March 11, 2021 TAKE PAINS WITH THESE THINGS
1 Timothy 4:11-12, 15-16 “Prescribe and teach these things. Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.” “Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident to all. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things; for as long as you do this you will insure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.”
In the word of God, we find God’s wonderful plan of salvation-but it is so much more than that. Some think of God’s word as a book of good suggestions, and may give themselves to occasional reading of the scriptures, and they may see the scriptures as lofty ideals, but impossible to live up to. As we read the scriptures above, it is clear that Paul was making the point (perhaps even belaboring the point) that it is imperative that Timothy, and ourselves, see the scriptures as our guide and instructions for life-you might say our ‘standard mode of operation.’ There is no room for us to take the word of God lightly, or as a book we read when it is convenient to do so. Simply said, our life is to line up with the teachings of scripture. In the above passages, we see words like ‘prescribe and teach,’ ‘show yourself as an example,’ ‘take pains with these things,’ ‘be absorbed in them,’ ‘pay close attention to yourself and your teaching,’ and ‘persevere in these things.’ (I can almost hear Timothy saying to Paul “Ok, I get the point.”) If not alert, we can let the routines and the difficulties of life, and the desire to acquire more posessions, cause us to become spiritually shallow, not alert to the things of the Lord; in such times, we find ourselves trying to work God into our schedule instead of experiencing His life in all we do. I think that is why Paul told Timothy to ‘take pains with these things;’ there is a discipline called for in applying the gospel and we are to remain alert spiritually. There are times when we must say no to what our bodies and our natural self wants to do, and say yes to the promptings of the Spirit. The good news is that when we follow the leading of the Spirit and apply the teachings of the scriptures, we are fulfilled. If needed, let us adjust our thinking, our beliefs, and our priorities and ‘take pain’ with the instructions of God’s word and let the life we live reflect the sound doctrine that has been delivered to us.
1 Timothy 4:6 “In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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