Daily Devotional | Pursue Living Right | 2 Timothy 2:22| Pastor Jim Cymbala

>> Hola. >> Hola. One more day in Spanish, please. I have One more day in Spanish, please. I have One more day in Spanish, please. I have my Puerto Rico and the flag. my Puerto Rico and the flag. my Puerto Rico and the flag. Viva Puerto Rico. Uh I know we talked about food Uh I know we talked about food yesterday. Let's do it again. yesterday. Let's do it again. yesterday. Let's do it again. If you ever meet a Puerto Rican family If you ever meet a Puerto Rican family If you ever meet a Puerto Rican family and there's a little mamita, and there's a little mamita, and there's a little mamita, a lady in the house a lady in the house a lady in the house who cooks old school, who cooks old school, who cooks old school, ask them for pasteles. ask them for pasteles. ask them for pasteles. Usually only made around Christmas. They come in a sometimes in a leaf. They come in a sometimes in a leaf. Puerto Rico, you get them in a leaf. But Puerto Rico, you get them in a leaf. But Puerto Rico, you get them in a leaf. But usually made wrapped in like usually made wrapped in like usually made wrapped in like a paper that you could see through. a paper that you could see through. a paper that you could see through. And tied up. A lot of work goes into it. And tied up. A lot of work goes into it. And tied up. A lot of work goes into it. You can get regular pasteles and they You can get regular pasteles and they You can get regular pasteles and they all taste different because some put all taste different because some put all taste different because some put olives, some don't put olives. olives, some don't put olives. olives, some don't put olives. Some put this thing in it. Some I've had Some put this thing in it. Some I've had Some put this thing in it. Some I've had they I didn't care for them. They were they I didn't care for them. They were they I didn't care for them. They were like this table.

Dura, hard. Dura, hard. I like them soft. I like them soft. I like them soft. And I don't like all these other things, And I don't like all these other things, And I don't like all these other things, raisins, olives, myself. raisins, olives, myself. raisins, olives, myself. And uh you know, peanut butter, a pork And uh you know, peanut butter, a pork And uh you know, peanut butter, a pork chop thrown in. chop thrown in. chop thrown in. No, no gusta. No, no gusta. No, no gusta. I like them, but I like better I like them, but I like better I like them, but I like better pasteles de yuca. pasteles de yuca. pasteles de yuca. They make them only with yuca, They make them only with yuca, They make them only with yuca, the root that comes out of the ground. I have some right now in my freezer. I have some right now in my freezer. They're frozen. They're frozen. They're frozen. There's a lady in our church makes name There's a lady in our church makes name There's a lady in our church makes name Millie. She makes the best pasteles. Millie. She makes the best pasteles. Millie. She makes the best pasteles. If you come here to the conference, If you come here to the conference, If you come here to the conference, October 2nd through 4th, I'll let you October 2nd through 4th, I'll let you October 2nd through 4th, I'll let you meet her. You can put in your order. meet her. You can put in your order. meet her. You can put in your order. Then you just freeze them and then you Then you just freeze them and then you Then you just freeze them and then you bring them out and you put them in bring them out and you put them in bring them out and you put them in boiling water for uh 40 minutes or so, boiling water for uh 40 minutes or so, boiling water for uh 40 minutes or so, 45 minutes and oh 45 minutes and oh 45 minutes and oh >> [snorts] >> [snorts] >> [snorts] >> You will say gracias pastor Simba. >> You will say gracias pastor Simba. >> You will say gracias pastor Simba. Thank you for your recommendation. Remember our conference October 2 Remember our conference October 2 through 4. Look it up. Fresh wind fresh through 4. Look it up. Fresh wind fresh through 4. Look it up. Fresh wind fresh fire. Come.

fire. Come. fire. Come. Um Um Um So, Paul tells Timothy in second notice So, Paul tells Timothy in second notice So, Paul tells Timothy in second notice what he's telling a minister. Not bad what he's telling a minister. Not bad what he's telling a minister. Not bad instruction for us. instruction for us. instruction for us. Chapter Chapter Chapter 2 verse 22. Flee the evil desires of 2 verse 22. Flee the evil desires of 2 verse 22. Flee the evil desires of youth. I know Timothy's a minister. Why do you I know Timothy's a minister. Why do you have to tell him to flee the evil have to tell him to flee the evil have to tell him to flee the evil desires of youth? desires of youth? desires of youth? Because he needs to flee. We all need to Because he needs to flee. We all need to Because he needs to flee. We all need to flee the evil desires, the lusts flee the evil desires, the lusts flee the evil desires, the lusts that are most that are most that are most come upon us on when we're young, but come upon us on when we're young, but come upon us on when we're young, but they can hang around for a long time. Mischief Mischief immorality immorality immorality and other [snorts] youthful desires. and other [snorts] youthful desires. and other [snorts] youthful desires. Flee them. Flee them. Flee them. Notice, but when you're running away, Notice, but when you're running away, Notice, but when you're running away, flee means get out of town. flee means get out of town. flee means get out of town. When you're fleeing, the only way to When you're fleeing, the only way to When you're fleeing, the only way to properly flee is to pursue something properly flee is to pursue something properly flee is to pursue something else. If you're just always fleeing, else. If you're just always fleeing, else. If you're just always fleeing, it'll come back to bite you. They're it'll come back to bite you. They're it'll come back to bite you. They're very strong these desires.

