Monthly Archives: July 2019

Advice, Bible, Child Raising, Child Rearing, Commands, Disciplemaking, Encouragement, Eternity, Gifts, God's Will, Mentoring, Modeling, Obedience, Parenting, Sanctification, Thanksgiving

PONDERING

1 TIMOTHY 4:15

“Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.” 

Now, that’s a word you don’t use every day – pondering! That’s another translation for the verb “take pains.” The word means to be diligent about something. It’s only used one other time in the NT (Acts 4:25) when Peter and John quote Psalm 2:1-2. In that instance it is a negative use, but here in 1 Timothy it’s a good thing. Ponder, be diligent about using your spiritual gift.

If someone gave you an incredible gift, would you squirrel it away and never show anyone? If you learned how to cure cancer for everyone, would you keep that to yourself? Of course not! And your spiritual gift is greater than both of those things. Your spiritual gift being exercised could lead someone to a decision to accept Christ, thus altering their eternity!

APPLICATION

The best way to teach your children this verse is by living it yourself. If you have the gift of service, serve! And take your children along with you when you do so they know why you are doing what you are doing. If you have the gift of discernment, make sure your kids know when you use that gift and how. When they see you using your gifts to glorify God and build up the Body, they will be inspired to do the same.

There are many gifts. There are many lists of gifts in the New Testament. Let me encourage you to help your child learn which gift God has given them. It may not be the same gift as yours, which will require you to learn more about how they need to use their gift. None of us have arrived. We are all still progressing towards perfection in and through Christ.

How will you use your spiritual gift today? It isn’t just for Sundays. It isn’t just for your church. Use it wherever and whenever the Lord leads you. By being obedient in that and pondering on it, you will please the Father.

I am so grateful for the gifts you have given to us, Father. You give these gifts to be used and managed well. Help me use my gifts today to honor Your name.

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YOU’VE GOT A GIFT

1 TIMOTHY 4:14

“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.” 

Don’t you just love getting gifts? I mean, even the smallest of gifts can be so exciting, especially when they are unexpected. The old saying goes “It’s the thought that counts.” That may be true, but that gift counts too, lol.

As a believer in Christ, we receive spiritual gifts from the Father when we accept Christ as our Savior. Strong’s Concordance defines this word as “divinely empowers a believer to share God’s work with others, i.e. Spirit-empowered service to the Church to carry out His plan for His people.” So, these are gifts you receive for one purpose – to share with others.

APPLICATION

Try this with your little Johnny or Susie. Give them a gift but explain to them that they have to share it with their siblings. What kind of response to you think you will get? Depending on the gift, you may get a “Sure Dad, I’ll be glad to do that” or “What!? This is mine. They can get their own.”

It’s not about the sharing, though, with spiritual gifts. It’s about benefitting someone else. You see, our spiritual gifts actually help others grow spiritually. Our gifts never run out. We can’t exhaust them. They come from above, so the power source is eternal.

What is your gift? Are you sharing it? God wants you to use your gift (and if you are believer, you have one) to build the Body of Christ. He wants you to exercise that gift in a way that blesses the church and those in it. He wants you to enjoy using your gift. If you don’t know your gift, talk to your Pastor. He can help you find a good Spiritual Gifts Inventory to use to help you.

Father, thank You for the gifts You have empowered me with to help others grow. I do enjoy using those gifts. But more importantly I love pleasing You with my obedience.

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READ IT LOUD

1 TIMOTHY 4:13

“Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.” 

Do you like reading out loud or hearing someone else read out loud? Isn’t it interesting that Paul told Timothy to give attention to doing that? I wonder why. Well, I think it was clearer in the original Greek that Paul wrote in to Timothy. That phrase “public reading of Scripture” is only used three times in Scripture. All three involve Paul either at the scene or the one writing the phrase.

The phrase is from anaginoskowhich means “enables others to re-live (re-appreciate) what was conveyed (experienced) by the originalauthor.” When you read it out loud, people can hear the inflections in your voice. You can make the story come alive for them. 

