Slices
Prepare
Read verses 15 and 16. Turn them into a prayer of praise. This is your God. This is who you are serving.
Bible passage
Final charge to Timothy
11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time – God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honour and might for ever. Amen.
Explore
As Paul nears the end of his letter it’s not hard to imagine his writing increasing in speed as he passionately urges Timothy to remember who he is – man of God (v 11) – and grasp the task in front of him with determination. Flee and pursue (v 11), fight and take hold of (v 12) are all active and imperative words. You can almost hear Paul cheering Timothy on as he commences this important task of staying in Ephesus and leading the church well. ‘Come on, Timothy! You can do it!’ Paul’s passion reaches a peak as he bursts into spontaneous praise (vs 15,16). ‘Remember, Timothy, this is who we do it for. This is who our God is.’
This is not a task that can be done once and ticked off a to-do list. There is no one-time event or task that will ensure those in the church are growing in godliness and correct conduct. It’s an ongoing task that must be worked at ‘until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ’ (v 14). Paul’s encouragement to Timothy will have been vital in helping him daily to ‘pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness’ (v 11).
Respond
Are you finding church life hard? Where, or with whom, could you find encouragement? As you seek to keep growing in godliness, who could cheer you on and point you to Jesus?
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: 1 Samuel 20–22; Mark 15
Pray for Scripture Union
Ask God to bless young Christians as they seek to share Jesus with their peers. Ask for courage in the task and for open hearts and minds.
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