very strong these desires. very strong these desires. But notice what he says. Flee the evil But notice what he says. Flee the evil But notice what he says. Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue what? desires of youth and pursue what? desires of youth and pursue what? Righteousness, faith, love, and peace. Pursue that. What's righteousness? Pursue that. What's righteousness? Right living, right practices. Right living, right practices. Right living, right practices. Now, we're saved by God's righteousness Now, we're saved by God's righteousness Now, we're saved by God's righteousness imparted to us imparted to us imparted to us imputed to us imputed to us imputed to us through faith in Jesus Christ. through faith in Jesus Christ. through faith in Jesus Christ. But pursue living right. But pursue living right. But pursue living right. What kind of witness will we be if What kind of witness will we be if What kind of witness will we be if living wrong? We curse people out when living wrong? We curse people out when living wrong? We curse people out when we get frustrated. We we cut a corner we get frustrated. We we cut a corner we get frustrated. We we cut a corner and steal money and we gossip and and steal money and we gossip and and steal money and we gossip and slander and we're racist. That's not slander and we're racist. That's not slander and we're racist. That's not righteous. That's unrighteous. So pursue righteous. That's unrighteous. So pursue righteous. That's unrighteous. So pursue righteousness. In other words, live and righteousness. In other words, live and righteousness. In other words, live and be who you are. You're a Christian. be who you are. You're a Christian. be who you are. You're a Christian. You've been set apart. Christ is your You've been set apart. Christ is your You've been set apart. Christ is your righteousness, etc. righteousness, etc. righteousness, etc. Now, be who you are. Live it out. Now, be who you are. Live it out. Now, be who you are. Live it out. Don't be a name a Christian and be doing Don't be a name a Christian and be doing Don't be a name a Christian and be doing all kinds of bad things. But not only all kinds of bad things. But not only all kinds of bad things. But not only pursue righteousness, but pursue faith, pursue righteousness, but pursue faith, pursue righteousness, but pursue faith, love, and peace.

Pursue to deepen your faith. Pursue to deepen your faith. Trust God deep in a deeper way. Come on, Trust God deep in a deeper way. Come on, Trust God deep in a deeper way. Come on, you can do that. Listen to me. you can do that. Listen to me. you can do that. Listen to me. I know you have faith in God. I know I know you have faith in God. I know I know you have faith in God. I know you're walking with the Lord, but don't you're walking with the Lord, but don't you're walking with the Lord, but don't you know you can grow in faith? you know you can grow in faith? you know you can grow in faith? Look at it one way, your faith can get Look at it one way, your faith can get Look at it one way, your faith can get higher, stronger, or it can go deeper. higher, stronger, or it can go deeper. higher, stronger, or it can go deeper. Same thing with love. is something that you need to deepen. is something that you need to deepen. Love for all people, love for believers. Love for all people, love for believers. Love for all people, love for believers. And And And that love can grow also like faith. You that love can grow also like faith. You that love can grow also like faith. You know, the way they measure churches back know, the way they measure churches back know, the way they measure churches back there, what they were famous for was not there, what they were famous for was not there, what they were famous for was not their building their building their building or like look at the decor on this or like look at the decor on this or like look at the decor on this building. Yo, that this is something. building. Yo, that this is something. building. Yo, that this is something. It was the congregation that's the It was the congregation that's the It was the congregation that's the church, not the building. church, not the building. church, not the building. I just recently showed some visitors I just recently showed some visitors I just recently showed some visitors from Argentina from Argentina from Argentina want to see our building, uh which was a want to see our building, uh which was a want to see our building, uh which was a theater built in 1917.

