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(Midweek Devotion, 1st Timothy 6:1-2, 27 Sept 2023) 1st Timothy 6:1-2 1 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. 2 Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare of their slaves. One of the great things about the Sacred Scriptures is that, it does not talk about God alone but also talks about His creatures behaviour, particularly human being, more specificallly those who are His people. 1st Timothy 6 gave us an idea of how both one who are UNDER authority and one who are IN authority should behave as bearers of the name of God. The Bible clearly values authority and how important one should submit to an authority over him. The Bible itself claims authority for Truth, thus, no wonder tha...

(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 o...

(Midweek Devotion - 1 Timothy 5:17-21, 06 Sept 2023) 1 Timothy 5:17-21 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.”  19  Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.  20  But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning.  21  I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism. As we continue in our Midweek Devotion in Paul's first epistle to Timothy, I would like to jump to Chapter 5:17-21 for now. I will leave the part for widows which we can revisit next time. I would like to get our attenti...

(Midweek Devotion - 1st Timothy 5:1-2, 30 Aug 2023) 1st Timothy 5:1-2 1  Do not address an older man harshly but appeal to him as a father. Speak to younger men as brothers, 2  older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters - with complete purity. One of the great thing about the Bible is not just its claim for Truth and Authority over the church of Christ but also it gives great acknowledgement and high respect to the authorities of anyone who were given such privilege to govern or to lead. The Bible itself lead everyone who believed on its Truth and Authority through its own example of giving valuable importance to those who are in the position of authority. In many instances of Biblical texts, it was commanded to submit to one who is in the position of authority and give them due respect. The word respect is synonymous to “ be subject to ”, “ submit to ”, or “ reverence to ”. Some of the New Testament references can be found in the following context: Romans 13:1-2 - 1...

(Midweek Devotion - 1 Timothy, 16 August 2023) 1 Timothy 4:11-16 (NET) 11  Command and teach these things. 12  Let no one look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in your speech, conduct, love, faithfulness, and purity. 13  Until I come, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14  Do not neglect the spiritual gift you have, given to you and confirmed by prophetic words when the elders laid hands on you. 15  Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that everyone will see your progress. 16  Be conscientious about how you live and what you teach. Persevere in this, because by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you. Today is quite important passage as Apostle Paul continue to give his apostolic instruction to Timothy, the young man that he is guiding in his conduct in the ministry that was given to him. I firmly believe that this passage is equally...

(Midweek Devotion - 1 Timothy, 09 Aug 2023) 1 Timothy 4:6-10 6  If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. 7  Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8  for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9  The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10  For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. One of the metaphors used for disciples of Christ Jesus is that we are “Servants of Christ Jesus.” This comes from the illustration of “Master and Servant” relationship, which Master can be the Lord, the King, the Owner, or the Superior Being. Paul in his honest message...

(Midweek Devotions - 1st Timothy, 02 Aug 2023) 1  Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2  through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, 3  who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4  For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5  for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer. Going back to our Midweek Devotion series, we are now in the new chapter of the first epistle of Apostle Paul to Timothy. In chapter 4, Paul begin to remind and warned Timothy, his child in faith, of the things to happen in the future. Again, this is not just an apostolic instructions given by Apostle Paul but a testimony of what the Spirit of Truth has revealed on him. The detailed description ...