Daily Bible Reading (Thursday, September 28th)

5

1 Timothy 4 (ESV)

 

Some Will Depart from the Faith

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

A Good Servant of Christ Jesus

If you put these things before the brothers,[a] you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10 For to this end we toil and strive,[b] because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them,[c] so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Footnotes:

  1. 1 Timothy 4:6 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters
  2. 1 Timothy 4:10 Some manuscripts and suffer reproach
  3. 1 Timothy 4:15 Greek be in them

5 Comments

Wow! What instruction, what truth! "Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is a value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." Praying to that end in the means of today, by scripture alone in Christ alone...

Pastor, I can relate to what you said, "My spiritual energy will fluctuate if I am fixed on anything other than the Lord...." This is a reminder that I should pin to my shield of faith, rather than carry it in my pocket where I often forget it's there.

"For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe." Those who set their hope on the living, saving God are energized to toil and strive on His behalf. When we get lazy or discouraged in serving the Lord we can be sure that our hope has somehow moved off of God and onto either ourselves or some personal desire. My spiritual energy will fluctuate if I am fixed on anything other than the Lord because only He is unchanging and only His response is reliable. Praying that I will keep my hope fixed on God today.

Verse 10..... "we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe." I had to look at my footnote to understand this verse, and it said that the general call to repentance and salvation is extended to ALL people, and salvation is God's gift, in particular to those who trust in Christ. Good footnote!

I have to say verse 7 bothers me a bit. Why "fit only for old women"?

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