1 Timothy 4:1-5
Today's Passage: 1 Timothy 4:1-5
Yesterday’s chapter is a high watermark for church leadership. It ended with verse 16, “Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.” This statement, which may likely be a saying the early church taught and repeated, proclaims the “mystery of godliness” attained only through the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Although Paul just declared to Timothy what he should be looking for and training towards, this isn’t yet the church he currently pastors. He faced many challenges—as Paul indicated with the contrasting conjunction translated “But” or “Now.” This is a pretty hard gear shift from all Christ has done.
After stating the positive affirmation, reminding Timothy of his challenge in Ephesus, Paul again, issues a warning. Verse 4 and 5 affirm, “Everything created by God is good… for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.” However, in this passage Paul warns Timothy of the Spirit’s warning that some will fall away, some will deceive and be deceived through spiritual warfare, some will lie, and some will pervert the truth. The battle is fought through the word of God and prayer.
Every generation of believers have waged war on the issues this passage cites. However, the church is the “pillar and support of truth” (3:15), which is upheld by two things in any generation—God’s Word, and through prayer.
How are you doing with this? Is your time in the Word a habit? Is it a joy? How about your prayer life? Are you abiding with the Lord or checking in at meals or bedtime? As I recently read again in a classic resource, if we have a problem getting in the Word or praying, we don’t have a discipline problem, we have a love problem.
It’s hard to say we love the Lord if we never talk to Him or want to hear from Him. That’s convicting for me too. We’re not pursuing right behavior, we’re pursuing a loving relationship that’s facilitated and often reflected in our habits and disciplines. So, how are you doing?
To be clear, none of us are perfect—we’re all in process. If you want help in growing, CPC has a lot of tools and resources to help. Consider taking a look at the CPC App in the Next Steps section and selecting the next step for you. We’d love to help however we can.
Written By: Tyler Short
Yesterday’s chapter is a high watermark for church leadership. It ended with verse 16, “Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.” This statement, which may likely be a saying the early church taught and repeated, proclaims the “mystery of godliness” attained only through the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Although Paul just declared to Timothy what he should be looking for and training towards, this isn’t yet the church he currently pastors. He faced many challenges—as Paul indicated with the contrasting conjunction translated “But” or “Now.” This is a pretty hard gear shift from all Christ has done.
After stating the positive affirmation, reminding Timothy of his challenge in Ephesus, Paul again, issues a warning. Verse 4 and 5 affirm, “Everything created by God is good… for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.” However, in this passage Paul warns Timothy of the Spirit’s warning that some will fall away, some will deceive and be deceived through spiritual warfare, some will lie, and some will pervert the truth. The battle is fought through the word of God and prayer.
Every generation of believers have waged war on the issues this passage cites. However, the church is the “pillar and support of truth” (3:15), which is upheld by two things in any generation—God’s Word, and through prayer.
How are you doing with this? Is your time in the Word a habit? Is it a joy? How about your prayer life? Are you abiding with the Lord or checking in at meals or bedtime? As I recently read again in a classic resource, if we have a problem getting in the Word or praying, we don’t have a discipline problem, we have a love problem.
It’s hard to say we love the Lord if we never talk to Him or want to hear from Him. That’s convicting for me too. We’re not pursuing right behavior, we’re pursuing a loving relationship that’s facilitated and often reflected in our habits and disciplines. So, how are you doing?
To be clear, none of us are perfect—we’re all in process. If you want help in growing, CPC has a lot of tools and resources to help. Consider taking a look at the CPC App in the Next Steps section and selecting the next step for you. We’d love to help however we can.
Written By: Tyler Short
No Comments