APPLICATION

I am sure you have read to your children. Do you think it’s just about the story you are reading? It is important to them also because they hear your voice. They are spending time with you as you read. It takes time to read out loud. And you have to be close enough to hear it, unless you are using a microphone (which I doubt you are using in your child’s bedroom at night, lol). 

So, take the time to read the Word out loud today. Do it at the dinner table. Or do it at bedtime when they are snuggled in their bed. I remember vividly my mama reading to me and my little sister in the rocking chair. Tell them the stories of Jesus out loud and watch them “get it.”

Do you ever read the Bible out loud to yourself? I enjoy listening the audio Bible as I drive. Hearing the Word spoken lets your mind work to create pictures to go along with the verses. Challenge your mind today to listen to the Word. 

I want to hear Your voice, O God. But until I can hear it personally, I will settle for hearing Your written Word. Thank You for giving it to us to inspire and teach us.

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BE AN EXAMPLE

1 TIMOTHY 4:12

“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.” 

I love that Paul encouraged Timothy to be strong and bold in his youth. Now, Timothy wasn’t a teenager here. He was probably in his mid to late thirties by now, but to Paul he was still a young whipper-snapper, lol.  I feel the same way sometimes about some people. They just look too young to be doing what they are doing.

Back to the point of this verse. Paul is not focused on Timothy’s youth. He is more concerned about the example he is living. The word “example” has the word picture of a die stamp that is used to put a mark on something. It would be placed on an object and then struck with a hammer to leave an impression on the object. That’s what we should be doing. Leaving the impression of Christ on others.

APPLICATION

This will be a fun verse to act out with your kids. Get a die stamp, maybe of the letter of your last name. Maybe you can find one that says “Jesus.” That would be cool. Then get a hammer and a piece of wood and a piece of metal. Place the die stamp on the wood and hit it with the hammer. Let your son or daughter see the impression it made on the wood. Now let them try it. They probably won’t hit it hard enough the first time, so let them hit it again.

Then use the piece of metal. Now it’s going to take a much harder blow to make an impression. It’s the same in our lives. Some people are easily influenced by our Christian testimony. Others are harder to reach. We have to make a stronger effort. Make sure your kids understand that it is NOT our image we are leaving on them. It is the image of Christ.

Are you leaving an impression on others? Are you being an example? You are probably doing that more than you know. So, the question is whose impression are your leaving? If it’s yours, stop. If it’s Christ’s, keep pounding away.

It is only Your image which I choose to leave on others. Help me show them just how strong an impression You have on me. Let them only see You in me.

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THE RIGHT PRESCRIPTION

1 TIMOTHY 4:11

“Prescribe and teach these things.”

Have you ever gone to the pharmacy to get your prescription only to get home and realize it’s the wrong medication? Most pharmacies have a policy that once you leave the store you can’t return the prescription. That can be very frustrating and dangerous, if you don’t know what you are taking.

The word “prescribe” is actually a military term which implies that an order has gone through all the proper channels and has the authority of the one who issued it. Paul is reminding Timothy that he has the authority because he is delivering God’s commands, not his own. In the same way the pharmacist is carrying out the orders of the doctors to deliver us the right medication. He can’t prescribe medication for patients. He just delivers the correct orders.

APPLICATION

You, as Mom and Dad, are commanded by God to carry out His orders in regard to raising your children. You are to also “prescribe and teach these things.” You have the responsibility to use God’s Word to prepare your children to walk with Jesus. The Lord has given you all you need in His Word. But you must be the one to deliver the command.

Now, children will buck you. None of us like following orders. But we are commanded to deliver. The words “prescribe” and “teach” are both imperatives, which mean you are commanded to do this. You have a choice – obey or be disobedient. What will you do?

If you are like me, you want to do things your way. I don’t mind following orders, as long as I agree with them. But the second I have to do something that I disagree with, I bow up. That’s flesh! That’s sin! I have to obey whether I like it or not. And by doing that, I am an example to others.

