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Sanctified - A Pleasing Servant of Christ

(Midweek Devotion - 1st Timothy 5:22-25, 13 Sept 2023)

1 Timothy 5:22-25

22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. 23 (No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.) 24 The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. 25 So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.

After we have been reminded of Paul's apostolic instruction to give honour due to our elders, especially those who work in preaching and teaching; Paul is now giving us warnings of the continuing influences of sins to each and every believers.

He warn us of three things: (1) do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, (2) taking part in the sins of others, (3) and keeping ourselves pure.

Laying on of hands is particularly referring to the ordination of someone to install in the position of leadership within the local church. Paul's advise is to be not hasty which means not to hurry or do it immediately. Indeed, going back to 1 Timothy 3:6, he explicitly advise that an elder should not be a new believer or recent convert as he may be puffed up with conceit, which synonimously means boastful or arrorgant.

Paul has forseen such situation and wanted to avoid any off-guarded possible conflict in the future that is due to emergence of newly converted leaders. Therefore, he sets the standards for any elders to be of high standards both within the churches' local assemblies and maintaining good reputation within the outside world. However, this does not mean that elders must be worldly, instead, that we exhibit the integrity of our calling while not giving in to the standards of this world.

This is where Apostle Paul directs his second advise to not taking part in the sins of others, which of course is not only for the elders but extended to all believers who have faith in Christ Jesus. Indeed, Jesus' high priestly prayer in John 17, particularly from verses 13-19, He is interceding to his disciples to keep them from the evil one, to be protected from the influence of this world.

John 17:13-19

13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

Jesus is praying for us, just like Paul is telling us to don't partake in sinning, we should be protected from all kinds of evil works, both temptations and accussations of the evil one. Christians are being preserved by the intercession of Christ to protect us and keep us in the purity that He promised to set us apart to holiness (being sanctified) as He also sanctify Himself, that we may be truly sanctified.

As Paul's third instructions, let us then keep ourselves pure, which we do in cooperation with the work of the Holy Spirit in our continuous sanctification. We are progressively changed from glory to glory until we attain the ultimate redemption of our soul and receiving the glorified body. Christ, Himself, also gave us such access to help us in our sanctification, that is by the very Word of God (John 17:17). Therefore, if we think we only get sanctified by just doing works of piety or charity, we missed the opportunity to be purified through God's wisdom and knowledge of Him.

Remember what the psalmist said in Psalm 19:10-14, both our words and our hearts be found pleasing in the sight of our Lord Jesus Christ.

10 They are more precious than gold,

    than much pure gold;

they are sweeter than honey,

    than honey from the honeycomb.

11 By them your servant is warned;

    in keeping them there is great reward.

12 But who can discern their own errors?

    Forgive my hidden faults.

13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;

    may they not rule over me.

Then I will be blameless,

    innocent of great transgression.

14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart

    be pleasing in your sight,

    Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

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