thing is for us to understand what God means before we can accurately understand what God intends for it to mean to us. Understanding is not just for Pastors and those who have the roles and gifts of feeding the sheep, but every child of God is under the expectation to know what our God and Father has given unto all of His children to know. Rightly dividing or accurately handling has a meaning to cut straight or build straight (Isaiah 28:10). Precepts upon precepts. Line upon line. Truth is built upon truth. Principles are built upon principles. Every word is from God. We cannot skillfully practice without an accurate understanding of what God means. If you do not enjoy reading the Word, then you will not enjoy studying it. If you do not enjoy studying it, you will not enjoy meditating upon it. If you do not enjoy meditating on what God says to us, then you will not enjoy being obedient to what God expects of us. The Psalmist says to God, “O how I love Your Law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97).
Prayer: Father in heaven, fill us with understanding in our hearts so that our knowledge of You will be rooted in the core of our souls. May Your Word dwell richly in us so that it becomes the direction and counsel for the lives we live for Your glory. We will always give You the praise and the thanks, in Jesus name, amen.
By Pastor Wayne Cockrell
God says that we must become DILIGENT in our study (2 Timothy 2:15a). The word diligent means to make every effort or be very serious in our efforts, since we do believe it is God’s Word. How can we give anything less when the goal of studying is to live lives that we can be approved unto God? The diligence that is required from us involves the practice that we read it, study it, remember it and meditate upon it so that the application of it to our lives will be approved unto God who is our first and highest audience.
God also says that we must become DISCIPLINED in our study (2 Timothy 2:15b). The New English Translation says, “…present yourselves before God as a proven worker….” WE are to be workmen, those who work at knowing and living in the way that is well pleasing to God. God wants us to become skilled craftsmen in our understanding and application of His Word and that requires that our study becomes a disciplined and consistent practice in our lives. In simple language the goal is to get good with the use of the Word. When you consider the fakes, distractions, counterfeits, and opinions expressed in 2 Timothy 2:14; 16-18, it has resulted in some who have occupied themselves with these things to the extent of straying from the truth. How many times have you been tested and tempted to follow the wrong teachings that are well-crafted lies that only your skill with the Word has kept you from potential straying in your faith walk with God?
God also says that we must become right DIVIDERS in our study (2 Timothy 2:15c). The most important thing is for us to understand what God means before we can accurately understand what God intends for it to mean to us. Understanding is not just for Pastors and those who have the roles and gifts of feeding the sheep, but every child of God is under the expectation to know what our God and Father has given unto all of His children to know. Rightly dividing or accurately handling has a meaning to cut straight or build straight (Isaiah 28:10). Precepts upon precepts. Line upon line. Truth is built upon truth. Principles are built upon principles. Every word is from God. We cannot skillfully practice without an accurate understanding of what God means. If you do not enjoy reading the Word, then you will not enjoy studying it. If you do not enjoy studying it, you will not enjoy meditating upon it. If you do not enjoy meditating on what God says to us, then you will not enjoy being obedient to what God expects of us. The Psalmist says to God, “O how I love Your Law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97).
Prayer: Father in heaven, fill us with understanding in our hearts so that our knowledge of You will be rooted in the core of our souls. May Your Word dwell richly in us so that it becomes the direction and counsel for the lives we live for Your glory. We will always give You the praise and the thanks, in Jesus name, amen.
By Pastor Wayne Cockrell
Archive
2024
January
Gratitude Mixed with Faith Should Equal ObedienceGrace Comes In God’s TimingGOD USES WHOM HE CHOOSESSeeing What God Sees to Get What God HasA Life Verse That Is Good for Every YearSeeing Things as God Sees ThemThree QuestionsDon’t Worry About the FutureForgiveness Is Our Daily CelebrationPeace When We Do RightGod’s True Children Certainly Should KnowRegret In Missed OpportunitiesThe Attitude of Delight Is RightMeditation Deprivation Is EvidentARE YOU A DISCIPLE OR JUST A CONVERT?An Anchored Soul Won’t QuitGod Wants to Be BelievedFinding God in Our PainI Must Be About God’s WordWhat the Wondrous Word of God Can Do in a Willing ServantSeeing Things God’s WayGetting Along for Jesus SakeMeditating Brings Us Success In The Christian LifeThe State of Mind That Pleases GodPraised By the RaisedHaving the Right Knowledge for Real FaithWhose Mind Do You Think With?All My Heart & All My WaysWise with the Lord’s TimeNo Shame About What God Has SaidPrayer Is A Conversation
February
DEEP ARMOR FOR THE STEEP CLIMBDressed in the Whole Armor of God for Spiritual WarfareGRAB THAT ARMORSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIn My Dressing Room (Putting on the Armor of God)Armored for Any WeatherTruth is Foundation for Our FaithA Work in Progress and A Mouth in TrainingREJECTION OF GOSSIP, SLANDER, LIES, AND DISCORD: THE PERFECTING OF 'FEBRUARY'THE DETESTABLESSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIf the Lord Hates It, We Should TooThe Offense Ward of the Sin HospitalSpilling the TeaWe are in ChristLet us Do BetterSpread Love, Not GossipSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLThe GREATEST THRILL: Being SPIRIT - FilledTHE HOLY SPIRIT'S CONTROLA Drunken SpiritLookin’ Like Our DaddyFermented or Fresh; How is Your Fruit?We Have it AllSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLJESUS’ LOVE MANDATEHIS Walk, Our Hopethe greatest gift of allTo Love Like Christ
March
LOVE x LOVELove is CommitmentSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor CockrellTHE HIGHEST DEBT OF LOVEPREVAILING IN LOVE, AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE PROMISEReturn Your Love to METhe Loveless ChurchWhat Do You Want First: the Good News or the Bad News?POSITIVE FRICTION THAT MAKES US BETTERSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHis Love Versus My FearsJESUS LOVES YOUBe Surrendered to 'Love'Victory Over Fear: Life’s Small LessonsJesus, Our VictoryTRUST CHRIST, BANISH FEARSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHarmony and Discord Aren’t FriendsHOLY PARAMETERSBlinded by HateACT or REACTRESISTING ANGER AND HATE IN CONFLICTPeculiar PeopleSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellONWARD & UPWARDHow To Fall ForwardThe Front Windshield is Much Bigger than the Rearview MirrorONE THING TO DOLooking Back Will Have You SaltyGreat Cloud of WitnessesSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne Cockrell
3 Comments
Oh that we be found diligent in our faith, believing and convinced what You say, Oh Lord, what Scripture teaches is true and our Only Strength…we have no “better” place to go!!
Yes, if I want a closer walk with Jesus that is the goal -- to be diligent and disciplined in God's Word. Amen, Pastor!
Amen Pastor ! Our identification with the Lord is ultimately not about shame, but about His power, His grace,and His love and His desire for reaconiliation!!