Lord, You know my heart. I truly do want to please You. Help me be submissive to those in authority over me, not to please them, but to please You.

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YOU ARE SPECIAL

1 TIMOTHY 4:10

“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.

I love the way the last phrase of this verse is translated from the Greek – “especially of believers.” Do you understand what that is saying? God is the Savior of all mankind, but He sees us as special because we have responded to His invitation. Once we decide to follow Jesus, we move into a special class of people on this earth. We become part of His family, and He particularly cares for us.

Is there someone special in your life? Is there someone you “especially” like to spend time with? Why? Because you are close to them? Because they like to spend time with you? What makes them special? We all have those special people whom just draw us in. That’s how we are to God. We are especially special!

APPLICATION

I am willing to bet that your little Elrod or Gertrude have a special toy. They especially care for it. They play with it for hours. They drag it everyone they go. The next time you see them with this special toy, read them this verse and explain how special we are in God’s eyes once we accept Jesus as Savior.

Now, God loves all mankind. Your children need to know that. He sent His Son to die for ALL. But once someone yields their heart to Jesus, God sees us differently. If your child is a believer let them know just how special they are to God. To Him, they are especially special. They are to Him like that toy is to them. He wants to be with us all the time.

Do you realize how special you are to God? He desires to be with you. He desires for you to want to be with Him all the time. Do you? Do you desire that level of intimacy with the Father? He is especially fond of you. Why don’t you return the feeling?

O God, I am especially fond of You. I desire to be in Your presence all the time. Help me to make You my number one priority in all things.

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ARE YOU TRUSTWORTHY?

1 TIMOTHY 4:9

“It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance.”

This phrase is used twice by Paul in writing to Timothy in this letter. He doesn’t use the phrase anywhere else. I wonder why. Why is Paul saying what he is saying is trustworthy? Did someone accuse him of lying? Was Timothy hearing other reports from Paul’s enemies? We don’t know, but we do know the Holy Spirit told him to put these words down.

So, how do they apply to us? Let me ask you a question. Can you say this about all your statements? Are all your words worthy? The word “deserving” can also be translated as “worthy of.” The word means to be weighed in God’s scale of truth. That’s a higher level of trustworthiness, isn’t it?

APPLICATION

This is a simple truth to teach your children. We need to model this first, though. Can our children trust our words? Do we say what we mean and mean what we say? Can they rely on us to follow through with what we say? They learn this truth by watching and listening to us. Are we trustworthy in our words to our children?

Too many parents lie to their kids. Yes, I said lie. They tell them something, knowing it will never happen. They make promises they know they cannot keep. If you are one of those parents, stop! Make sure your yes means yes and your no means no. Stop confusing your children with wishy washy parenting. Remember, you are not raising children. You are raising child raisers. What you model and teach will be repeated.

Are you trustworthy in your statements? Can people trust what you say? One of the worst reputations you can have is to be known as a liar. I have known people whom you could say if their lips were moving, they were lying. Not good! Don’t be that person. If you are a believer in Christ, you have THE truth in you.

Forgive me Lord, when I tell untruths. Convict me of this sin. Let me never be guilty of leading others astray by my statements. I want my words to line up with Your Word.

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IS BODILY EXERCISE WORTH IT?

1 TIMOTHY 4:8

“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.”

It seems 1 Timothy is full of one-time used words. We have another one today. The Greek word for “discipline” is gumnasia. Does that look familiar? We get the word “gymnasium” from that. This verse is my proof that we only have so many good heart beats, and we shouldn’t waste them exercising, lol. 

Paul is NOT saying we shouldn’t exercise. But too many people spend hours and hours at the gym and neglect their spiritual bodies. Having a buff and trim physical body will NOT make you more godly. Only exercising your spirit will do that. And that is done through spiritual pushups in the Word, prayer and worship. 