theater built in 1917. theater built in 1917. So, but this building's going to burn So, but this building's going to burn So, but this building's going to burn up. I thank God for it. It's pretty. up. I thank God for it. It's pretty. up. I thank God for it. It's pretty. Seats people best. It's well located. Seats people best. It's well located. Seats people best. It's well located. But if you But if you But if you think this building's going to go into think this building's going to go into think this building's going to go into eternity, no, no. eternity, no, no. eternity, no, no. But your faith and your love, But your faith and your love, But your faith and your love, those those those are the attributes that make a church are the attributes that make a church are the attributes that make a church stand out. stand out. stand out. Not a building. Not got how good the Not a building. Not got how good the Not a building. Not got how good the choir sings. Get among the people and choir sings. Get among the people and choir sings. Get among the people and you'll find out how good the pastor is. you'll find out how good the pastor is. you'll find out how good the pastor is. Because the congregation is his work in Because the congregation is his work in Because the congregation is his work in the Lord. And the Lord. And the Lord. And be around the people. Do they love? Do be around the people. Do they love? Do be around the people. Do they love? Do they love God? Do are they full of they love God? Do are they full of they love God? Do are they full of faith? faith? faith? Are they complaining and negative or are Are they complaining and negative or are Are they complaining and negative or are they filled with joyful praise? they filled with joyful praise? they filled with joyful praise? And lastly, not only pursue And lastly, not only pursue And lastly, not only pursue righteousness, faith, and love, pursue righteousness, faith, and love, pursue righteousness, faith, and love, pursue peace. peace. peace. And that speaks not mostly of peace in And that speaks not mostly of peace in And that speaks not mostly of peace in our hearts, but peace with others. Mhm, whatever. Great idea.

Mhm, whatever. Great idea. We can ask God to help us have peace We can ask God to help us have peace We can ask God to help us have peace with people that we might not be having with people that we might not be having with people that we might not be having peace with. peace with. peace with. Remember the time I told you I was Remember the time I told you I was Remember the time I told you I was struggling but struggling but struggling but 30 years ago, 30 years ago, 30 years ago, 25 years ago. Saturday sermon. I was living in Queens Saturday sermon. I was living in Queens then. then. then. I I couldn't get my thought together. I I I couldn't get my thought together. I I I couldn't get my thought together. I could There was something missing. could There was something missing. could There was something missing. I was praying all by myself in my study I was praying all by myself in my study I was praying all by myself in my study and and and the Lord brought to mind I felt the Lord the Lord brought to mind I felt the Lord the Lord brought to mind I felt the Lord bring to mind three people bring to mind three people bring to mind three people who there was a wall between us. who there was a wall between us. who there was a wall between us. Not We weren't mean to each other, but Not We weren't mean to each other, but Not We weren't mean to each other, but you can tell. you can tell. you can tell. And I felt impressed, call them and And I felt impressed, call them and And I felt impressed, call them and apologize. But Lord, I'm not the one who apologize. But Lord, I'm not the one who apologize. But Lord, I'm not the one who did anything wrong. They were the ones. did anything wrong. They were the ones. did anything wrong. They were the ones. If anybody was wrong, they Call them and If anybody was wrong, they Call them and If anybody was wrong, they Call them and apologize. apologize. apologize. Make peace. It was hard.

It was hard. The first one I was almost I The first one I was almost I The first one I was almost I I hope they don't pick up. Oh. Oh. They were home, all three. They were home, all three. They were home, all three. And I apologized. And I apologized. And I apologized. No, no, you never did anything wrong No, no, you never did anything wrong No, no, you never did anything wrong with me. No, in case I did, with me. No, in case I did, with me. No, in case I did, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm rooting for you, root for me. Boy, was a weight lifted off of me. I Boy, was a weight lifted off of me. I got one of the better sermons, I think got one of the better sermons, I think got one of the better sermons, I think the Lord ever gave me, because it was the Lord ever gave me, because it was the Lord ever gave me, because it was preached out of a broken heart of preached out of a broken heart of preached out of a broken heart of I was pursuing peace. Come on, let's do I was pursuing peace. Come on, let's do I was pursuing peace. Come on, let's do it today. That's not a big thing. it today. That's not a big thing. it today. That's not a big thing. Whoa, you need to say that to your wife Whoa, you need to say that to your wife Whoa, you need to say that to your wife or husband? Yeah, say it, because those or husband? Yeah, say it, because those or husband? Yeah, say it, because those walls can come up between them, walls can come up between them, walls can come up between them, a husband and a wife. a husband and a wife. a husband and a wife. Let's do it Let's do it Let's do it for the prince [music] of peace. for the prince [music] of peace. for the prince [music] of peace. Amen. See you next time.