A Faithful Saying (1 Tim. 3:1)

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  A faithful saying

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1Thimthy 3:1

 

            Message of the verse:  In this section of the book Paul will give the qualifications of Pastors, Overseer, Elder & Bishop.  It just so happens that he is writing about the same person.  In the church that we attend this person is called the “Pastor.”  He is the leader and the one who gives the messages or the one who teaches those in the congregation.  Paul says the faithful saying is, “If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.”  The word desire comes from two words in the Greek language.  The first word means “to reach out after,” and the second word means “a strong passion.”  One speaks of what is going on in the inside and the other what is going on in the inside.  A person who would like to be a Pastor must have it going on good both on the inside of him as well as the outside of him.

            Spiritual meaning for my life:  As I look at some of the TV Pastors who have fallen, and even some of the ones who are not on TV, however are a popular Pastor, I can see why a Pastor must have it going on in both the inside and the outside of his life.  A person can fool others if he only has it going on in one of these areas.  It is important to be able to “talk the talk, and walk the walk.”  This is important for all believers, but most important for the Pastors, who are leaders and represent God to many people.

 

The Word of God was both refreshing to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I do not ever want to act or live in a hypocritical way.

 

 

Order of Creation (1 Tim. 2:13-15)

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Order of creation

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1Timothy 2:13-15

 

            Message of the verses:  Paul continues his teaching on the role of men and women in the Church by going back to creation and the order of creation.  Adam was formed first and then Eve was formed.  This verse, 13, shows that submission to the man by woman was originated before the fall and was not the cause of the fall.  In verse fourteen Paul says that Adam was not deceived, however Eve was deceived.  This is important because this shows that it was Adams responsibility to protect his wife and not allow her to be deceived by Satan.  He did not do this and thus is responsible for the fall and not Eve.  Eve was the first to sin but Adam was not doing the job that God had given to him.  In verse fifteen Paul is speaking in general terms of men and women, not of Adam and Eve in particular.  When he says that women will be saved in childbirth he is not speaking of salvation but he is speaking of a woman raising a godly child.  The woman has a closer relationship with her children because she is the one who has given birth to them and is the one who spends more time with them.  Therefore she has more opportunity to influence them for the Lord.  This does not say that the man has no responsibility just that the woman has a special relationship with her children.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Paul speaks of the mans responsibility to the woman is to love her and protect her.  If he does that then the woman will have little trouble in submitting to him.  It is also important to remember that it was God’s plan all along that the man be the spiritual leader in the home and that the woman should submit to his authority.

The Word of God brought conviction to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I look at the Trinity and can see that Jesus Christ submitted to the will of His Father in doing His job on planet earth.  They are equal to each other, however Jesus did submit to the will of His Father.  I need to do the same thing in my life and submit to the will of God the Father.  It is His will that I love my wife with Christ like love.

 

 

 

Paul Begins His Charge to Timothy (1 Tim. 6:13)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 6-29-02

 

My Worship Time                                  Focus:  Paul begins to give Timothy a Charge

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1Timothy 6:13

 

            Message of the verse:  “13 ¶ I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate.”  Paul charges Timothy, or gives him a forceful order, as the Greek indicates.  The charge is in the presence of God, the God who gives all things.  The charge is also given by the Lord Jesus Christ, the One who gave a good confession before Pontius Pilate, so Paul’s charge was a very serious thing.  The charge is in the next verse.  When Jesus told Pilate the truth of who He was He knew that this would seal His fate of dying on the cross.  However He committed Himself to God who raises the dead, (Col.2: 12.)

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  There are times when it is easier to tell a lie than to tell the truth, however when you tell the truth you commit yourself to God who will work out the details because you tell the truth.  Jesus did this and it cost Him His life, but He committed Himself to God, as I too must do.

The Word of God brought conviction and wonderful truth to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I want to live in a way that I will always tell the truth, and will never be ashamed of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

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 as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

Fight the Good Fight (1 Tim. 6:12)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 6-28-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Fight the good fight

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1Timothy 6:12

 

            Message of the verse:  “12  Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”  The Greek word that is translated “fight,” is translated “agonize” in the English.  It was used in the military and also used in athletics.  Paul was telling Timothy to agonize over the battle in which all believers are in, and that is with our foes in the spiritual darkness.  Paul then goes on to tell Timothy to take hold of the eternal life to which he was called.  Paul wanted Timothy to get a grip on the reality of the matters associated with eternal life.  He next tells Timothy the importance of being able to have a good confession about eternal life and the things that pertain to it.  Jesus Christ had a good confession of faith when He was on trial for His life.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  It is a good idea for me to follow all of the things that are in this verse, to fight the good fight to realize that I too need to have a good confession of faith to live and to tell others about.  I need to know the things that pertain to salvation. 

