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2 Timothy 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Encouraging Words

As we approach the celebration of Pentecost, we are reminded that when Jesus ascended into heaven leaving us behind, He did not leave us alone. He sent us the Holy Spirit to dwell within the hearts of His followers. This Holy Spirit brings within us a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind, not a spirit of fear. This is our encouragement as we fight the good fight for our Lord. Glory be to God!

1 Timothy 6:20-21

O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge— by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith.

Grace be with you. Amen.

Personal Challenge

We live in an age where there is an abundance of information to be consumed. He also live in an age when so many people count on their own assumption of wisdom to review and embrace that information. Unfortunately, without a solid foundation in the truth, especially the truth carried by those who have been around for extended periods of time, error and lies begin to be embraced as the truth. I have especially seen this happening in the church. Many young people are coming into the church, having searched the internet and decided for themselves what is the “true” church. They ignore those who have been in the church for decades, who have learned from those who came before them, willing to pass that truth to the next generation that would be willing to listen and learn. The result is becoming a church filled with error, a church full of profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge. They have not only strayed from the faith… they never had it. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

1 Timothy 6:11-12

But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Command with a Promise

Let’s start with those things that we are to flee from: obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wrangling of men of corrupt minds, and destitution of the truth. The command is to flee from these things and to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. And what is the promise that we receive for doing this? The opportunity to lay hold on eternal life. Glory be to God!

1 Timothy 6:6

Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

Personal Challenge

There are many things in life that many people deem as great to pursue in order to achieve contentment in life. Wealth. Health. Prestige. A following. Knowledge. And the list goes on. All of these things are fleeting and disappear with time. However, if we can grow to a point in our spiritual journey where we have godliness in our lives and we are content in that godliness no matter what the circumstances of life are going on around us, then we will have achieved great gain in our lives. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

1 Timothy 4:12

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Personal Challenge

I have always enjoyed using Paul’s writings to Timothy to encourage the youth that I worked with. This verse, even though directed at the youth, can apply to all of us. It is our example that speaks loudest. Our words can quickly be nullified if our actions do not follow them. If we desire to be a godly example, an example that others want to follow, then we must be examples in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Love, have mercy!

1 Timothy 4:10

For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

Personal Challenge

Jesus taught, and Paul reinforces, that if we try to live our lives for Christ, following in His footsteps, and loving as He loved, then we will be hated and persecuted. That hatred and per­secution will come from the world who has rejected Christ and sometimes it will come from those who proclaim Christ but have gone off course. But no matter what, we are still called to labor for Christ and to suffer that reproach. We do this because we trust in the living God who is our Savior. We do this because He will someday say to us, “Well done, my good and faithful child.” Glory be to God!

1 Timothy 4:7-8

But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

Personal Challenge

There is so much in our modern day that can interfere with our pursuit of godli­ness. We need to reject those teachings and practices that are actually profane and old wives tales, and spend time exercising our spiritual body. Even things like pursuing physical exercise can get in our way. if it supersedes spiritual growth. Through the pursuit of godliness we will be able to do what God calls us to do as well as be better prepared to follow and obey Him. Glory be to God!

1 Timothy 2:1-4

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Personal Challenge

One action that has become so prevalent in today’s culture is the blatant disrespect for our elected leaders when they belong to a different party than those who are being disrespectful. That is an unchristian behavior. We are told throughout the scriptures to pray for those who are in authority over us, whether we like their actions or affiliations or not. We are told elsewhere by Paul, and earlier by Jesus, that we are no longer citizens of this world. Our allegiance should be to the kingdom of God. With this in mind then we should be praying for those whom He has allowed to be in positions of authority over us. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!