Follower of the Way

Reading for Today - II Timothy 4:6-22 - I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness

2 Timothy 4:6-22 (ESV) For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. Do your best to come to me soon. For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers. The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.

Let each us live our life so that we can say we have fought the good fight and that we have kept the faith. What more would you want to be able to say about your walk in the race of life. How great is our God that he has laid up for us the crown of righteousness.

Reading for Today - II Timothy 4:1-5 - preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching

2 Timothy 4:1-5 (ESV)
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.  For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.  As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

 

We should teach the word of God whether it is in season or not.  The word of God does not change.  All men need to hear and know the word.  We need to study the word of God so that we are ready to reprove, rebuke, and exhort with complete patience and teaching.  Many don't want to hear the word of God, they would rather hear something that suits what they want to believe.  Paul warned Timothy of this when he said that the time would come when people would not endure sound teach.  We need to make sure that we are not seeking to only hear what we want to hear.  We need to make sure we are going to the word of God with an open heart seeking to learn and understand from the word.

Reading for Today - II Timothy 3:10-17 - All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work

2 Timothy 3:10-17 (ESV)
You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.  Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.  But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Paul provides several very important points for us to remember in these verses.

1)  All those who live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted

2)  The knowledge that comes from studying God's word is able to make us wise for salvation

3)  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for

    A)  Teaching

    B)  Reproof

    C)  Correction

    D)  Training in Righteousness

4)    Studying the scripture will help us to be complete and equipped for every good work. 

 

Reading for Today - II Timothy 3:1-9 - Avoid such people

2 Timothy 3:1-9 (ESV) 
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.  For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.   For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.  Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.  But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.

We need to make sure we are not like those that Paul warned Timothy about who are "lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power."  Additionally, we need to avoid those who are not lovers of God who have the appearance of godliness, but deny its power.  May we not be led astray by those who give the appearance to follow Christ, but are seeking their own.

Reading for Today - II Timothy 2:20-26 - pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace

2 Timothy 2:20-26 (ESV)  Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.  Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.   So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.  Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.  And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

May we seek to be vessels of honor by . . .

Let us pursue

1)  Righteousness

2) Faith

3) Love

4) Peace

Let us avoid

1) Youth passions

2) Foolishness

3) Ignorant controversies

4) Being quarrelsome

Let us

1)  Be Kind

2)  Able to teach

3)  Patiently enduring evil

4)  Correcting opponents with gentleness

Reading for Today - II Timothy 2:14-19 - avoid irreverent babble

2 Timothy 2:14-19 (ESV) 

Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.  Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.  But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.  But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”

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We need to be those who study the word and seek to know the truth.  When we study with others we should not seek to quarrel with words.  We need to make sure we rightly handle the truth.  We need to seek to teach the truth in love.  We need to stand firm for the truth and teach it.

We must be careful that we do not teach things that God has not taught us in his word.  Many can get caught up in topics such as angels or the afterlife and cause a quarrel over things that we do not have all the details revealed in scripture.  May we be those who speak were the Bible's speaks and are silent were the Bible is silent.

 

Reading for Today - 2 Timothy 2:1-13 - If we have died with him, we will also live with him

2 Timothy 2:1-13 (ESV)   You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.   No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.  An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.   It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.   Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.   Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!  Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.  The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful—

Thoughts from this passage:

1)  Our aim should be to serve God.

2)  Let us seek to follow the word of God

3)  Let us work hard in the Kingdom of God

4)  If we have died with Christ we will live with him

5)  If we endure, we will reign with him

6) If we deny him he will deny us

7) If we remain faithful, he remains faithful to us

Reading for Today - II Timothy 1:8-14 - for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me

2 Timothy 1:8-14 (ESV) 
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.  Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.   By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

Our hope is great.  How great our God's promises to us.  No matter what we suffer in this life, we have great hope in the life to come.  How great is God's plan and God's purpose.  May we never doubt that God desires what is best for us, God loves us, and God has prepared great and wonderful things for those who love and serve him.

May we as Paul told Timothy - "Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus."

Reading for Today - II Timothy 1:1-7 - I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day

2 Timothy 1:1-7 (ESV) 
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.  I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.   As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.  I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.  For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

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What a moving greeting from Paul to Timothy.  Grace, mercy and peace.  Could any of us hope for more in our lives!  How great is God's grace and mercy to us that He gave His son to die for us.  Can anything surpass the peace we have in Christ!  Paul remembered Timothy in his prayers night and day.  Wouldn't you have wanted to be in the prayers of Paul.  We each need the prayers of others and should remember others daily as well. 

What a great example of faith that Timothy had from his mother and grandmother.  We too should seek to be an example to our children in faith and should desire for our children to have a strong faith.  May are daily lives be an encouragement to those around us and may our example encourage and build faith in our children.

Reading for Today - I Timothy 6:3-20 godliness with contentment is great gain

1 Timothy 6:3-21 (ESV) 

If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.  But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.  But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.   But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.  But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.  Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.  I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.  O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you.

