Bottom Line
For the past few days I have been looking at the charges that Paul gave Timothy in 2 Timothy. Yesterday I listed the passages in Psalm 119 that, it seems to me parallels the exhortation of Paul. What is the bottom line?
The Thread
Through both 1 and 2 Timothy Paul is concerned with what he terms sound doctrine. In the face of wicked , false teachers, Paul reminds Timothy to stick to the Word even when people are not interested in hearing the truth.
Throughout Psalm 119, David is dealing with wicked adversaries who are after his life. In the face of constant resistance and affliction, his means of coping is to hold fast to the Word of God.
The Centrality of the Word
For both Paul and David the anchor, the compass, the map, the sustenance through resistance, schemes of evil, and the apostasy and desertion of co-laborers was to hold fast to the Word. When individuals, organizations, or churches loose that grip compromise with the world is soon to follow. When compromise with the world exists, salt has lost its savor and light is obscured.
The book of Jeremiah brutally documents the result of Judah’s release and abandonment of God’s Word. Reading that book feels like reading a commentary on the Church. As individuals, organizations, and churches, we need to reaffirm the centrality of the Word of God. It will mean some radical changes in some quarters. But we have to decie, are we going to follow the Word or the world.
For the past few days I have been looking at the charges that Paul gave Timothy in 2 Timothy. Yesterday I listed the passages in Psalm 119 that, it seems to me parallels the exhortation of Paul. What is the bottom line?
Through both 1 and 2 Timothy Paul is concerned with what he terms sound doctrine. In the face of wicked , false teachers, Paul reminds Timothy to stick to the Word even when people are not interested in hearing the truth.
Throughout Psalm 119, David is dealing with wicked adversaries who are after his life. In the face of constant resistance and affliction, his means of coping is to hold fast to the Word of God.
The Centrality of the Word
For both Paul and David the anchor, the compass, the map, the sustenance through resistance, schemes of evil, and the apostasy and desertion of co-laborers was to hold fast to the Word. When individuals, organizations, or churches loose that grip compromise with the world is soon to follow. When compromise with the world exists, salt has lost its savor and light is obscured.
The book of Jeremiah brutally documents the result of Judah’s release and abandonment of God’s Word. Reading that book feels like reading a commentary on the Church. As individuals, organizations, and churches, we need to reaffirm the centrality of the Word of God. It will mean some radical changes in some quarters. But we have to decie, are we going to follow the Word or the world.
The last words -- "we have to decide, are we going to follow the Word or the world" -- reminded me the words of Prof Howard Hendricks: "You are either in the Word and the Word transforms you into the image of Jesus Christ, or you are in the world and the world is shaping you into its mold."
ReplyDeleteI need to be shaped by the Word into the image of Jesus Christ daily! And pass the passion forward.