Reflections

Dear RTB’ers,

No scheduled reading today. Evidently STS is set for 365 days and February 29 this year claimed one of those days. So today we reflect on 2024.

Thus far we’ve read one Gospel (Luke); Acts; nine epistles (I and II Thessalonians, Galatians, Romans, I and II Corinthians, I and II Timothy, and Titus); five Old Testament books (Genesis, Exodus, Amos, Hosea, and Micah); and 41 Psalms. We’ve averaged about 25 verses per day; that average will go up in the next two years as we read longer sections. We’ve been largely chronological in our readings in the Old and New Testaments (separately), but not totally so. And we’re one-third of the way through our companion book, Search the Scriptures.

We added about a dozen new RTB’ers in 2024, people who had never done RTB with us before. Not everyone who joins on January 1 stays through the year, but at least they begin a Bible reading process. Hopefully we’ll get some more newcomers in 2025. I’d encourage you to reach out to your friends and fellow parishioners. Daily Bible reading is a good spiritual discipline to encourage. You’ll never know what a blessing you might be to that one other person.

And as to that one other person… Years ago I met a young 6- or 7-year-old boy (Josef, aka Joseph, Pepe, and “Noname”) who had started attending Mark Bruner’s “English Camp” in the Czech Republic. We grew closer over the next few years as Carol and I helped with the Camp. That young boy is now a college student in his late-teens or early-20s and we’re still in contact, albeit erratically throughout the years. Carol and I met him for coffee this past October and I challenged him to read through the Gospels with me in 2025. He accepted – I just now got his affirmative reply that he’ll read with me every day. I’m excited for him and for me!! It never hurts to ask!

Have a blessed New Year’s Eve!!

Blessings!

II Timothy 4

Dear RTB’ers,

Paul was writing some 2000 years ago, but his words sound like they were written directly for today: For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions… (v. 3) [NOTE: The NASB has “wanting to have their ears tickled” instead of “having itching ears”. I like that translation!] “…teachers to suit their own passions…” There are reasons why we are St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, in the Anglican Diocese of the South and a part of the Anglican Church in North America instead of The Episcopal Church USA. Yes, Paul was writing for us, today.

Blessings!

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See also: December 22 (2023) / Titus; II Timothy

II Timothy 3

Dear RTB’ers,

My first-ever RTB group was in 1994 at St. James Episcopal Church in Mt. Airy, Maryland. Like this year we used Search the Scriptures as our study book – except that we did three days at a time instead of one and finished the Bible in one year. And, like this year I put together a reading list which I printed out and made available to any parishioner who wanted to read along. [NOTE: It was early e-mail days; we worked with print copy!] At the top of every quarterly reading list that I published, I put the following Bible verse: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (II Timothy 3:16-17) An echo from days past…

Blessings!

II Timothy 2

Dear RTB’ers,

I’m sure I’ve shared this before; it’s the first thought on my mind whenever I read today’s chapter. 2 Tim 2:2, a “calling card” for young Campus Crusade for Christ students: … what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Multiplicative evangelism. Generational salvation. Discipleship. It’s a good plan. For us, we teach our children, and with their leadership we also invest ourselves in our grandchildren. And we pray…!

Finally, one other verse worth contemplating: Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (v. 15) Our “works” do not gain us our salvation, but they are the fruit that reminds us and others of who we are: …as one approved…

Blessings!

II Timothy 1

Dear RTB’ers,

II Timothy – today we begin our last book for 2024, another of Paul’s letters to his “son”, Timothy. It was not difficult for us to see Paul’s motivation in writing to Timothy in his first letter – it was mostly church matters. It’s more difficult to pick that up in this second letter. Why was Paul writing this second letter? We find him in prison; it is just idle time for him, so time well spent writing letters? Does he have ministry details to attend to that he cannot do while in prison? Or is it just a friendly note like our elders might have written to one another years ago when letter writing was more a fashion? Why was Paul writing this second letter? We’ll see; we read on…

Today it’s a few verse snippets that grabbed me. First, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you… (v. 6a) Every one of us has been blessed by God with spiritual gifts that He bestowed on us and which He wants us to use for His glory. Fan those flames! Second, [God]…who saved us and called us to a holy calling… (v. 9a) Yes, not only are we gifted, but we are also called. Called to what? Same question as above – what are your special gifts and to what have you been called? Search out answers to both of those questions.

