Discipline & Restoration (1 Tim. 5:20)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 6-09-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Discipline & Restoration

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1Timothy 5:20

 

            Message of the verse:   “20  Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning.”  Paul is continuing to explain the process of discipline in the church as outlined in Matthew 18:15-20.  I need to mention that the purpose of discipline is to have the person repent.  In Galatians 6:1 Paul is also writing about the process of discipline and he says in that verse that the offender is to be restored in the spirit of gentleness.  The word restore means to set a broken bone.  “1) to render, i.e. to fit, sound, complete

1a) to mend (what has been broken or rent), to repair.”  Getting back to the process of discipline that is written about here Paul goes on to say that the person is to be rebuked in the presence of all in order to bring about fear in those other elders.  That is what the “others” refers to in this verse, elders.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I believe that this verse teaches the seriousness of sin and sin is a serious matter when it is present in the life of a believer, especially a pastor or deacon.  This verse also teaches that the process of discipline is to restore the offender in gentleness and that others should be fearful about the results of sin in ones life.

The Word of God brought teaching into my life today.

My Steps of Faith Today:  I do need to continue to trust the Lord when it comes to the subject of moving of doing something to this house.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Romans 5:20,21

Moreover the law entered that the offence might abound.  But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.