Good morning. Paul told
Timothy to 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.
While we may not be youthful anymore, Paul's advice to Timothy is a good one
for us too. We should show ourselves an example of those who believe. Remember
the title of the book the ugly American? Well some Christians could be called
the ugly Christians. They were not good examples of what it means to be a Christian.
The first area Paul mentioned was speech. There's that tongue again. ... if
anyone advocates a different doctrine, and does not agree with sound words,
those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,
he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in
controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy,
strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of
depraved mind and deprived of the truth. There is so much friction and
controversy in the body of Christ today. When someone disagrees with them, they
get very angry. True Christianity is about relationships – between fellow
Christians and between themselves and God. Father thank You that the reader is
an example of those who believe. He/she only does and says what You want him/her
to.
Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me
Good morning. Paul then gives a list of a lot of things that he has gone through as an apostle. I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. There could be many people that you listen to either in church or through the Internet or other means; but there was only one person (as a general rule it was a person) that lead you to Christ. Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me. He was saying that just like a child imitates his or her father, they were to imitate him. He says that again seven chapters later. Since it is easy to forget some things about people we have not seen in a while, Paul says that he sent Timothy to them to remind them of his ways which are in Christ, just as he taught everywhere in every church. Some have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. I shall find ou...
Comments
Post a Comment