January 17, 2023
Daily Devotion:
"Shine as Lights in The World"
1 Timothy 4:12
Do not let anyone treat you as if you are unimportant because you are young. Instead, be an example to the believers with your words, your actions, your love, your faith, and your pure life.
Paul wrote two letters to his young protégé, Timothy, giving special attention to Timothy's integrity. He wanted him to exhibit a blameless, godly lifestyle of purity through his words and actions. Paul's biggest concern for this young pastor and the young church was expressed when he said: “But if l am delayed, l write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15 NKJV). As The Christian church grew and made headway in an immoral (or amoral) and permissive culture, there were a myriad of questions raised by new believers about ethics and truth. Though Paul recognized that there can be legitimate disagreements on matters of conscience, one non-negotiable was that followers of Jesus Christ should have the highest standard of honesty. Even in the church in Jerusalem, where it was expected that members came from a more honest and moral society, lying was a problem and was judged with severity. (See the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5.) We, too, live in a permissive society that does not always show high regard for telling the truth. We have the same opportunity as Timothy and the early Christian church to make a profound impact on others through our honesty. Paul Expressed this prayer for another first-century church: “that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God Without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world"(Philippians 2:15 NKJV).
