Timotheose - A son in the Faith

Over the last couple of days the Lord has been teaching me a few things about my life, my ways and my heart. Some of it is good, some is hard to hear.

This morning's devotion got me thinking a lot about Family. I am re-connecting with some of my family having not maintained contact as well as I believe God would from me. In the Proverb it says that a 'brother' is born for adversity, and I ask myself who are my brothers?

I have always had a tough time staying 'connected' with my friends and/or family. This has been at least partially due to having an unhealthy amount of pride and shame, which, when I screwed up or made mistakes conspired to keep me from facing them again.

I am happy to say that today, due to my Rebirth as a Child of the Most High this aspect of 'the old man' are dieing, and yet there has been much harm done as a result of these sins and much work needs to be done to amend the past.

I am also forced to realize that today my family is primarily my Christian community. My brothers are those that I have come to know and love by the Spirit and in the Spirit like Caley S., Richard H., Dave M., Robert S., and so many others.

This reminds me of the Lord's insistence on pre-eminence in the lives of his disciples. HE must come first in all of my loyalties and affections. I would gladly follow till the end and yet I know how desperately I need His grace and power to do so.

I pray often that I never forget that the Lord does not "delight in sacrifice" or "take pleasure in burnt offerings" alone but that "the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart" as David so wisely states in the 50th Psalm.

Thank you Father for your never-ending mercy and goodness to us all.

In Christ,
Tim