Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
When we were young, many of us got onto the school bus, and were shipped off to elementary school in order to learn the basics of education. After putting our stuff away in our lockers, we would sit down in class and listen to the teacher as they instructed us. But sometimes when we are kids, our minds tend to wander off, and all of a sudden the the instructor would start rapping a ruler on their desk and tell the class to pay attention!
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
There have been many people I’ve known who never graduated from high school. Even I have even forgotten all kinds of things that I learned in school and at college. But although we forget or even dismiss earthly knowledge, you must always pay attention to the teachings and doctrines of our faith. You might have failed many courses in the past, but you certainly don’t want to fail this one! This is because the things that we learn from God’s Holy Word can lead to our own salvation, and eventually into eternal life.
1 Timothy 4:16 (KJB) Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
To take heed means to pay attention! How many times have you been learning how to drive a car, and your dad was sitting in the passenger seat and told you to pay attention to the road! The Apostles did the same type of thing in the church. Scripture gives us Divine instruction and correction in order to keep us on the narrow path of Christ Jesus. If you are not going to pay attention to Spiritual teachings, then you could very well drive off the road and right into the ditch.
Matthew 7:13-14 (KJB) Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Sometimes a wife can be cooking some food at home but then becomes distracted by other things. Before you know it, everything’s starting to burn on the stove, and then her husband tells her to pay attention! Paying attention means that you are thinking about something carefully and with interest. Other dictionaries teach that it is to be focused on noticing details and understanding instructions. Scriptural teachings are the most important things that you could ever understand, because they are matters concerning what you need to do to obtain eternal life.
At a very young age I can remember an adult telling me that each of us will die someday, and went into my room that afternoon and cried for the rest of the day on my bed. Even then, I wanted to live forever. I eventually found out 25 years later that we CAN live forever, through faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to the gospel. I care deeply about wanting to be in heaven, but there are certain things that we have to do from the scriptures in order to get there. A teacher will tell you to pay attention in school so that you can pass their course, and in order to pass into eternal life, we must pay attention to Scriptural teachings. After all, if you are not going to closely follow God’s doctrinal roadmap, then you are going to believe all the lies of this world, and get lost on the way.
2 Timothy 3:14-17 (KJB) But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
As the Apostle taught Timothy, we must continue to abide in biblical doctrine, because when we do so, we are going to be able to recognize the many forms of false Christianity, and heretical teachings in this world. The best weapon against all the lies in this world is a liberal dose of God’s Truth! As a soldier of God, one must always be faithful to their duties because many new recruits are going to fall to the left and to the right, by joining up with others who completely renounce biblical teachings.
2 Timothy 4:1-4 (KJB) I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
We must never allow ourselves to become corrupted by all of the false doctrine that is floating around in the world today, but must continually pursue the wisdom of God and the Truth in Christ Jesus. Rather than being children in our faith we must be filled with Spiritual knowledge so we can grow strong and mature and reject all of the works of the devil.
Ephesians 4:14 (KJB) That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Paul also warned Timothy to pay attention to the way that he lived his personal life. Whether people claim to be a Christian or not, God is going to reward everybody according to their deeds. If they are seriously not going to repent, then they shall reap the same reward of the rest of the impenitent
Matthew 7:21-23 (KJB) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Looking back, a lot of the classes that I took in the past really didn’t matter very much to me, and many of the things that I have learned later on in life have eventually turned out to be completely irrelevant anyway. But I do want to live forever, and it’s going to require great effort to get there. Each of us must strive to enter into the straight gate, which will require a good understanding of the teachings of our faith. We must humbly receive instruction, as we grow in the will of God, and most importantly, don’t ever forget, to keep……
……Paying Attention
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.
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