1 Timothy 4:15-16
“Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”
1 Timothy 4:15-16 NIV
“Be diligent!" That's not a phrase you hear much about these days. We want things to come easily. Sweat in the world of pseudo-faith is frowned upon. But, Paul wanted Timothy (and us) to know that maturity in Christ requires genuine effort. Having a redemptive influence on others is hard work. While it is God's power that transforms, our effort is also required. God gives us the assurance that this effort will not only bear fruit in our own lives, but it will also lead others to salvation as well. By keeping a close watch on how you live out your walk and how you teach others, God will be faithful to bring you home to heaven, along with those who heard you. These are to be the uncomplicated priorities of our lives as well. When Paul says to “continue in them,” he means that we should not become weary of doing these good things taking heed of ourselves and doctrine. While not all of us have the influence of a preacher or teacher, all of us do need to guard our lives and what we believe closely. Live upright and morally pure lives that will honor our Lord. Be careful not to fall into moral compromise, either intentionally or through neglect. Be careful about what we accept as true. It is important to base our beliefs on the Bible itself rather than what sounds or feels good. Other sources, and people, may sound reasonable and appealing. But always compare what they have to say against the authoritative source of Scripture. Never grow weary of seeking to live a holy life that is faithfully based on God’s Word. Watch your life and doctrine. Persevere in them. In doing so, Paul says, you will save both yourself and your hearers. We often do not recognize the influence we have on other people. Others who may well be encouraged to faithfulness by what they see in us. Live a life that you would not be ashamed, or feel bad, to have someone else copy. So, let us hold to this amazing truth of love all of it. When we keep to all of God’s Word, we get to be reminded how all of those truths were written for us written for our salvation. And then, when we keep to all of God’s Word, we also get to share with others how all of it was written for their salvation too. So, to be balanced Christians it’s crucial to pay close attention not only to how we live to ourselves, but also to what we believe and teach to the doctrine. As someone has well said, Christianity is the only religion that is so concerned about believing the right thing. Rightly so. Each false doctrine we embrace will somehow, somewhere, sometime, mar our spiritual life. So it’s you and the doctrine. Pay attention to both!!!
Father thank You for this day and Your amazing grace to walk in it. Lord pour out Your abundant blessings upon my friend and family today. Lord please stir our confidence, courage, diligence, and determination so that the salvation You have blessed us with can be shared with others because of our walk and example. Lord Your Word gives us the instruction manual of how to love others. Lord we pray that You transform us to be an example to everyone around us and we pray that You make our words and actions kind, our love pure, our spirits encouraging, our faith strong, and our hearts pure. Lord use my friend to be someone’s blessing today. Daddy we love you amen. Be a blessing. Love ya !!
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