Last Wednesday we examined another chapter of the excellent study: The Principle of Our Confidence, by brother David Pharr. (With his permission we translated it into Portuguese.) The chapter deals with the topic “Women and Men.” This is a vital subject today, considering all the confusion and lies that exist in society. We will conclude the chapter next Wednesday, as we cover several related points.
One of the points made was the need for strong families in order for the congregation to be strong. For example, faithful couples and families are necessary for the appointment of overseers and deacons. There is also a great need for spiritual couples and families who open their homes for the sake of the Gospel.
At the beginning of the class on Wednesday, I emphasized the simplicity of God’s plan for women and men. It is so simple that it’s almost embarrassing to explain what the Lord wants from us in this area. But it needs to be said, because there is, first of all, a lack of knowledge (people, including many saints, do not read the Bible) and also a lack of willingness to give up one’s own will in order to do God’s will.
On this last point, it seems the problem is a lack of conversion to the Word of the Lord. People are forming their own convenient religion, disregarding the teachings of Christ.
¶ Don’t we love to give advice? Seldom, however, is it welcome. Maybe it’s just better to teach the Gospel and let everybody have their own life experiences, be they hard or easy. The Lord can teach us even in the mistakes and errors of this life. The important thing is to make it into Heaven. Everything else pales in comparison.
¶ In 1 Timothy 6.11, Paul reminds Timothy of some qualities necessary for his work. One is steadfastness or endurance, as some versions translate it. Several Portuguese version translate it as “constancy”; I like that.) One author described it as “the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings” (Outline of Biblical Usage, BLB). That’s exactly it! An essential quality for every worker in the Lord Jesus.
¶ A personal note: The last three weeks have been spent dealing with a family physical issue. It will continue for some weeks still. Please pray for the “woman and man” that we may patiently wait on the Lord and hope for complete restoration.
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