Tag: Spirit vindicated
The great mystery of godliness!
Scripture reading for June 29th: 1st Kings 8, Psalm 30, 1st Timothy 3
1st Timothy 3:14-16 “I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the Truth. Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.”
Paul had just laid out for Timothy the qualifications for those in leadership in the church where he was pastoring. Timothy was Paul’s ‘son in the faith’ and a close associate in some of Paul’s missionary journeys. Paul told Timothy that the church was the ‘household of God’ and a ‘pillar and buttress’ of the Truth. The new ‘building’ of God was the lives of believers both individually and corporately. God had given the Holy Spirit to indwell them and to form them into God’s image of righteousness and holiness through godliness. Godliness was not just keeping the rules of do’s and don’ts, but was a manifestation of the Son of God in human flesh, crucified, resurrected, and proclaimed and believed on among Jew and Gentile!
Psalm 30:11-12 “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing Your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever!”
Prayer: Father God, as I came home to You as a prodigal, you turned my mourning into dancing and clothed me with gladness! As a member now of Your household, the Church, I will praise You and not be silent. I will proclaim among the nations the ‘mystery of godliness’, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, crucified, raised to glory and coming again for His Bride!
1st Kings 8:56 “Blessed be the Lord Who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all He has promised. Not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He spoke by Moses His servant. The Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers. May He not leave us or forsake us, . .”