Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Good Morning!

Unit 26, Going on to Perfection

Focus Scripture for the Week:

1 Timothy 6:11-12

But as for you . . . pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called.

Today's Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 4:7-18

Today's Discussion:

-- today's scripture is about keeping the faith in spite of hardships, giving us encouragement and instruction on how to handle difficult times and circumstances.

-- in the context of going on to perfection, this scripture is a reminder that not everything in our life from here to the end is not always going to be easy -- there are going to be some rough patches. This passage from Paul is a reminder that all of that hardship -- whether it be spiritual or physical or whatever -- is only temporary, and that we have something waiting for us that far outweighs and outshines those hardships.

-- part of our "going on" is that we not give up, that we not quit, or that we should not weaken in our faith. The ability to be strong in our faith, and in our attention to living out our faith, even with things are going poorly is a sign of how much we believe in what is to come for us. In the Wesleyan sections of the study this week, he talks about going on to perfection as simply doing better every day in loving God and loving others. The ability to continue to love God and others as things become difficult for us personally is what Paul is encouraging.

Today's prayer request: Our bosses

We need to remember those who are bosses, and others in authority at our places of work. In particular, we need to pray for all of the decisions that they have to make, that they be sound ethically and considerate of those who work for them.

Today's class member prayer:

April Walker

Have a great day.

Jay