No Status Quo Faith Possible

[S] 2 Timothy 1:13-14 --
 ¹³Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
 ¹⁴Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.

[O] Paul charges Timothy to retain the sound teachings in the faith and love.  He also tells to guard through the Holy Spirit indwelling in us all.  Paul writes this because just like how gravity naturally pulls things down, unless we continue to retain the good teachings of Christ as well as guard them, we will either lose them or will be stolen from by the master deceiver of this world.  There is no such thing as a status quo in living out Christ-like life and that's what Paul is emphasizing here.

[A] I need to re-examine my spiritual life for any areas that I consider status quo thinking that I can some how retain and guard my faith.  One of these areas is my life as a father to my children.  I also need to put more efforts to retain the quality of excellence and guarding that position by learning and researching on how I can be a better dad by better adapting to my children's growing up such that I can be applying the right (timely sensitive) wisdom to bring them up.

[P] Dear God, I surrender all aspects of my life to You.  Please sprinkle Your Love and Grace on it so my life won't go sour.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Raising the Bar of Conversations

[S] Ephesians 5:3-4 --
 ³But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;
 ⁴and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

[O] Following yesterday's passage, Paul continues on about raising the standard of excellence for Christ followers.  This begins by avoiding immoral or impure thoughts in our hearts, not even mentioning any of that either.  Whenever we gathering around with other Christ followers we need to remember this passage of being very careful of what we talk about for fun or not because Paul's clear about one thing that we should give thanks to God and others instead of exchanging of unfitting words with one another.  This is very easy to do, however, and so must be careful not to fall into that mode.

[A] Verse 3 talks about how Christ followers must keep up the standard of their reputation and also to keep their conversations clean.  It's not that we have to use filthy or offensive words to fall into this category but also when we gossip and talk down on others we are guilty of what Paul charges us not to do.  I need to have more of an appreciation of people around me and to praise them with kind words.

[P] Dear God, please fill my heart with more gratitude about everything and everyone you've put around my life.  I want nothing more than the thankfulness come out of my mouth when I'm around others.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.