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Presta atención...  Pay attention...

4/24/2017

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“Recuérdales esto...” (2Tim 2:14)

A veces, se me dificulta entender los escritos del Apóstol Pablo. Por ejemplo, 2 Tim 2:14-26 es una porción en que cada versículo se entiende mientras su totalidad parece no tan organizada y un tanto desconcertante.

Palabras claves para toda la carta se encuentran en ella (2:15): el reto a ser obrero aprobado por Dios, que use Su Palabra apropiadamente... luego nobles exhortaciones de que seamos instrumentos de honra y que huyamos de las pasiones juveniles.

Pero su altisonancia no se sube a un pedestal solito para ser admirado. A penas comienza a hablar cuando por default (y más de una vez) regresa a lo que más le pesa: contiendas sin provecho, profanas y vanas palabrerías, palabras que son como gangrena, cuestiones necias e insensatas. Como que, decide de qué quieres hablar, ¿no?

Claro que por fin entendí el punto. El ministerio se trata de tu habilidad para pensar grandes pensamientos y anclarlos en el Salvador, recordando en todo momento que tienes que vivir tu vida aquí abajo en el lodo, diferenciando palabras provechosas de las vanas, las bien intencionadas de las peligrosas y la verdad del error. Y… nunca se vale que con espíritu contencioso.

Una lección para cualquier sábado: prepárate para prestar mucha atención al mensaje dominical. Las cargas de Pablo sangraban a través de sus exhortaciones. Sus escritos fueron inspirados por el Espíritu Santo. Lo mismo no se puede decir al mismo grado del sermón de tu pastor. Sus cargas sangrarán igual a través de sus exhortaciones, aunque a veces imperfectamente.

Sin embargo, tal vez aun eso te sea útil.

“Os rogamos, hermanos, que reconozcáis a los que trabajan entre vosotros, y os presiden en el Señor, y os amonestan; y que los tengáis en mucha estima y amor por causa de su obra. Tened paz entre vosotros.” (1Tes 5:12-13)

“Remind them of these things” (2Tim 2:14)

At times, I find the Apostle Paul's writings hard to sort out. For example, 2 Tim 2:14-26 is a section where each verse is understandable, but the whole seems not so well organized and a little disconcerting.

Key words for the entire letter are found in it (2:15): the charge to be a worker approved of God, seeking to use His Word appropriately... then come noble exhortations about being vessels of honor and fleeing youthful lusts.

But his grandiloquence does not sit on a pedestal by itself to be admired. He barely gets it going before he defaults (and more than once) to what seems heavier on his mind: striving about words to no profit, profane and vain babbling, words that are like gangrene, foolish and unlearned questions that turn contentious. It's like, make up your mind what you want to talk about, right?

Of course, I finally got the point. Ministry is about your ability to think high thoughts and anchor them in the Savior, all the while remembering that you have to live your life back down in the mud, sorting out the profitable words from the vain, the well-intended from the dangerous… and truth from error. Oh, and a contentious spirit never gets a free pass.

A lesson for any given Saturday: prepare to pay close attention to the Sunday morning message. Paul's burdens bled through his exhortations. His writings were inspired by the Holy Spirit. The same cannot be said to the same degree about your pastor's sermon. His burdens will bleed through his exhortations, albeit sometimes imperfectly.

Nevertheless, even that might be useful to you.

"We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves."  1 Thes 5:12-13

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    Greg Smith

    Greg grew up in Menomonee Falls, WI. His ministry began in 1976: 5 years in Central America, 36 in Mexico. His passion is church planting and discipleship.
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    Greg enjoys being married to Carol Ahola-Smith. Both have been missionaries (Japan and Mexico); both watched their first spouses precede them in death.
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    Together, they have a heart for writing, mentoring and teaching.  They enjoy long walks and good coffee.

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