READING:
One-year plan: Jeremiah 11-14, 1 Timothy 4:11-6:21
Two-year plan: 2 Kings 5:1-6:23, John 9:13-34
Paul wrote the words to Timothy, but they are words for all of us. As he encouraged his protégé to do God’s work well, he summarized his thoughts with these words: “Pay close attention to your life and your teaching” (1 Tim 4:16). We, like Timothy, must give attention to how we live and what we teach. Should we teach sound doctrine but live an ungodly life, our lifestyle choices may well cause our listeners to ignore our message. At the same time, to live a godly life while teaching wrong doctrine only leads people astray. Neither position is good.
I fear, though, that many leaders fail to focus strongly on both aspects of their lives. Sometimes, they can form strong, clear, on-target theological thoughts, but their “behind the scene” lives look more like the world than like Jesus. They can defend their faith with the best apologetic skills, but they cannot not genuinely defend their lifestyle choices. Thus, one writer’s caution is a strong warning for us: “No matter how straight a person may be in his doctrine or how effective he may be in his teaching, if there is a flaw in his inner or outer life, it will ruin him.”*
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Are you evaluating your life and your teaching?
DAILY PRAYER: “Father, let my life be consistent with strong biblical teaching.”
TOMORROW’S READINGS:
One-year plan: Jeremiah 15-19, 2 Timothy 1
Two-year plan: 2 Kings 6:24-8:15, John 9:35-41
*Earle, R. (1981). 1 Timothy. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Ephesians through Philemon (Vol. 11, p. 375). Zondervan Publishing House.