APPLICATION

I bet your little Johnny or Susie does some kind of physical exercise. The next time you are with them when they are doing that, bring up this verse. Perhaps you are riding bikes. Compare the exercise their legs are getting with their spiritual walk with Christ. Maybe they are playing soccer. Compare that to controlling their feet as they maneuver to score a goal for God through righteous living.

You can find hundreds of ways to compare physical exercise and sports to the Christian life. There are literally thousands of books out there. The point is to make sure your children know that exercising their spiritual body is more important than exercising their physical body. This physical body will not see heaven, only the spiritual one will.

Are you obsessed with your physique? Are you so enamored with Cross Fit, yoga or P90x that you spend all your spare time in that? Try this for a week. Spend the same amount of time studying God’s Word as you do exercising. I promise you that you feel the difference spiritually.

Lord, I am guilty of not exercising enough physically. I know this body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. But Father, I want to exercise my spiritual body just as much. Help me keep in shape spiritually.

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OLD WIVES’ TALES

1 TIMOTHY 4:7

“But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness;”

You may have heard the phrase “old wives’ tales.” It refers to things that are passed down from one generation to another as being truth when it actually is just superstitions or false information. I used to teach First Aid and CPR in an area of Tennessee to teen moms where I heard a lot of these. One such old wives’ tale was to bind up your baby real tight and drop a pair of scissors behind their back if they have colic. That will cut the pain. Don’t try that at home, lol. 

Paul is warning Timothy about these fables and superstitions. He should stick to the truth of God’s Word. Only that will lead to discipline and godliness. Any other source of information is subject to verification. God’s Word is always reliable. It can be trusted throughout the generations.

APPLICATION

Your children will hear lots of silly fables (old wives’ tales) in their lives. Some may even have a smidgeon of truth in them. Those are really confusing to young minds. The easy way to verify if they are true is to measure them against God’s Word. If they agree, trust it. If they don’t, don’t trust it.

Learning to discern fact from fiction is a skill they will need as they navigate life. Satan is around every corner just waiting to try to confuse us or deceive us. When our children learn to recognize those untruths, they will be safer in their journey following Christ.

Are you one who believes all those old wives’ tales? Do you put more stock into what Grandma said than what God says? Give up all those generational truths and turn to the only source of truth. He will teach you whatever it is you need to know. And you can be guaranteed that it is always true.

Lord, help me discern fact from fiction. When I am unsure let me turn to You. I know You are truth and can set me straight.

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WE ALL NEED NOURISHMENT

1 TIMOTHY 4:6


“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.”

We have ANOTHER one-time used word today. The Greek word for “nourishment” is only used right here.  It means to be “in the state (condition) of being nourished, to be trained by continuous instruction in the area of skill and practical knowledge. This happens by receiving God’s gift of faith which has lasting effects.”

That’s a long definition, I know, but I wanted you to see what this word really means, especially the “lasting effects” part. Proper nourishment, whether it’s physical food or spiritual food, should have lasting effects. It should sustain us. It should strengthen us. It should help us grow in our faith. Look at what  does it. Paul says “the words of faith” and “sound doctrine” are our nourishment.

APPLICATION

The next time you sit down at the family table for a meal, read your little Gertrude or Elrod this verse. Explain that just as important as good nutritious food is to their bodies, our spiritual life needs nourishment. Ask them what they think would happen to their bodies if all they ate was candy and colas. I am pretty sure they will have some great answers.

Then ask them what will happen to their walk with Christ if we put false teachings and other beliefs in our minds and hearts. And what will happen if we don’t feed our spirits at all? It will starve to death just as our bodies will without food. They really need to understand that is why you spend time with them in the Word and in prayer. You are feeding them spiritually.

How healthy is your spirit today? When is the last time you had a nice, nutritious spiritual meal? When is the last time you ate spiritually? Is your spirit starving? Turn to God’s Word. In it you will find all the sound doctrine and truths you need for healthy living.

O God, You feed me but only when I come to the table. You won’t force feed me, I know. I want to grow healthier in my daily walk with Christ.

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