Bible Pathway - Dec. 9, 2011
Read 1 Timothy 1
Highlights:
Truth. All Christians need to take this seriously (I Tim. 1:8-10). There is One God, and One Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus (2:5). We are the Church of the Living God (3:15). You can't go wrong when you keep this Commandment without spot (6:14).
As the athlete disciplines his body to develop better physical endurance and alertness, the believer is urged to discipline himself daily with a definite time set aside to be alone with God to pray and read His Word. In our daily study of and meditation on the Scriptures, we need to allow the Holy Spirit to conform our lives to the instructions of the Word of God.
In my brief lifetime of about 90 years, many believers have drifted away from the godly principles of the Bible. In this day of materialism it is not even popular to remind believers to follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord (Heb. 12:14), and that bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come (I Tim. 4:8).
Paul writes: Godliness with contentment is great gain (6:6). Godliness means much more than obeying a series of laws and regulations. It begins when we commit our lives to Jesus and He imparts His nature to us. Then, as we desire the sincere milk of the Word (I Pet. 2:2), we grow in godliness and are drawn away from the world and into a personal fellowship with Him. We choose to either discipline ourselves to submit to His will or to remain spiritually powerless and vulnerable to Satan's deceptions. Bible reading and meditation on it provide spiritual food. They are as important to our spiritual life as eating meals is to our physical well-being.
Our lives will follow either the Holy Spirit or self and the standards of the world. We cannot walk on two paths. There is just one true safeguard against deception — it is getting to know all the Word of God. Paul also encouraged Timothy to be a good minister (servant) of Jesus Christ (I Tim. 4:6), to remain loyal to Christ and His authoritative Word (6:3-4), and to fight the good fight of faith (6:12). God had entrusted the Gospel to Paul (1:11), and Paul was faithful to pass it along to Timothy (1:18-19; 6:20), as well as to the children of God in this day.
Ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ (I Pet. 1:6-7).
Thought for Today:
That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made comformable unto His death (Phil. 3:10).
Cross Reference:
For I Tim. 5:18: See Deut. 25:4.
Word Studies:
1:5 unfeigned, genuine; without hypocrisy; 1:10 menstealers, kidnappers, people who enslave (control) others for their own evil purposes; 2:9 shamefacedness, modest behavior, reverence; 2:12 usurp authority, be domineering; 3:2 husband of one wife, married only once until parted by death; vigilant, disciplined, self-controlled: 3:8 greedy of filthy lucre, craving wealth; 3:13 purchase to themselves a good degree, gain a good reputation; 5:11 wax wanton against Christ, allow their passions to draw them away from Christ; 6:4 questions and strifes of words, controversial, contentious speculations, attacking the authority and reliability of Scripture.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for Staff: Clarence Rathbone • Government Officials: Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) and Rep. Pete Olson (TX) • Country: Iran (66.2 million) in southwestern Asia • Major languages: Farsi and Turki • Hostile to all Christian activity • 87% Shi'a; 12% Sunni; .5% Baha'i; .4% Christian; .03% Jewish; .04% Parsi (Zoroastrian); .03% Other • Prayer Suggestion: Fast, sanctify yourself, and unite in prayer with others as you cry unto the Lord (Joel 1:14).
Memory Verse for the Week: 1 Corinthians 13:1
