The core of our faith is that we love God and love one another. In verse 1:5 Paul says, "The purpose on my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith". His instruction is that we love each other and the base of that love is pure. We love as we have been loved by our Father and in that love there is no motive, no trickery, no selfish interests. That message is loud and clear and with all the books of the Bible that we have all read this year, we have got to see that. To love God, love others, is hard to miss. When we love God and love those around us, all the other teachings fall into place because our behavior, our thoughts, our actions are all rooted in love.
Yet Paul also mentions in verse 1:5 that some people have missed that whole point. He comments that rather than love and understand the depth and importance of loving, they waste their time on meaningless discussions. As I mentioned in the other blog, if we can't get loving God and loving others right, we need to keep our focus there before worrying about all the other little things that we may feel we need to do.
I used to compete in bodybuilding and my workouts were intense and detailed at the end of my competing days. However, when I started, I started with 8 basic exercises that involved several muscle groups. Once I had grown and excelled in that routine, I then went on to isolating individual muscles to perfect my physical development. We can look at our Christian life the same way. The major groups of our faith are loving God and others. Our main focus should be on loving until we have grown greatly in that area.
Where does that love come from? In verse 1:14 we see, "Oh, how generous our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus." Such love comes from Christ and a deep and growing relationship with Him. I think that we who have been studying together see it in Scripture and in our growing relationship with Christ through our study. When we become followers of Christ, we take on His attributes and cannot help but grow and understand His direction to us to love. Paul wrote how generous and gracious the Lord was in giving us love and the ability to love. Do you think He would have given us a gift that He didn't expect us to use? Having been given this gift, what would Christ think if we ignored it?
In chapter 2, an extension of loving is to pray for others. Paul's instruction is to pray for others asking God to help them and to intercede for them. It takes a deep caring for another person to stand before God on their behalf and Christ exhibited that even on the cross asking the Father to forgive those who just crucified Him. That is our example. Praying for others stems from God's love for people and His desire that no one be lost but rather all be saved. We should grow in that desire. Our hearts should grow and emulate His desire that no one be lost and pray earnestly for them. He again slips in the direction to be free from anger and controversy in our churches.
Paul gives guidance talking about our hearts. He offers the thought that we should be made beautiful by what we do and how we treat each other not by how we dress or do our hair.
In chapter 3 Paul talks about what an elder and deacon should look like. He talks about their character and integrity. Many times people get into places of authority based on a personality contest, but that is not the criteria Paul lays out here.
Paul then makes a statement that is powerful about the church. In chapter 3 verse 15b, we read, "This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth." When we gather to worship, do we look at the church in this way? Do we look at it's importance? If we serve and function and worship regularly with this picture of what the church is in our mind, we cannot help but be in awe. We are in the church of "the Living God!!!" We are responsible for holding it's truth and teachings as they were meant to be held. It is humbling.
Okay, we are half way with the 30 days in 1 Timnothy. Keep up the good work. We have read 11 books of the New Testament for 30 days each so far. That is an amazing accomplishemnt. I also know we have all grown due to our committment. That leaves only 8 books left excluding the Gospels. It will be a wonderful day when we finish. Keep it up!