Be Holy
Opening Prayer
Holy God, I worship You for Your excellent purity and goodness. I want to be more like You.
Read 1 TIMOTHY 6:11-16
[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 honor and might forever. Amen. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
What “dos” and “don’ts” are given here?Although the advice in v. 11 is given to Timothy, it also applies to all of us who wish to remain on the right path as Christians. This list of qualities to pursue is similar to the “fruit of the Spirit” which Paul gives in Galatians 5:22,23. If God’s Spirit is alive and at work in us, we will be pursuing and will see evidence of these qualities in our lives. Living the Christian life can be challenging but we can make it harder for ourselves if we do not run from temptations (see Jas. 4:7) or pursue godly virtues such as love and righteousness. A godly life is not boring! God is not a killjoy but the source of every good thing in the world. His loving purpose is to give us the greatest, most lasting joy imaginable!
What’s the brightest light you’ve ever seen? It may have been a bright star or a manmade light in a factory or laboratory. From v. 16 we see that God dwells in unapproachable light, perhaps something like the light that blinded Paul on the road to Damascus as he met Jesus. When we live godly lives, that light shines out into the world through us.
Apply
Righteousness, godliness, faith, endurance and gentleness; which of those qualities do you most need to pursue?
Closing prayer
Ask God for the determination and strength to pursue the spiritual qualities which Paul gives in this passage.
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