Today's Scripture
Question #10 – 1 Timothy 4: 1-5 – When did I last speak to someone else of my faith?
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: 2 proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. 5 As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.
RJ's Devotion
As we start 2017, we wanted to examine the 22 questions of John Wesley. He challenged his followers to ask these rigorous self-examining questions, as they walk toward holiness. For the next four weeks, we will examine each question, daily. Also, I encourage you to read the ‘One Year Bible Reading Plan’ suggested by Bishop Sharma Lewis.
What the passage says
V. 1-2 Pall urges Timothy and the believers, in the presence of God (Coram Deo), to share the Gospel.
V. 3-5 Paul says that the wisdom of God is needed to be shared because ,”they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires” (v.3 NRSV). This is what happened in the time of the Judges. Judges 17:6 says, “In those days there was no king in Israel; all the people did what was right in their own eyes.” They pushed away God, from God’s throne, and sat in that seat as if they were the Lord of their lives.
What does the passage say to me/us?
Paul says that we need to share the Gospel all times; favorable or unfavorable. Wesley, who is faithful to this call, asks his followers to examine when it was the last time to share their faith?
When we think about sharing faith, we think of Evangelism, which means ‘Good News.’ However, that Good News has been an uncomfortable subject for us to share, because of the negative method it was presented in.
Paul says, we need to share our faith in a convincing, rebuking, and encouraging way. Why are we, however, more used to the rebuking method of the message being shared?
We need to use all methods, in a very wise way. Because if we don’t share the Good News, who will? Remember ‘When the righteous scatter, the world moans.’
Prayer
Lord, may we remember the joy of your Good News. May the joy be revived, and may we receive the Holy Spirit, to gain wisdom to properly sha
In Christ name, AMEN.
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