1 Timothy 1:5-7
5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. 7 And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.
One of the major concerns of all people, Christians or not, is to find the answer to the question "What is the meaning of my life?" The seeking for an answer to this lifelong question leads us ultimately to find out the purpose of our existence. There were many brilliant philosophers of the ancients and of this conteporary age who have helped us by their wonderful discoveries which suggested how to know the meaning of life.
But with the Christian Theologians and Philisophers, historiically, they have already found the answer to this question in the very basic foundation of their philosophical theories, assumptions, and recommendations. Their contributions have helped us in one way or another especially for their contemporary Christian believers to follow and be guided by those philosophical tools that has been made available to help them to walk in accordance to Christian and Biblical principles.
Christians has lone primary reference when it comes to discovery of the true meaning of human existence, which is no other than the Bible. The Bible reveals the divinely inspired word of God to know Him, His attributes, and His works, and His redemptive plan for His people. The Bible is the inerrant and infallible Word of God, inspired and technically authored by God, the Holy Spirit. Therefore to know the purpose of the existence of man, is to seek it directly from the one who made him, our Creator, the Triune God, our Elohim.
The Central Theme of the Bible is to reveal progressively the plan of God's redemption to His people. It layouts from the begining the purpose of man, and how after fall God works throughout generations and reveal His great plan of redemption through our Lord Jesus Christ with covenants bound not by the oath of man, but by God, of whom we know that He is faithful to keep His promise by Himself.
Paul in his letter to Timothy, reminded him of such reality. The Jesus Christ is pomised Messiah, of whom God declared from the beginning of this world to redeem the lost sheep and carry them in their shoulder back to His loving arms. Jesus Christ is our mediator between God and us. As JOhn 14:6 said, He is the way, the truth, and the life; and no one comes to the Father except through Him. Finding Christ is also finding the Father God in Heaven.
And this is the central theme of the Gospel preached by Paul, the calling that has been assigned to Him by Christ. Paul became a witness of this testimony of Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of God, the Son of Man, the Messiah. Paul knew that he needs to be faithful in this calling as witness of Christ, and this is what he found as the very purpose of his existence and the meaning of his life, ultimately, to bring glory to the one who redeemed us and brought us to the body of Christ of whom His glory will shine for all eternity.
His found purpose produce actions. He is not a stagnant believer, a sunday soldier, a lukewarm Christian. He is bold, He is ever present and ready to accept the many challenges of life and ministry, He is constantly relying only to God and to His word. He is not only looking for the approval of man but more importantly of God. He is telling the truth alone and not entertaining any lies.
Paul claim that His purpose brought him to become a herald, an apostle of Christ, and a true and faithful teacher. All these purposes are both central to the testimonty of Christ that has been revealed and entrusted to him, which is the Gospel of Christ. The ministry of each and every witness of God is central to the stewardship of the mysteries of the Word of God.
Therefore, knowing, understanding, and proclaiming the Word of God, is the primary responsibility of all who are in the position of authority that leads God's people. This is non-negotiable as a shepherd of the flocks of God. This is the very command of our Lord Jesus Christ of what a true shepherd, as set plainly in the example of Christ Himself as the Good Shepherd, when He gave three repeated commands to feed His sheep, His church, His flocks.
John 21:15-17
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
Biblically, the metaphor for feeding the sheep of God, is by means of feeding them with the Word of God which is administered by the gift of the Holy Spirit in the form preaching and teaching. Two important ministry to which Paul himself saidn in the other part of his letter to Timothy he said in 1 Timothy 5:17-18.
17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18 For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.”
Let us reflect to learn to give honour to those who labor with us different ministries and services in the Church, no matter how little or small we think their contributions are. Everyone that God calls, called them for His own purpose and glory, for which we found the meaning of our existence in this world.
More importantly, let us not forget to give double honour to those who labor among us in the work of preaching and teaching, for there the testimonies of God is revealed through them with the help of the Holy Spirit, of whom we use to feed flock, the sheeps, or the church of God.
Have a blessed midweek to all!
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