SUMMING UP
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, you are indeed my only Sovereign, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Accept my praise and thanksgiving today.
Read 1 TIMOTHY 6:11-21
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
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 honor and might forever. Amen.
17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, 21 which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.
Grace be with you all.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
‘The fruit the Holy Spirit produces is love, joy and peace … being patient, kind and good … being faithful and gentle and having control of oneself’ (Galatians 5:22,23 NIRV).As Paul reaches the end of his letter to Timothy, he sums up, and in doing so, repeats many of the things he has said previously. Look back at chapter 1 and note the similar words and phrases used. Timothy is exhorted to fight for the faith—to be intentional about proclaiming the truth and pointing out false teaching. Evocative of the children’s game ‘tag,’ he is to run from falsehood, and run toward the fruit of the Spirit. He is to protect the truth (v 20) using the gift given him when he was ordained (4:14) and strengthened by the prophecies made concerning him (1:18).
And if this felt overwhelming, Paul reminds Timothy that he is doing it in the sight of God. Look at what Paul says about God in verses 13 to 16. God is vastly superior to anything else that people worship— the Roman emperor who claimed to be a son of a god, Artemis the goddess, money, status, or power. Paul’s description evokes God’s uniqueness, his greatness, his praiseworthiness. To him be honor and might forever!
Apply
Paul finishes all his letters by saying, ‘Grace be with you all.’ What has been your experience of God’s grace?
Closing prayer
Father in heaven, thank you for the grace you give so freely and generously that enables me to know and to serve you. May that grace be so evident in me that others are drawn to you.
Book and Author Intros
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