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Good Monday morning to you my “Walking with Jesus” friends,
I just love it when God seems to show His fingerprint of Sovereign involvement in my life, how about you? Monday’s sometimes need a little extra help to be a good day, have you found that true in your journey? So as I open God’s Word this morning… I think you’ll be encouraged to see what God has for us. It will brighten your Monday, as it already has mine.
We’re in 1 Timothy 6:11 today, and it’s as though Paul reaches through his letter, to put his arm around his dear friend young Timothy, and give him a ‘pep talk’ for the journey. So I invite us to let Jesus put his arm around you and me, as we personalize this and read together “But you, man of God, flee from all this and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses…”
Look back over the previous 10 verses in Paul’s letter to Timothy. Remember our comments about “contentment of the soul” yesterday? Paul spoke about honoring God in employment relationships and work ethics on the job. Also, Paul challenged Timothy about false teachers, and finally some real wisdom about attitudes relating to money. There are traps in all three of these areas of life which can ruin us, right? I appreciate Paul’s use of action words as he advises Timothy. Do you see them? As we read them, of course we need ask ourselves what action we are taking?
“Flee from all this…” Are we running from the schemes and snares of the devil that can so easily entangle us and draw us into decisions or relationships or even procrastination which can ruin us and our reputations?
Oh my friends, consider this powerful statement in Hebrews 12:1,2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles , and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus…” So, look around your life my friends, is there anything entangling you or hindering you as you ‘walk with Jesus’? If so, are you courageous enough to ‘throw it off’ so you can ‘walk with Jesus’ unhindered by anything that would distract you or in any way limit the vitality of your relationship with Jesus? What are your eyes fixed on, by the way?
Paul has used that term “flee” before, remember this: “Flee from sexual immorality…” (1 Corinthians 6:18-20). I’ve noticed when Paul says “RUN”…he also gives directions about where to RUN TO! Do you see here in 1 Timothy 6:11 Paul makes it clear, “Flee from all this and PURSUE righteousness, godliness, faith…” So, on this Monday, what are you actively running FROM and what are you running TOWARD? What are you keeping your eyes and heart focused on that enables you to run courageously AWAY from the things you know will harm you, your reputation and the people you love?
I like the fact that Paul doesn’t shy away from the reality that life is a battle. “Fight the good fight” he tells Timothy with several strong slaps on his back for encouragement. We’ve just concluded College football season, and the Super Bowl is now a few days away. If you watch much sports you understand all about the dynamic between coaches and players, and even the band, the cheerleaders and the crazy fans all working on stirring up the team for maximum effort and a winning performance.
So how are the battles of life going for you my friends? The battle for ‘soul contentment’ as we discussed yesterday. The battle for purity of your heart and mind. The battle against every scheme of the dark kingdom trying to draw you away from Jesus. And who are those encouraging you, cheering for you, helping you win the battles? And we have to ask… are there some people in your life who have the opposite affect on you? They discourage you, they draw you to places and thinking or even activities that are damaging to your relationship with Jesus? What are you doing about those two different types of people in your life?
Do you remember what Paul wrote near the end of his life? “The time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finish the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge will award to me on that day – and not only to me but to all who have longed for His appearing.” (2 Tim. 4:7,8) What will it take for us to be able say those words when the end of life is near for us?
So first FLEE…run from that which can harm you and your relationship with Jesus! So… are we?
Second, PURSUE that which nurture holiness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness in our lives! So… are we?
Third, “Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called…” Paul writes in vs. 12.
Time for a question for all of us… what are you grasping in life as you walk through each day? What occupies your mind, what has captured your heart, what determines your priorities? How often do you think about the eternity awaiting you?
I’m coming up soon on the 1 year anniversary of the death of my brother Ted. At his memorial service a little card with his picture was available. I have one sitting on my desk, he’s looking right at me with those piercing eyes as though he’s saying “come on Doug, keep your focus in life, make your life count, heaven is wonderful and you’ll love it here, but make every day count there, where you are, TODAY! Don’t do anything on earth today that when you arrive here, will cause you to look back with regret.”
And that’s what I hear in Paul’s powerful challenge to Timothy in verse 13,14: “In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus… I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in His own time…” That’s “No Regrets” living! Do you think much about this wonderful and shocking reality… Jesus is soon returning here to earth, to gather up all His people! No one knows exactly when, but God’s Word is clear, it will happen (Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; John 14:1-3). What if it happened today… how would it affect you, your family, and our world? How should you and I live this Monday in anticipation of this reality?
Finally, Paul’s closing commendation to Timothy is so powerful, I urge us to receive it, embrace it, celebrate it in our lives this Monday: “God the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is eternal and who lives in unapproachable light… to Him be honor and might forever. Amen.” I see Timothy rolling up the letter scroll from Paul, and standing to his feet, with his arms lifted up, with a huge smile on his face, thanking God for the privilege of being His Ambassador to Ephesus, and I hear him starting to sing, softly, thankfully… “Praise to You, Father, from whom all blessings flow. Praise to you Jesus my Savior who has given me new life. Praise to you Holy Spirit for all you are doing to enable me to ‘walk with Jesus’. I once again give you my life. . . for the rest of my life. . .”
Here’s a short, worshipful YouTube version of the Doxology that may help you join Timothy in singing…
Oh Lord Jesus, we Praise YOU this Monday…
Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.
Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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