January 1, 2019 – 2 Timothy 2:21-22

If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.  Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. 2 Timothy 2:21-22.

On this first day of 2019, how we can begin anew to keep ourselves pure before our Lord God? What do the words righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace mean to you?  We can wash our bodies clean,  but pure living from the inside out is another matter.

While in elementary school, I turned over so many ‘new leaves’ in life, there seemed to be a breeze in my life. Then I learned about this promise – The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning;  great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23.  This holy living is not something we can do alone, but we depend on the forever love of our Lord God to lead and guide us. 

How can we live pure lives?  How big is your God?  Our God created space, put the stars in place, created the sun and moon, and He created you and me.  The first time I saw a mountain reaching to the sky and felt the ocean’s tide pulling at my feet, I began to understand how powerful and mighty our God is. What can we begin?

Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14.  It has been said, the only gospel some read, is how we live.

Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. 2 Timothy 2:25