Bible League: Living His Word O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge-- by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith.What was it that the Apostle Paul wanted Timothy to guard? It was everything that Paul had given to him. It was all the wisdom and knowledge that he had imparted to him. It was the wisdom and knowledge of the Scriptures and the gospel of Jesus Christ. God had entrusted these things to Paul (I Timothy 1:11) and He had entrusted them to Timothy. Why did Paul want Timothy to guard this wisdom and knowledge? The reason is that when one departs from the path of wisdom and knowledge, when one departs from the straight and narrow, then one falls into the "babblings" and "contradictions" of false knowledge. When one strays from the truth, then anything may be believed in. Jesus said, '"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction"' (Matthew 7:13). The gate that leads to destruction is wide because it could be anything---anything other than the narrow gate to true wisdom and knowledge. There is a famous saying that applies in this case: "When people stop believing in God, they don't believe in nothing, they believe in anything." That is, when truth is rejected everything is up for grabs. If the truth that comes from heaven above is rejected, then human speculation may put anything in its place. All of the false alternatives, however, have no solid basis in reality. They are mere babblings and contradictions that never fully satisfy the quest for truth. According to the book of Proverbs, those who accept any of them are fools (Proverbs 1:7). What was true in Jesus and Paul's day is true today. The road to destruction is still very wide and there are still many alternatives to the truth that make it up. In a world full of false teaching we must realize how precious the truth is and how destructive its loss can be. Like Timothy, we must guard the truth that has been committed to our trust and we must stand fast in it. We must avoid the false alternatives that are passed off as knowledge, for they add nothing to our lives and only lead people astray. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingJeremiah 23, 24 Jeremiah 23 -- I will restore to David a righteous Branch; False Prophets NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Jeremiah 24 -- Two Baskets of Figs; Captives Will Return NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 2 Timothy 2 2 Timothy 2 -- Timothy Exhorted to be Strong, Persevering and Unashamed NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.Insight Do you sometimes feel as though you aren't making progress in your spiritual life? When God starts a project, he completes it! As with the Philippians, God will help you grow in grace until he has completed his work in your life. Challenge When you are discouraged, remember that God won't give up on you. He promises to finish the work he has begun. When you feel incomplete, unfinished, or distressed by your shortcomings, remember God's promise and provision. Don't let your present condition rob you of the joy of knowing Christ or keep you from growing closer to him. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon John 15:19 I have chosen you out of the world.Here is distinguishing grace and discriminating regard; for some are made the special objects of divine affection. Do not be afraid to dwell upon this high doctrine of election. When your mind is most heavy and depressed, you will find it to be a bottle of richest cordial. Those who doubt the doctrines of grace, or who cast them into the shade, miss the richest clusters of Eshcol; they lose the wines on the lees well refined, the fat things full of marrow. There is no balm in Gilead comparable to it. If the honey in Jonathan's wood when but touched enlightened the eyes, this is honey which will enlighten your heart to love and learn the mysteries of the kingdom of God. Eat, and fear not a surfeit; live upon this choice dainty, and fear not that it will be too delicate a diet. Meat from the King's table will hurt none of his courtiers. Desire to have your mind enlarged, that you may comprehend more and more the eternal, everlasting, discriminating love of God. When you have mounted as high as election, tarry on its sister mount, the covenant of grace. Covenant engagements are the munitions of stupendous rock behind which we lie entrenched; covenant engagements with the surety, Christ Jesus, are the quiet resting-places of trembling spirits. "His oath, his covenant, his blood, Support me in the raging flood; When every earthly prop gives way, This still is all my strength and stay." If Jesus undertook to bring me to glory, and if the Father promised that he would give me to the Son to be a part of the infinite reward of the travail of his soul; then, my soul, till God himself shall be unfaithful, till Jesus shall cease to be the truth, thou art safe. When David danced before the ark, he told Michal that election made him do so. Come, my soul, exult before the God of grace and leap for joy of heart. Daily Light on the Daily Path Isaiah 59:16 And He saw that there was no man, And was astonished that there was no one to intercede; Then His own arm brought salvation to Him, And His righteousness upheld Him.Psalm 40:6-8 Sacrifice and meal offering You have not desired; My ears You have opened; Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required. • Then I said, "Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me. • I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart." John 10:17,18 "For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. • "No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father." Isaiah 45:21,22 "Declare and set forth your case; Indeed, let them consult together. Who has announced this from of old? Who has long since declared it? Is it not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me, A righteous God and a Savior; There is none except Me. • "Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other. Acts 4:12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." 2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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