Godly and Dignified ...

Tuesday, Oktober 16, 2017. How to live? What is our goal? What is driving us? Let us look at the raw model which we find in the New Testament. Too often, we take our ideas from somewhere, from the culture around us. We hear about victories, about champions, about riches and fame. And all this shapes our mind and our heart. But there are better ways. We are not bound to the illusions which surround us day by day!

Jesus and Paul's Mission …

The apostle Paul writes about Jesus, about the purpose of his life and death. It is an invitation to a life which comes down to earth. Living in faith means to be fully human. Let us read from 1 Timothy 2:

1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. (from 1 Tim 2)

Paul talks about a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. Godly points to a life which learns from the character of God, the character of Jesus. It is dignified in every way, since God is giving each human a deep dignity, all of what we are!

Knowledge of the Truth for All …

God wants all to know the truth. He wants all to believe. It might not come that way, since humans are free - God does not want puppets, but free men and women. Love without freedom does not exist. Choice needs freedom. Faith needs freedom! So we can choose - within the framework which God has given to us.

There is one God, and one mediator between God and men. Jesus is the door. He is the way. He is the life. This truth has been preached by Jesus himself. It has been discovered by the early disciples, and then by disciples throughout the whole history of mankind. Basically everyone can see that Jesus is special. His teachings are not the usual stuff. But not everyone starts to change his life. Not everyone starts to believe in him.

You need to believe to discover the truth. Faith and insight are linked. It cannot be separated. Humans need the holy spirit to discover God, his presence, his goals and his actions yesterday, today and tomorrow. That is since God has decided it should be like this. We need mercy in our heart! Without faith, you live in a lost world, one which does not know God, and one which does not know his presence. But when you start to trust Jesus, you will discover the deep truth and fantastic content of his message. He calls us: come! And it is still a call made for today as well, for me and for you! (Roland Potthast) ... further texts