DATE POSTED: Saturday, 2023-04-08
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 1 Timothy 1:5-6
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁵ The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. ⁶ But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions.

OBSERVATION: I believe that given a goal for ministry will lead one into passionately preaching God’s Word with an emphasis on the values that will help listeners see and attain values that show success, or failure of your mission. For example, most pastors are given a goal to help a church save the lost in the community, and disciple (teach) the saved already in the church. But seeing an underlying problem that prevents such a goal, may have caused Paul to lead his student towards a ministry that truly speaks the spiritual downfall of many believers. Perhaps God will speak to believers today as we meditate on this!

APPLICATION: I believe you will agree with me that if believers lose sight of the One who saved them, and the life He called them to, while preparing for their new life in Heaven, they might be tempted toqu fall back into the ways of the world and the temptations and destruction of the evil one. Although this may have nothing to do with newcomers who chose to become a part of them, it becomes very visible that the church and the newcomers that the church has lost her first love (Rev. 2:4). It seems like as a mentor, Paul wanted to open the eyes of this young evangelist and help guide him to the subjects that really needed attention. When we encounter these types of challenges, addressing every little quirk/sin, will lead to pettiness and micromanaging that will often serve to tick people off rather than helping them. It is always best to get to the bottom of a problem and try to treat the root causes. I believe it is safe to say that churches split and believers fall back into the ways o the world when these root causes go undetected or not addressed effectively. A somewhat strange phenomenon is to see unbelievers uninterested in joining a church where this type of thing is happening, or where God is not actively and regularly changing lives. But to help us know and understand what true ‘LOVE’ is, Paul taught Timothy to look for three simple clues:

• Be sure to see a ‘Pure Heart’ – It may, or may not, be easy to detect a fraudulent person with a fake heart. In the business world we were taught to try and detect a criminal when the entered our business. It was challenging, because they dressed just like our very best customer, and they smiled just like they knew us all their life. As a child of God, we have one things going for us – the Holy Spirit who lives inside of us, points us to the things of God. So listen closely to what you are being prompted to think, do and say.
• Look for a ‘Clear Conscience’ – This is something that God has placed inside of us. When there is honesty and peace of mind, it is obvious to experience the calm assurance of a person. Otherwise a person is challenged to look you in the eye or tell you the truth. When things are right with God, we can enjoy a clear conscience before Him, and with our fellow man. Oh that we would always be guided by teh Holy Spirit to recognize the unrest in a person when they are struggling to enjoy a clear conscience!
• Evidence of a ‘Genuine Faith’ – The peace of God and the precious love of God will lead us in life to depend on Him wholeheartedly, while seeking daily to know Him better each and every day. A genuine faith is one that will give us a calm assurance, even in the height of battle and/or the biggest struggles.

So unless we lose sight of what Paul’s instructions were to Timothy that gave cause for the above teaching, please review verses 3 and 4. You will see that the new, young pastor was instructed to not only identify those who were not teaching the truth of God’s Word, but to stop them – for the good of the gospel. Ever went to a Sunday School class or a church service where you never opened your Bible? There was so much chatter about personal achievements or anything else happening in the world, that the teacher or the preacher lost sight of their very first obligation – make sure the people learn about Jesus. And if they already know about Jesus, allow the Holy Spirit to direct you into sharing from the Word of God, what they need reminding of or to become stronger in. Please, let’s not waste an opportunity to share our story of salvation, and the precious Word of God with anyone that God places in our path. Just a sPaul wanted Timothy to get off on the right track, I pray that God will keep us on the right track each and every day promoting the Savior of the world.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience and a genuine faith!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You for using Your servant Paul to remind Timothy, and us, what we are to look at in those who claim You as Lord and Savior. Lord, I believe that this is not only good for encouraging one another, but also to show the lost that Jesus is alive and well, because they see evidence here on earth in the lives of His children. Please speak boldly to Your children and help us to be the image of love, just You are. 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 this devotional, please click on the above 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. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would 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!