1 Timothy 4
August 18, 2022
“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” (v16)
Paul sums up his pastoral counsel to Timothy in this verse: live right, teach right. Preaching and practice are both critical - as the pastor’s flock will be both listening to his teaching and watching his life. Yes, it is Christ alone who is Mediator and Savior (1 Tim 2:5-6), but Paul reminds Timothy that God works out His plan of salvation through us, His ambassadors of reconciliation, “as though making His appeal through us” (2 Cor 5:20).
Father, I thank You for the privilege it is to be a pastor in Your Church. Despite being a reluctant shepherd, afraid of public speaking, You have helped me to overcome my insecurities, and trust You to help me preach. But even as I’ve grown more comfortable with preaching, I pray that it will always be grounded in Your Word, and flow from a life that is practicing what I’m preaching. And may Your people, who are ‘ministers of reconciliation’ (2 Cor 5) also be grounded in Your Word, and share it with others out of the overflow of their lives - not only for Your glory, but for the building up of Your Church.
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
