DATE POSTED: Friday, May 19, 2023, and I was blessed to be at O’Brien, FL when God inspired me to write this blog post. If short on time to read my devotional, please consider visiting Apple Podcasts at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuggets-from-gods-word/id1558668439.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM THE The Voice (VOICE) IS FOUND IN 1 Timothy 4:7-8; 12

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: Reject worldly fables. Refuse old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself toward godliness. Although training your body has certain payoffs, godliness benefits all things—holding promise for life here and now and promise for the life that is coming. 
Don’t let anyone belittle you because you are young. Instead, show the faithful, young and old, an example of how to live: set the standard for how to talk, act, love, and be faithful and pure. 

MY INITIAL THOUGHTS: What might our new pastor be told by his members about what to expect and how he might handle certain people and circumstances. At a church I worshipped at for a number of years, it was our practice to have a meet-and-greet gathering the night before we were to hear a prospective pastor for the very first time. Often there were lots of questions for the candidate, but mostly from a standpoint of ‘will he correct past issues and mistakes’. Let’s open our heart to allow God to challenge us as we meditate on His word through Paul to Timothy.

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: I believe it is very obvious that one must have a heart for the subject they are choosing to advise others about. Otherwise, we will tend to throw so much of our own wishes and desires into the picture that it will quickly become obvious to the new pastor, or whomever we are desiring to give advice, the source of our wishes. Having been there and done that, Paul was very informed on the subject for which he was offering advice to another pastor about to enter the same field of ministry. So how might we look at this Scripture when very few laypersons have performed actual ministry in a church. I believe Paul is showing us that good advice might be helpful to someone, like a prospective pastor, and it must come from a heart that is devoted to the work of God in His church, and a desire to see God’s work accomplished in His church through this new pastor claiming that he feels led of God to serve with us at our church. Someone honestly feeling like this will not be distracted with evil thoughts on showing this new man who is really in charge, but be more concerned about how this man could join with the God-led leaders of the church to reach more of our community and support ministries throughout the world. Unfortunately, I believe that many churches self-destruct through allowing men and women who freely permit Satan an entryway into the work of the Lord. It becomes very obvious to nonbelievers who enter our churches, whether we are on fire for God, or if Satan’s fire is way too hot in a body of believers claiming Christianity. God showed Paul how damaging the old traditions, the old fables from years before and the insistence of some to ‘do church’ rather than constantly seeking the face of Jesus to meet with His people and lovingly accept and meet the needs of those searching for God. Friends, notice that Paul insisted that Timothy train in godliness. This will not come from meeting with the gossipers; nor those who have financial clout in the church; and not even those who claim to be ‘religious’. Godliness is something that rubs off on you from your time alone with God. Let me encourage you to spend time in the Word of God – the Bible. Talk regularly with the One you accepted to be Lord and Savior of your life, and this is often achieved through prayer. It is said that a good husband and his wonderful wife soon start to look like each other, make similar decisions, and they act a lot alike. Don’t you think that the same thing happens to the Christian who spends time alone with God? As our heart becomes more entwined with the heart of God, we will give advice to new pastors, unbelievers, and friends struggling in this world, just like we learn from God. In verse 12 of today’s Scripture, Paul told Timothy what might be his reward if he remains close to the God he set out to serve, and I believe this is still very applicable to true followers of Christ today: when you remain faithful to God, you will set the standard for how to talk, act, love and be faithful and pure. If you suspect that there may be areas of your life where you would rather no one imitate or repeat, then let me encourage you to draw closer and be faithful to God.

BLESSINGS WORTH NOTING: We too can be faithful and show the faithful, young and old, an example of how to live: set the standard for how to talk, act, love, and be faithful and pure. 

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Thank You Lord for the many awesome men that I have served alongside in ministry. Unfortunately, I don’t remember giving them advice, because I always respected them as being much closer to God than I was, so who would I be to give them advice. But after being reminded of what Paul did for Timothy, I could clearly see that Timothy must have been elated to hear the advice of a godly man and one who have ministered in some of the same areas that he was leading Timothy into. Please Lord, help us to encourage our pastors, especially those who are younger and more inexperienced. Please help us to show our support and help them feel a part of the family – our church family. If we were to encourage and work alongside our pastors, I can only imagine what God might say when we see Him face-to-face, for we could be considered a part of our pastor’s ministry of saving souls and blessing communities for Jesus. Please help us to take our selfish minds off what benefits us and encourage our pastors in the work of the Lord. May the unsaved enter our church doors and see Jesus in action, rather than more of the world through gossipers, revenge, envy, and possibly even hatred. People need Jesus, not more of the unkind world that they leave behind them. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading, listening to, this devotional, please click on this page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue, your walk with Jesus. If you would like to see/hear more of my devotionals, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or go to https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuggets-from-gods-word/id1558668439 to listen to more podcasts. Of course you can also choose to freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s written devotional, or on the Apple Podcast app, simply search for Nuggets From God’s Word and click ‘Follow’ to be notified of Podcast updates. Please allow me to encourage you to find a church home near by your home and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!