Day 47
1 Timothy 1:1-11 NIV
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, 2 To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work–which is by faith.5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.6 Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm. 8 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly.9 We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers,10 for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers–and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11 that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
Today we begin the letter (Epistle) to Timothy. It doesn't take long to see and realize the love that Paul had for Timothy. Paul begins this letter with "to Timothy my true son in the faith". Paul begins his writing to his "son in the faith" with an exhortation to continue striving for teaching the truth of God's Word in love. From the comments here in verse 3 we can see that Timothy was left with the Authority of the Apostle to assure that the Ephesians (church at Ephesus) were receiving proper teaching. From Paul's account it becomes apparent that false teachers were trying to slip in and point people back to the law rather than the grace and freedom purchased by Christ on the Cross. Paul declares that what they are doing and teaching is now contrary to sound doctrinal teaching because God's work is by faith and not works or lists of rules. Paul states that the law "is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels" he continues with quite a list but he is saying that the law is for those who have not received forgiveness and turned to God in true repentance. This must have been most difficult for Paul of all people haven been trained by the best of the best, have been a Pharisee. Paul had to have spent a great deal of time and prayer before he became able to understand the true purpose of the law was to show man our hopelessness and our need for a heavenly savior. After Paul's experience on the Damascus road he went into an extended period of training, time alone with God where he was taught the truth of the Word and the message he is now presenting here to Timothy. Paul having been one of the chief persecutors or Christians and chief among law givers certainly knew what it was to be transformed by the love of God. He wanted this same transformation for all believers and he desired to stop those who were preaching contrary or conflicting gospels that were creating much confusion. Timothy became one of his primary students and was quickly trained and put in a leadership role in Ephesus. Now the teacher is writing to his student to encourage him to continue in doing what is right regardless of the opposition he is facing. This message rings just as true for you and I today. If we aren't careful we can grown cold in our walk with God and begin to walk in a more formal way before him. God desires relationship with all of us and when we are walking in communion with Him we can be sure that His Spirit will lead us. No one can create a list of rights and wrongs that would fully encompass what we should and shouldn't do. It is the Holy Spirit that writes the Word on our hearts and when we take a misstep He corrects us. Imagine with me today why a loving God would have dared send His only Son to a people who had rejected Him and His representatives in every way. The only answer to this question is absolute love, a love like we cannot understand. The bible says "God is love" and daily I see this love poured out in my life, don't you? I am so thankful that He came, lived, and died for me. Thankful that He rose from the grave in victory and that I am risen with Him, "seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus". Thank Him today for this love!
Blessings,
Pastor Larry
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