Scripture: 1 Timothy 4.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

1 Timothy 4:7-13 (NLT)
⁷ Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly.
⁸ “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”
¹² … Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.
¹³ Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

Athletes train themselves to be in the best shape possible in order to be better at their sport. Teachers and other workers are constantly in one seminar or training session in order to improve their job performance. As Christians we are frequently in one church service or another and possibly one Bible study or another in order to improve our knowledge of the Bible and to be attentive to what God is saying to us through His Word. However, I have never considered this to be a method of training myself to be godly, but yet this is what Paul was encouraging Timothy to do. I believe that in verses 12 and 13 Paul goes on to explain how Timothy might accomplish this task, and I believe that it will be helpful to us also. Paul said that we should be an example to all believers in:

1. What we say – While it would be admirable to always quote scripture to one another and speak of the goodness of God, too often we find ourselves bringing down another brother or sister, or as relayed in verse 7, we spend way too much time arguing over godless ideas. Wouldn’t it do a world of good for a non-Christian to walk up on us discussing something godly or at least bragging about the wonderful things that God blesses us with daily?
   
2. The way we live – show other Christians where our priorities are. This might range from our ungodly habits to our good habits of Bible study, church attendance, giving of self and monetarily. Other Christians are looking for a good role model, while non-Christians are often blinded by the hypocrisy they see in those who call themselves ‘Christians’.
   
3. Our love – Do we show the love of Christ in our actions? If we are to be imitators of Christ, then we must practice loving others just like He did.
   
4. Faith – Jesus said that if we only had the faith of a mustard seed …… Our faith will be revealed through our actions and response to situations – many of which we have prayed about anyway. Other Christians will learn to grow in their faith as they experience our faith in action.
   
5. Purity – How’s your motives? Can others take us at face value, or are we acting and talking one way in their presence and a totally different way when we are seen during the week at work, in the community or even casually at the store? Let it be said of me that what you see is what you always get – no matter where I might be. I’m not perfect, but to imitate the only perfect One, I must be pure and transparent in all that I do.
   

In verse 13 Paul goes on to tell us how to focus ourselves so that we might better accomplish the above. Read the scriptures, encourage the believers and teach them. As Christians we must realize and practice these things not just on Sunday, but every day of our lives. Read, encourage and teach – are each of these practices a part of your daily life?

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father God, these are some tall orders You have given to us in this scripture, but when I consider all that You have done, and still doing for me, I realize that my life should be rich in each of these qualities. Please help me to reflect You in each of the above areas so that fellow believers might be encouraged and actually grow in their faith as a result of them hanging out with me. When this is accomplished, I believe that non-believers will also be impacted with what they see in me and want to know the Savior that makes this all possible. May I always follow the plea of a previous pastor who posted on the pulpit he spoke from every Sunday, “Oh that they may see Jesus”.

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
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