“Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” – 2 Timothy 1:13

As Paul writes his dear friend Timothy from jail, he understands that it might be tempting for Timothy to compromise his faith and ministry to avoid similar suffering and humiliation. Paul repeatedly affirms that he isn’t embarrassed to be in jail for the Gospel and Timothy shouldn’t be either. Nonetheless, Paul understands the powerful temptation to compromise our faith in our risen Savior when the world doesn’t understand it, mocks it, or persecutes it.

This is a temptation we may feel ourselves. We might be similarly tempted to mute our proclamation of Jesus. We might be tempted to agreeably agree with people speaking against the faith, the importance and validity of the Bible, or certain doctrines that just aren’t popular. There are currently a wide range of topics for which the teaching of Scripture is radically out of step with our cultural moment. There are many places in which affirming what the Bible teaches will get you labeled as old-fashioned, arrogant, ridiculous, unrealistic, legalistic, unloving, or downright hateful. The temptation will increasingly be to avoid speaking of these or obeying them.

Don’t give in to those temptations!!! Hold firm to the sound doctrine of Scripture (i.e. the sound words we have heard from Paul and the other authors of Scripture). Don’t ever compromise about living a life that follows Jesus 24×7. Know the truth, speak the truth, and live the truth confident in the faith and love of Christ Jesus!

“But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.” – 1 Timothy 6:11

The world and our culture encourages, exhorts, and tempts us to chase after the wrong things. We’re told to pursue stuff, stuff, and more stuff. Better stuff. Newer stuff. Faster stuff. Shinier stuff. We’re tempted by temporary things that won’t last beyond our brief lifetimes: wealth, power, status, and fame. As followers of Jesus, we must flee these things!

As Christians, we’re called to pursue the development of our Christ-like character. We’re to pursue virtues that will serve both our earthly lifetime and all eternity thereafter. We’re to pursue virtues that don’t depend on earthly circumstance or situation, virtues that will serve us in prosperity and poverty, freedom and oppression, sickness and health, youth and old age, ability and disability, celebration and sorrow, triumph and tragedy.

Pursue righteousness and godliness, working in the power of God’s Spirit to become increasingly holy and devoted to God, free of sin, and ever more like Jesus. Pursue faith and love, the character of Jesus that visibly demonstrates His reality to the world. Pursue steadfastness and gentleness, the very qualities that allowed our Savior to endure injustice, humiliation, torture, and death to set us free from slavery to sin and death.

These are the qualities that reveal Christ to the world. These are the qualities that help us endure life in a fallen world for the glory of God. These are the qualities that will be honored and rewarded forever in heaven. Pursue these things and leave all that other stuff behind!

“It is good for me that I was afflicted,
that I might learn your statutes.”
– Psalm 119:71

Nobody healthy enjoys pain, suffering, and affliction. However, that doesn’t mean that God can’t work good out of those! The Psalmist recognized that through his own personal suffering, He had been driven deeper into God’s Word and commands. In wrestling with the biblical why’s and how’s of suffering in this fallen world, the author learned more of the absolute goodness, holiness, majesty, love, mercy, grace, and glory of God. He came to more fully understand God’s will and His ways. Amidst the pain of a world ravaged by sin and Satan, the inspired author discovered the joy and comfort of a life lived nearer to God and spent in deep, life-changing obedience to His commands.

We suffer for many reasons. We live in a world deeply damaged and profoundly twisted by human sin. We have an active evil adversary in Satan. Evil people sin against us. We sin ourselves in rebellion against our good Creator and suffer the consequences, discipline, and punishment of God. Nonetheless, God can powerfully redeem our suffering. As we embrace Him more deeply, learning to be filled and satisfied with Him (and Him alone), and increasingly exhibiting the Fruit of His Spirit, we too can reach a point where we recognize the redemptive purpose and value of our suffering.

Once we begin to recognize and enjoy the eternal benefits that flow out of our spiritual growth amidst affliction, we too can echo the psalmist: it was good we were afflicted, that we might learn God’s statutes!

“Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” – 1 Timothy 4:7-8

Godliness – becoming like Jesus Christ – isn’t something that happens automatically for Christians. We must train ourselves for godliness. While the work of transformation is done by the Holy Spirit, He generally does this work once we’ve regularly invested time and energy to prepare and position ourselves for growth. We must exercise our spiritual muscles and build up solid everyday spiritual habits and practices that will benefit us now and forever.

How do we train ourselves for godliness? As Christians always have…

– Read Scripture daily. Not just devotionals and the thoughts of others about Scripture. Read God’s Word for yourself each day.

– Think about what you just read for a few minutes. What does it mean? How does it apply to your life? How does it encourage your soul? What does it reveal about God? This is called meditation. Consider writing some of that down each day. That’s called journaling.

– Pray daily. Talk to God. Praise Him. Confess to Him. Give thanks to Him. Ask Him what’s on your heart. A relationship without regular conversation isn’t going to grow deeper.

– Worship God. Often. Worship with others each week. Worship in private on other days throughout the week. Sing, listen to music, pray, be still before God.

– Memorize some Scripture so it’s readily available to meditate on any day and time.

– Serve God. Choose at least one place of ministry and dig into it!

– Share Christ with those who don’t know Him.

– Give generously to God’s Kingdom from both your time and your treasure. Where those go, so goes your heart.

– Fast periodically for the purpose of focusing your prayers.

“When I think on my ways,
I turn my feet to your testimonies;
I hasten and do not delay
to keep your commandments.”
– Psalm 119:59-60

It’s hard to believe how quickly and easily we slip, trip, and slide into disobeying God! A small compromise here, a bit of over indulgence there, a personal blind spot over there…. Before you know it, you’re moving in a very different direction from God! Fortunately, for followers of Jesus, He’s always ready to welcome us back onto the path of righteousness when we confess our sins and ask His forgiveness (1 John 1:9).

That said, we need to actually recognize those sins, errors, acts of indifference, and rebellious attitudes and actions. We must make time and space in our life for the Holy Spirit to convict us of our sins and shortcomings. We must spend time not only reading the Bible but using it as a mirror to critically evaluate our conduct. Our standard of behavior shouldn’t the standard of the world. It shouldn’t be, “I’m better than that guy over there”. It shouldn’t be, “I’m generally a good person.” Our standard of behavior must always be Jesus. Are you following Jesus and becoming more like Him every day?

The first step back onto God’s path is to “think on my ways”. Regularly examine the conduct of your life. The way you spend your time and money. The things you get excited thinking about. The things you invest your life and energy into. Are these the things God commanded? Are these the things modeled by Christ? If not, turn your feet back to God’s Word and will. Hasten to keep God’s commands and don’t drag your feet in doing so!