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 have been blessed with a Church that has carried forth the teachings of Christ from the very beginning. He promised us that even the gates at hell would not prevail against His bride, the Church. We have 2,000 years of teachings and traditions that we can hold on to and learn from. However, even with all of this to guide us along, we must heed Paul’s warning to Timothy to avoid the babblings and false teachings of those who choose to teach heretical things. 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.

Personal Challenge

Paul is telling Timothy to fight the fight and to hold on, informing him, and us, that our Christian journey is one comprised of work and struggles. Jesus also warned us that if we choose to follow Him then we are also to choose the path that He walked, a path of grief and ultimately death. This is what He meant when He told us to take up our cross and follow Him, daily. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

1 Timothy 6:6

Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

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

Even though Paul starts this verse off encouraging Timothy because he is a young leader in his church, he still packs it full of truth for all of us on our journey through life to be like Christ. No matter what role we have in our church, or outside of it for that matter, no matter what our age, we are called to be examples. First of all, we are called to be examples to our fellow believers in what we say and how we say it. We are to be examples in our behaviors, our conduct. And we are to do everything in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity. If we can do this toward our fellow believer then this example will spill over to the non-believers in our lives and point them to Christ. Glory be to God!

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.

Encouraging Words

Why do we labor for our Lord? Why do we suffer reproach from those around us for professing to be His children? Because we trust in Him. We have faith that He is the savior of all mankind, both those who are scoffing Him and reproaching us, but especially those who put their trust in 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

1 Timothy 1:5

Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,

Personal Challenge

All Christians know that Jesus gave us two commandments to follow as we live our lives for Him. We are to love God and love our neighbor. Paul reminds Timothy, and us, that this love must come from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. The love that we are commanded to give is not superficial or shallow. It is to come from the depths of our very being. This is the personal challenge. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!