The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Timothy 4:15,
"Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress."
Paul anticipated progress in Timothy as Timothy gave himself to following Paul's direction, among which was to "set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." Verse 12.
What captures my attention this morning is the realization that there should be a "progress" evident in our lives as we, like Timothy, follow apostolic direction as found in the Scriptures.
Timothy was Paul's younger protege, who undoubtedly spent many hours at Paul's "knee" being instructed, encouraged, trained and matured by him. This is the man Paul speaks to - of whom he desired to see continued "progress."
If Timothy was to demonstrate progress in his life in the things of God, certainly, how much more do I need of progress! I am quite certain none of us "arrive" in the things of God, a point at which we have nothing else we need to "get under our belts" of those things while here on planet earth. Following this life, I am equally certain we will have progressed well beyond where each of us might find ourselves in the things of God, no matter how long we live and how far we progress. In the meantime, I know I have a whole lot of "progressing" to do!
This tells me that where I should be this year, in terms of key indicators in my life, is not where I was a year ago, and not where I should be next year. My confidence and faith in God should be growing. My love for others should be growing. My understanding of what I am taught in the Scriptures should be growing.
A passage that comes to mind that might be a good yardstick to measure myself with from year to year is Colossians 3:12-14, "... clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."
"Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress."
Paul anticipated progress in Timothy as Timothy gave himself to following Paul's direction, among which was to "set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." Verse 12.
What captures my attention this morning is the realization that there should be a "progress" evident in our lives as we, like Timothy, follow apostolic direction as found in the Scriptures.
Timothy was Paul's younger protege, who undoubtedly spent many hours at Paul's "knee" being instructed, encouraged, trained and matured by him. This is the man Paul speaks to - of whom he desired to see continued "progress."
If Timothy was to demonstrate progress in his life in the things of God, certainly, how much more do I need of progress! I am quite certain none of us "arrive" in the things of God, a point at which we have nothing else we need to "get under our belts" of those things while here on planet earth. Following this life, I am equally certain we will have progressed well beyond where each of us might find ourselves in the things of God, no matter how long we live and how far we progress. In the meantime, I know I have a whole lot of "progressing" to do!
This tells me that where I should be this year, in terms of key indicators in my life, is not where I was a year ago, and not where I should be next year. My confidence and faith in God should be growing. My love for others should be growing. My understanding of what I am taught in the Scriptures should be growing.
A passage that comes to mind that might be a good yardstick to measure myself with from year to year is Colossians 3:12-14, "... clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."
Here is a great question for myself, how does my life look this year, relative to last regarding Colossians 3:12-14? Am I seeing progress?
How about you? What passage might you use to gauge progress in your life? Are you moving ahead, from year to year? What do you expect God may be anticipating in your life this year in terms of progress from last year?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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