Day 298

Jeremiah 51:15-64, 2 Timothy 4:1-22, Psalms 119:97-104

There are people who I have admired all my life in the church, ministers of the churches that I have attended, people high up in the church, Christian speakers, leaders and teachers. Some of these people have really shaped my journey of faith, they have also shaped the person who I am.

Yet, no-one is perfect, only Christ is perfect. I know that all of the people I have alluded to above are just people and so they are not perfect either. We sometimes feel that the people in the Bible are next to perfect and yet they were not, they were people as well. Paul and the other apostles were certainly not perfect and in this part of Timothy we see the message of Paul in what he says but more importantly in his actions, for they are not ideal.

Over the last couple of days Paul has spoken of the people who have hurt him and spoken against him. Paul is actually quite vocal in what he says and there doesn’t appear to be much forgiveness in his words. Although he needs to inform Timothy of what is happening he certainly could be more forgiving in the way he does it. He himself speaks a lot of the forgiveness that he has received.

Sometimes the lessons that we learn are not necessarily the ones that we expect to learn, sometimes we have to look beyond the words at what lies behind the words. And sometimes we learn lessons that go straight to the heart. I know for sure that I am not perfect either, and forgiveness, like Paul, is something that I need to work on.

Over the next few days, look beyond the words at what God might be saying. And in the mean time, is there anyone that you might need to forgive.