Finally, one of my all-time favorite verse snippets – for I know whom I have believed… (v. 12b) I have done my own small editing and always recall this verse as I know HIM in Whom I have believed. For me that’s a simple statement that has a mountain of knowledge, experience, and faith behind it. I have recited it to probably thousands of students over the years, whenever a statement of my own faith is called forth. And it’s a powerful statement every time I recite it: I know HIM in Whom I have believed. Say it with me. Pray it. I know HIM in whom I have believed.

Blessings!

Titus 3

Dear RTB’ers,

It is fairly rare for us to see the members of the Trinity mentioned in one sentence in the Bible, but here we have it: But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us … in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He richly poured out upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior… (vv. 4-6) One Internet source cited II Corinthians 13:14 as the only Trinitarian benediction in Paul’s letters: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. The Father, the Son, the Spirit – three in One. Reflect on that today…!

Blessings!

Titus 2

Dear RTB’ers,

SURPRISE!! Titus 2:11-14 was one of the readings at our St. Andrew’s Christmas Eve service. I love it when our RTB readings show up in our service sheet! Here is that selection: For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works.

Two items worth noting in that Christmas message: For the grace of God has appeared… That was then. This is now, … waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ…

Have a Blessed Christmas Day!

Blessings!

Titus 1

Dear RTB’ers,

Titus. Titus is another of Paul’s “pastoral” epistles, Paul writing as a pastor to a member of his “flock”. This flock member, however, is very special to Paul. He gets some dozen mentions in Paul’s letters, especially in II Corinthians which we just read recently, where Titus was called upon by Paul to be his emissary and to “put out the (Corinthian) fires”. As in I Timothy, much of the content of this letter has to do with church institutions and discipline, Titus being left behind at Crete to complete the work there (v. 5a).

My guess is that most of us are more familiar with Timothy than with Titus. Surprisingly, Titus is not mentioned in Acts while Timothy is mentioned at least five times (Acts 16:1-3; 17:14-15; 18:5; 19:22; 20:4) Timothy is also included in the greeting in a number of Paul’s letters (Philippians, Colossians, Philemon), so we tend to be more familiar with Timothy. But here’s another surprising item about Titus – although he is not mentioned at all in Acts, he is mentioned some dozen times in Paul’s epistles!!

Titus, my true son… (v. 4a) Right away we see what STS says in its introduction, that Titus was very likely led to faith by Paul, himself. What a bond that must have been. He is also mentioned several times as one of Paul’s regular traveling companions, certainly contributing to that “father-son” bond. So let’s enjoy this short letter as we celebrate this Christmas season.

Blessings!

I Timothy 6:3-21

Dear RTB’ers,

Paul shares two reflections on wealth in today’s reading.

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.

I Timothy 6:9-10a

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

I Timothy 6:18-19

Riches: If you have it, use it wisely. If you don’t have it, be careful how you seek it.

Blessings!

I Timothy 5:1-6:2

Dear RTB’ers,

I remember growing up in a small Catholic community and attending a Catholic school in a small Southern Illinois town. We had Mass every morning – all schoolchildren attended – and the only others present (as I recall) were older women who were there almost every day. Today’s fifth verse calls them to mind: She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day… (v. 5:5) I didn’t know these women and wondered if they were widows. And whatever their situation, I often wondered where any of the men in the parish were – they were never at our morning Mass. I began to see at an early age a difference in “piety” between older men and older women. Thankfully, I don’t see that at St. Andrew’s. Frankly, I’m thrilled at the number of men in our congregation who are older than I!

I am also pleased that we at St. Andrew’s have taken care of physical and monetary needs for our pastors: Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. (v. 5:17) Carol and I have seen a number of missionary pastors whose congregations offer very little support; they have to depend on their missionary giving or work as “bi-vocational” employees in other jobs.

We’re part of a good church!

Blessings!