 

I have been instructed by the Word of God today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  To do a better job of getting my devotions done.

 

Flee and Pursue (1 Tim. 6:11)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 6-27-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Flee & pursue

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference: 1Timothy 6:11

            Message of the verse:  “But you, O Man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.”  Paul tells Timothy to separate himself from the types of sins that he just has mentioned in the previous verses, sins like the love of money, and the sin of false teachings.  Paul calls Timothy a man of God, and from what I have read this is the only time this is used in the New Testament.  It was used in the Old Testament to speak of a number of men, including Moses, Samuel, and David, so Timothy was in good company.  He also tells Timothy to pursue a number of qualities that he mentions in the remainder of this verse.  1.  Righteousness means in this case personal integrity.  2.  Godliness is speaking of practical piety.  The first refers to character, while the second refers to conduct.  3.  Faith or faithfulness and speaks of being faithful.  4.  Love is the agape love that is used of the kind of love that God has, it sacrifices for the sake of others.  5.  Patience is speaking also of the idea of endurance, sticking to it.  6.  Gentleness or meekness, which is not weakness, it is power under control.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  This is certainly a tall order of qualities that Paul has written to Timothy about, and I would no doubt love to have these qualities abound in my life each and every day.  These are fruit of the Spirit and He is the one who will develop them in my life as I pursue them by studying about them, memorizing Scripture about them, and meditate on them, and making them such a part of my life that when the time comes to use them I will do so by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

The Word of God was powerful and meaningful to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I would like to think that I can make these qualities a part of my life, but I most assuredly need to power of the Spirit in my life to do this.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Romans 5:20,21, & 1Timothy 6:6

 

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

Now godliness with contentment is great gain.  

Love of Money (1 Tim. 6:10)

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Love of money

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1Timothy 6:10

 

            Message of the verse:   “10  For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”  Paul continues in his discussion about money and false teachers and writes a verse that many people quote wrongly.  He says that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, not money is the root of all evil as many people like to quote it.  To take one’s focus off of the things of the Lord and put them on money can cause that person to go away from the things of God and put his focus on money and the things of the world.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Again I would pray like the Psalmists who ask the Lord not to keep him poor so he would not be tempted to steal, and that He would not give him to many riches so he would be tempted to rely on them instead of the Lord.

The Word of God brought instruction to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I again ask that the Lord would bring someone to me whom He wants to hear to truth of the Gospel.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Romans 5:20,21, & 1Timothy 6:6

 

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.

Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

 

Wrong Desires (1 Tim. 6:9)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 6-24-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Wrong desires

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1Timothy 6:9

 

            Message of the verse:  “9  But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.”  This continues the section that Paul started about the false teachers, and their desire to teach the Word of God for gain of money.  I believe that Paul is describing the desire to become rich as a wrong and harmful habit, such as someone becoming addicted to drugs.  The more the person gets the drugs the more it takes to satisfy the craving for the drug.  People who have a desire to become rich will never have enough to satisfy them for they will always want a little bit more to make them “happy,” but it will never make them happy.  If a person is not happy when he is not rich, then riches will not make him happy.  I believe the correct word would be joyful, and that comes from within, from God.  The strong desire to become rich can even plunge a man into hell.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I know that I do not want to fall into this trap, for this trap leads to nothing but unhappiness and dissatisfaction with both God and life.  There is a balance to life and I want to live my life as a balanced life.  The Psalmist said that he would pray that God would give him enough so that he would not have to steal, and not to give him to much so that his riches would have a bad effect on him.  This is my prayer, as everything that I have is from God and I have a desire to use the things that He has given me, or better entrusted me with for His glory.

 

The Word of God was very instructive for my soul today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I do not want the things that God has given to me to own me, but that everything that I have be used for the glory of God and for the cause of Jesus Christ.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Romans 5:20,21 & 1Timothy 6:6

 

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.

Now godliness with contentment is great gain.