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We are just passing through this world.  In fact, we are spiritual beings having a human experience.  It is important to think about the fact that our goal is Heaven.  This world is temporary and our Heavenly home is permanent.  This thought helps us to put life into perspective. Let us:

1) Pursue righteousness

2) Pursue godliness

3) Pursue faith

4) Pursue love

5) Pursue steadfastness and gentleness

6) Not seek controversy and quarrels

7) Not be haughty

8) Not put hope on uncertain riches

9) Put hope in God

 

Reading for Today - I Timothy 5:17-6:2 - Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor

1 Timothy 5:17-6:2 (ESV) 

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.  For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”  Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.   As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.  In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality.  Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.  (No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.) The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later.  So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.   Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled.  Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.

 

Reading for Today - I Timothy 5:1-16

1 Timothy 5:1-16 (ESV)   Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity. Honor widows who are truly widows.   But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.  She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.  Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach.  But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.  Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.  But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith.  Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.  So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander.  For some have already strayed after Satan.
If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows.

 

Reading for Today - I Timothy 4:6-16 - for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way

1 Timothy 4:6-16 (ESV)

If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.   Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance.  For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things.  Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.  Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.  Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.   Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Let us never forget that studying God's word "holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come".  May we follow the words of Paul to Timothy and

1)  Set our hop on the living God

2)  Be an example in Speech

3)  Be an example in Conduct

4)  Be an example in Love

5)   Be an example in Faith

6)  Be an example in Purity

 

Reading for Today - I Timothy 4:1-5 - the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith

1 Timothy 4:1-5 (ESV)

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.  For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

 

We need to be sure we are following the word of God.  There are those in the world that will seek to teach false doctrine.  There are those who conscience is seared and they do not teach or practice the truth and seek to draw us away from God.  May we study God’s word diligently and may our hearts be open to be touched by and filled with the word.

Reading for Today - I Timothy 3:14-16 - you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God

1 Timothy 3:14-16 (ESV)
I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

 

How great is the gospel message!  Paul wrote to Timothy that he was writing so that “you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God.”  That should be our desire that we would know how we “ought to behave in the household of God.”  May we seek daily to learn from the Bible that we may know God’s word and God’s will for our lives.

Reading for Today - I Timonthy 3:1-13 - If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task

1 Timothy 3:1-13 (ESV) The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.  Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.  He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?  He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.  Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.  

 

Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain.  They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.  And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless.  Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things.  Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well.  For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

 

In the New Testament we read of elders and deacons in the congregations of the church.  In Paul’s letter to Timothy he mentions traits that those who serve in these roles should have.  Elders have great responsibility for the flock and deserve respect and honor.  Elders seek to lead the flock and must do this through both example and action.  Paul mentions, in addition to many personal traits, that elders should manage their own household well and should be well thought of by outsiders.  It is important for elders to be living a life that glorifies God and directs others toward Christ.

Deacons, are those who serve.  When a congregation looks to add deacons they should seek those who are already serving.  Deacons too, must manage their households well.

In the church the elders and deacons should not be the only ones serving.  We should all seek to serve God and others.  Throughout our lives we should be seeking to follow the example of Christ who came to serve and not to be served.  If anyone was more deserving of being served while they were on the earth it was Christ, yet Christ came to serve and to seek and to save the lost.  May we all seek to follow the example of Christ in our lives, serving others and seeking to put others ahead of ourselves.

Reading for Today - I Timothy 2:8-15

1 Timothy 2:8-15 (ESV) I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.   Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness.  I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.  For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.  Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.

Reading for today - I Timonthy 2:1-8 - This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth

1 Timothy 2:1-8 (ESV) First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.  This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.  For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.  

 

Do you pray for peace?  Do you pray for those who are in high position?  We should be those who seek to live in peace with others and who seek to live a godly life.  It should be our prayer that conditions in our country will allow us to live as Christians.  As we seek to live the peaceful Christian life our focus should be on sharing the saving message of Christ.  Our God “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth”.  That should be our desire as well.  May we seek to be light and salt in this world directing the world to Christ and living a life that glorifies God.

Reading for Today - I Timothy 1:12-20 - Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners

1 Timothy 1:12-20 (ESV) 

I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.  The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.  But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.  To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

How great is the grace of God.  How great is the power of our God.  How great is the love of our God!  How amazing that God sent his Son, Christ Jesus, into the world to save us from sin!

 

Reading for Today - I Timothy 1:1-11 - love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith

1 Timothy 1:1-11 (ESV) Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.  As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.   The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.  Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

We need to be careful not to get caught up speculative issues in the Bible.  It is neat to study angels and spirits.  There are a lot of things we don't know about life after death and many other questions we could ponder.  Paul reminded Timothy that he should charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies.  We too need to be careful.  We need to make sure we are teaching the same doctrine that Paul and Peter taught.  We need to be sure we are following the New Testament.  Paul told Timothy that the aim of his charge was "love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."  Can you think of anything more beautiful than someone who has love from a pure heart, someone who has a good conscience and someone who has a sincere faith.  Don't you want that?  I know I desire to make sure all three of those attributes are in my life and growing.  If we are rightly studying the word of God the result should be growth in those three areas.