As some of you may know, I am daily reading through Scripture in its order. Today’s devotion included 1 Timothy 4:6-16 which is quoted below. This Scripture spoke to me so clearly as to “Why I Write” and “What I Want To Be”.
Even before I begin, I don’t want to sound conceited. The biggest part of this message is “What I Want To Be”, and so I first join Paul by stating: “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;” Philippians 3:13-15.
So, let us begin by reading 1 Timothy 4:6-16. I have highlighted those phrases about which I want to comment.
“6 In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.
7 But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness;
8 for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
9 It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance.
10 For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.
11 Prescribe and teach these things.
12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.
13 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.
14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.
15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.
16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.” 1 Timothy 4:6-16.
First, in verse 6, “In pointing out these things to the brethren”, I want to point out what I read in Scripture. I think that it is important that I read through Scripture in its order and point out certain things.
Second, in verse 7, “But have nothing to do with worldly fables“, I do not want to include fables or stories, but rather I want to emphasize Scripture and the Reformed creeds and confessions.
Third, in verse 11, “Prescribe and teach these things”, the command is simple and direct. I want to teach these things which I interpret as teaching foremost Scripture.
Fourth, in verse 12, “Let no one look down on your youthfulness”, I can imagine how some of my readers, particularly the Ministers and Professors, react when they receive my writings. They could think: “Who does he think he is?!!!”. But, you all have been so gracious, kind, and patient to me. You have encouraged me to heed: “Let no one look down on your youthfulness”. (Not that I am young in age, but I am young in the sense that I am uneducated and inexperienced, so I do my best to write about what is most important (through God’s inspiration) and to write clearly and to write the best that I can.)
Fifth, also in verse 12, “but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.”, there are different ways that we can be examples. The foremost meaning is to be an example that another one can emulate, and I think the foremost example is to be one who is holy and Godly in behavior. This would be for me “What I Want To Be”. If I am a good example to anyone now, it probably would be to encourage others to write down and share their thoughts about what they read in Scripture.
But, there are also different kinds of examples. Along the lines of this other “different kind of example”, Paul writes: “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.” 1 Timothy 1:15-16. Along these lines, I may be an example and encouragement to those, like me, who have drifted away from Reformed doctrine and Reformed churches, but who through God’s grace, have re-discovered the truth and joy of Reformed doctrine as I write on the page tagged above as “About Me”.
Sixth, in verse 14, “Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you”, we all have unique spiritual gifts. I have a friend who is a Cadet counselor in a CRC church. He is a kid at heart and hates to speak in public and write. However, he loves kids, camping, and all the other “Cadet-stuff”, and he has been a faithful Cadet counselor and exercised his spiritual gifts for years. He does not try to be like me, and I don’t try to be like him. We both appreciate each other and thank God that He gives different spiritual gifts to different members of the Body of Christ.
Seventh, in verse 15 and 16, “Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, … Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things”, I want to be meticulous in commenting about all of Scripture about which I feel led to write. Although I fall far short, I want to perfect my writings. I want to write regularly, at least once or twice a week.
Eighth, also in verse 16, “for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you”, I recognize that I receive very little feedback. But, I write foremost for myself. Writing forces me to perfect my thoughts about Scripture that I read. It forces me “to put it in stone”. Writing helps me the most. “What I Want To Be” leads me to think more and adopt new strategies, through God’s guidance, as to how I can help others more through my writings. In the 1990’s, I started to write my best friend in Grand Rapids “Letters to Harry” which I actually mailed to him. You can see those letters under the tag above titled “Gold Mining”. In the 2000’s, I developed two web sites with this Reformed doctrine blog web site my most recent attempt to reach and help others. I look forward to the next stage, whatever that may be, where God will help me to reach out to more people and help more people.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 