1 Timothy 1-5
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1 Timothy is one book where it is particularly beneficial to read
some commentary on the background for this letter Paul wrote. Paul wrote this to Timothy who he had
left to minister to the church at Ephesus. Paul addresses some of the false teaching and disruptive
behaviors that were going on in the church there, and he encourages Timothy to
be bold in his teaching and preaching.
Timothy was young and there are verses to indicate that he was
timid and shy. Paul reminds him
that God has called him to do this and has given him the gifts he would
need. But Paul also reminds
Timothy that he has to constantly be “in training” in order to be godly and an
effective leader, the same way an athlete is in physical training. “Exercise daily in God—no spiritual
flabbiness, please! Workouts in
the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making
you fit both today and forever.” (1 Timothy 4:7-8
MSG)
I love this reminder for believers to be disciplined, to be
knowledgeable in the faith, and to take it seriously just like an athlete does
in training. An athlete in
training will have a specific healthy diet and will spend time each day
practicing and pushing themselves.
This is why daily Bible study and putting that study into practice every
single day is so important.
It is also like physical exercise in the fact that you can’t just
work out here and there and expect to become any stronger. You also can’t expect to work out for
one year and then be set for the rest of your life. It has to be ongoing.
I’ve mentioned before seeing my parents’ discipline in studying their
Bibles. My mom spends the same
amount of time in Bible reading in prayer every day as she does the amount of
time it takes to get physically ready for the day. “I’ve got to get the inside ready, then the outside,” she’ll
say. My dad can tell you any
detail of any passage of scripture in the Old or New Testament, but he
continues to study it. He teaches
a group in his church weekly. Even
though they have been believers for most of their lives, they still “exercise”
in the faith every day, and they’ve made an impact on so many lives. No spiritual flabbiness!
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